The Washington times., 1906-05-06
VAL OARSN1EN VICTORIOUS OVER NEW HAVEN CREW
" Strike Tub" Soon to Echo
Through British Isles
English Baseball Association Born at Last
Athletes Say Cricket Is Too SIow--Showing
in Olympic Games a Disappointment

LONDON, May 5.-The wonderful ,
success OF the American athletes at
Athens has been a fruitful topic OF
conversation in sporting circles this
week In the same connection the dis
appointing showing Of the English
athletes has caused astOnishment. II
was known that the Americans had a
very strong team. but IT was not be-
lieved that there was such marked su-
periority as the games have developed
The defeat OF the English distance
runners was particularly Disappointing
There is now talk among English
athletes Of arranging a meeting be-
tween picked teams OF British and
American athletes. probably in the
United Statas- 1t would not be sur
prising II the scheme did not take def
mite shape upon the return Of the ath-
Ietes from Athens
The fact that the great Marathon
race did not go 10 the Americans IS
some balm TO British pride. though
Canada, instead Of the mother coun-
/ try. did score the win IN the biggest
event of the games
Baseball Association.
| The British Baseball Association has
been formed, and the call Of strike"
and q" BALI soon VIII be heard in the
land.
| The people who are introducing the
game are most Of them English foot
! balIers, A E Kennedy. connected with
| the successful Woolwich Arsenal team.
being the leading mover. Teams have
already been arranged for at Wool
: wich. Tottenham, Chelsea. and several
other places. while applications from
over 900 men who wish TO play the
/ game have been received In addition
a separate association IS 70 be formed
among the I2O Rhodes scholars at Ok
ford
II is not so much love for America CT
| the American national game that has
led to this determined effort 70 intro
duce baseball into the land OF the
Britons. But the realization has come
10 the sportsmen that cricket IS too slow
and too long. and moreover. that base
ball with its magnificent fielding makes
better cricketers II Is instanced that
IN Australia nearly every hrst-class
cricketer Is a baseball player. and that
/ the success OF the Australian cricket
team IN England was in large measure
due 10 the proficiency IN fielding which
they had acquired at baseball Many
attempts have been made before 10 in
troduce the game into England. but
these attempts have been made by
Americans, and on that account were
not successful
Cricket Too Slow.
But the time IS more opportune now
FOR a faster and more exciting game
/ than cricket. The number OF unfinished
or drawn matches IN cricket has caused
the public 70 rather tire Of the national
game and last year the remark OF an
American humorist made before a crowd
Of Englishmen passed absolutely with
out rebuke. The American said 70 one
OF his friends:
Say. Bill do YOU remember that game
Of cricket We went 70 see al LORD JUS
! before the Spanish-American war start
ed? Well. they finished II yesterday.
| II has been decided that no prOfeS~
sionaI American bali player shall De
permitted 10 play here with an Assocla-
tion team without the written permis-
sion of the American baseball authori-
ties. Already steps have been taken %
| organize several teams Professional
! from the United States will be engaged
TO coach the teams and instruct the
British athletes who are interested.
No date has been set for the hrs1
games yet, but it viii not be very Ions
before arrangements have been com
pleted for play to begin
II IS not impossible that at the end
! Of the American season the Association
. / will enueaNOE 10 over a COuA16 VI
/ teams of the pick or the American play
ers for a series Of games to arouse pub
lie interest in the game. The Americans
particularly are sure that series OF
! games, such as the New York Giants
and the Philadelphia Athletics PLAYED
for the worlds championship last year
that there would be no doubt OF the fu-
! ture Of the game here.
Dohertys in Form.
The Dohertys still hold the undisputed
te-nis championships. At the recent
, games at the Queens Club, Hugh I,