The Washington herald., 1908-05-04

the Nationals just at tie time the team
commenced to show real form.
Seven members of the club are out
Of condition, and while the injuries are
mostly slight, it viii be some time be-
fore Delehanty and Altizer are in proper
shape to do themselves justice When
the season opened Delehanty was suffer
| ing from a bruised heel. but. as he re-
fused to remain on the bench, ne did
not give the wound chance 10 heal. To
make matters worse, he was spiked on
the other foot in the Philadelphia series.
and pow he Is hardly able TO hobble
around. on Saturday the second base
man was threatened with blood poison
ing, but prompt attention removed the
swelling, and he may be able to get
back into the game within the next
couple of days
Altlzer Is recovering from his late ill-
ness, but is still in a weak condition. and
not likely to be assigned a regular berth
for some time, unless one of the in
tleiders meets with misfortune. Altizer
showed plainly in his work. when he
took Delehanty's place Saturday, that
be is not Yet ready TO get back into
the game
Although their injured legs are keeping
them from reaching top speed. Freeman
and Shipke are able TO continue to play.
Warner and Clymer have both suffered
greatly from lumbag0 since returning
from Philadelphia. and neither would
have been asked 10 take q hand in the
{ r-4az
that getting them in was necessary for
success.
Pickering is rounding 20 nicely, and
will shortly be ready TO step into the
game
Although having seven men suffering
from injuries of one sort or another is
proving somewhat Of a drawback to the
club the best feature Of the situation IS
that all of the pitchers seemed primed.
There is not a sore arm on the staff,
ana the surprisingly good showing made
by the younger twiTlers carries out the
statement made in The Washington Her
aid after the Boston series, that Wash
ington has the best pitching staff that
has represented this city since the ad-
vent Of the American League.
Judging from the results Of the first
week Of the season. Washington has
bright prospects Of being big factor ior
first honors in the Union League. and at
least an even chance Of winning a pen
nant I'm a professional organization.
Two months ago, when President Al
Lawson announced that he would place
an outlaw club in this city, there were
many who shook their heads. and be-
lieved that it would not be possible to
build a park and corral a team in so
short a time. The Bandit King, by hus-
tling around and meeting baseball men
here, succeeded in a few days IN enlist
ing sufficient financial support to guar
antee the undertaking. and those who
went to Union Park last Monday were
surprised by the great amount of work
that has been accomplished on what was
formerly a dumping ground Those who
have been around the circuit declare that
Washington already has park that viii
compare favorably with any in the
league.
Arthur Irwin, whose career on the dia-
mOnd dates back a score of years, was
just the man 10 gather together team
on short notice. and while the local out
law team is still lacking the class Of
major league clubs, the Bandits have
done well enough in the early games to
justify the prediction that Washington is
to be a strong contender for the pennant
The Union League is not an outlaw or
ganization in the sense that it is the third
major league bucking the American and
National, but il is the intention OF Presi-
dent Lawson to develop promising play
ers and later take in larger cities.
Unless Il decides later to raid the big
leagues and start another baseball war,
the Union is not likely to cause trouble
for the older leagues. The Unions hope
10 make up for class by keen competition,
and if it gives Washington a winning
team there IS no reason why it should
not be a fixture in this city
Just now, when the baseball leagues
are starting off the season, it is interest
ing to note that this great national game
was first played in its original form in
the seventeenth century.
However, the fan of to-day would be
able 10 see very little likeness to present
day baseball in the sport as IT was first
devised by London lads under the name
of FOUNDERS"
Although materially different now, the
relationship of FOUNDERS and modern
baseball can be plainly seen. AS accu-
Tately as can be learned from records, a
full team of FOUNDERS was composed Of
ten men instead Of nine, and the field
was square and had four bases, besides
an extra place for the batter, says a
writer in the Kansas City Star
The ancient English game of FOUNDERS
resembled very much the old American
game Of town ball." as the runner was
put out by hitting him with the ball.
Town BALI also has four bases and a
square instead Of a diamond-shaped field.
However, the method of putting a run
ner out by hitting him with the ball is
not so ancient. as this rule was in vogue
up to the time Of the organization of the
first national baseball association In 1858
If this rule hadn't been changed it might
have been a common thing to hear the
''rooters" shouting, Hit him in the head
old top" or Soak him for me" at the
ball parks
Town ball was first played in Connecti,
cut and Massachusetts,. While it is not
certainly known, it is presumed that the
Pilgrim Fathers brought the game over
with them from England.
The Olympic Club, of Philadelphia,
played town ball from 1858 to 1885, when a
phase of the game known as the New.
York game" came in vogue. This game
was an improvement on town ball, as the
latter had been an American improve
.ment on FOUNDERS.
The first national association of base
ball players was organized in 1858 This
association was the first to adopt a Fegu-
lar printed code of rules governing the
game. Before this national association
baseball was governed by the rules of the
KnickerbOcker Club. of New York
Although the rules Of the association
were great Improvement over those of
the Knickerbocker Club, they were very
crude. For instance, the regulation ball
OF 1858 weighed 81 ounces, was I0H
inches in circumference, and was COM