The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-08
ROUNDBALL
n uebiuI Predecessor and Famous
Naasaeh Hstta Cane.


TO TIVE Enron or the sUS-SI; Cntl
about lsso the ball Ehme played In Massl-
chusetts wns called Massachusetts, round
bail No game called town ball was known
In Massach nseits,
We DID not know that In Pm aland game
called FOUNDERS was played. We believed
that roundbail was distln ctlyely an American
game. -Four old cat and three did cat We re-
garded az derivatives Of roundball. They
we're the resource when there were not
enough players on IN 2 field for rOundban.
IN a match game Of roundball there were
fourteen players on a side. The game was
quite az active as baseball Ia. and exciting
Rases we're called goals, There were Tour
goals set IN a square. not In diamond. AZ
each goal a stout stake four feet hifh and
about two inches In diameter was driven into
tne ground. The runner going AZ fun speed
would seize this stake, frequently swim Eing
around II two or three times before be could
stop himself. There vac no running beyond
hhst on hit, Inless some part Of the run.
ner's body touched the goal he could be put
out BY being hit by thrown ball. 'Iatcheu
The batter stood in a circle four feet in d.
ameter, mid way bet ween 6Tst goal and home.
The thrower stood In the center Of the square
mg sSS q teams S Rad Tbat Ss. sSIIeS dip
thTower; that II. one who could throw eMilt
ball starting Low and shoQting " .IhsTsS FsTe
ting was common The batter SWINGING round
with the ball as II came 20 him would drive
Few ,d SrTs 2a az SBSt f0 Tss Saed slide
With he thumb and fngers Of one hand. and
the TOP surface. they held II horizontally the
end pointed toward the thrower. IN this POSI-
toH the batter YOU'D SftGh ne Ss a. t
along the surface aud by quick denecti0p o.
the 6a. shoot the ball backward to the right
let Mr keeler digest shat
Hundreds Of men now living IL central
Massachusetts have seen i done. There E TES
ceTo oS bSiG and TOOK {oSy t6S low Tov Tie
ST ne hah sna S %& bro %9od there
two bsckfielders, one at the right and one AZ
the LEFT q the third catcher They were
vas a player at each goal a player between
| first and second goals. another between second
| goal and home and two outhelders. The 6ail
! was made Of wooden yarn, firmly wound, VIII
leather, and was somewhat smaller than the
regulation baseball j. was not mu ,by Z
| was out. To avoid being put out, by ball
thrown at him. and properly coached a runner
the ground. and up and away again ~ a
| twnkllnE. Runs we're called t9llleH ne
big matches were generally decided by ihe
! chose a Judge, who was n solemn and I'M
| pOrtant person, silent excepting when the
! referees could not agree. His decision was
| hnal
/ lust before the beginning OF the civil wal
! we began 10 hear Of the New York game OF
| ball" That was haSeball. one OF the most
| celebrated games OF round ball was played
J on the Agricultural Grounds In Worcester
/ Mass. In 1855. II was between the MedWHys
| Of Midway and the I pton ENcelsiors II was
| for 81. 600 a side. II took four days to play
| the game. The attendance was more than
| 10 900 at each day = play. In the neigh orinR
| towns the tories gave their employees
| holidays 20 see the game The teams played
| one entire afternoon without making a tally,
| when Connie Mack Of the Philadelphia
! was toiing-not 50 many years ago as
| shoemaker IN Brookheld the foreman Of the
! room in which he worked was one John John
/ son. This John John son PLAYED on the Upton
| near Upton. bale and hearty: More thar
| $40, ono changed hands on this Medway-I ptor
! game The 10y OF the victorious MedwaYs
| broke into song, printed few DAYS after the
| game The first stanza will he enough
| there are fourteen:
| Now come my lads and listen 10 what now relate
| How Uptons were defeated by the champions O
! the state,
| Give ear unto my dty. It will contain no lie.
| How Midway boys got leave 70 sing Root, Hog o.
| DIE"
! u there greater enthusiasm now?
GRAFTON, Mass. May 8. ". s.