The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-12-21

A letter from Yokohama to the Wash
pgton Star contains interesting news
of the professional team from the
United States now playing in the Nip
pom empire, and among other things
says:
THE Japanese are receiving their
first lessons in what technically is
called inside baseball. Reach's All
Americans, who arrived from San
Francisco last week, are their instruc-
tors. This aggregation Is composed of
the following players: Jim Delehanty,
of the Washington Club; Pat Flaherty.
of the Boston National League; Bill
Barns, of the Washington Club; Jack
Bliss, of the st. Louis National club;
Jack Graney, of the Cleveland club;
Heinie Heitmuller, recently drafted
by Connie Mack from the Pacific Coast
League; Babe Danzig, who plays with
the Boston American club next year;
Nick Williams, of the San Francisco
club; George Hildebrand. Of the San
Francisco club; Brick DevereauX, of
the Oakland club: Joe Curtis, Of the
San Francisco club. and Harry Nc
Ardle, Of the San Francisco club. The
Americans have played four games at
Toxic, winning them all, and In the
presence of major league city crowds.
when they met Keio University Club
last Monday, 5000 Japanese rooters turned
out on a bitter cold day to cheer their
favorites, who have beaten all corners this
season. The grounds were jamlned, and 1t
was unfortunate that the seating capacity
wasn't larger. 1t was only recently that
the Japanese enclosed their baseball fields
at all. and as yet have not made good
Jobs. They have no grandstands. and the
nl0aelpTS are most rTIdp. In some parts OF
the fields platforms were elevated f9lt1
which the japanese squatted. using cushF
ions to soften their seats, which is strictly
I'm Japan baseball Is a mans game OK
clusively, for MS yet I have to sec my first
native woman ia attendance. ! did see Il
couple at the big f&eio contest, but they
were American. Ne hive found the audi
ences quite as enthusiastic as the Amer
lean. Clever plays are literally applauded.
especially when made by the home club,
and the Japs start to root Just as soon as
they get men ON bases. over here they
don't enforce that rule regarding one man
conching on Il line at a time. 1t Is no un-
common sight to observe five or six Japs
back OF first or hkird base, and sometimes
both, telling the Nneiy b%ase-runner how to
negotiate tho next sack.
In the art Of fielding the japs are quite
the equal of the average American team,
but their fatal weakness is batting. lneH
broke their necks trying to swat Bill
Burns's slow balls and they will chase a
curve ball into the clubhouse. japanese
pitchers have a slight break on their balls.
but they trust to their speed to win games.
After seeing Bill Burns change his pace
they essayed to use slow balls and their,
efforts were amusing. The ffrst slow Dali
pitched to an American batter struck SIX
feet In front of the plate and was thrown
overland. When our pitchers are warming
up for a game the Japanese players crowd
about them and note every move made
Already they had heard about the famous
spit curve, and Burns, Flaherty and
Granpy have been asked more than once
how it was thrown. .,-
Though small in stature, the little
brown men have strong arms. The Kelo
shortstop plays as deep Il field as, Hans
Wagner. aud vet he is hardly half the size
OF the big Dutchman. In the very first
game against Weseda. University the cell
ire fielder tried to, throw. Jim Delehant}
out at first on a clean drive over second,
and really. Jim had to extend himself 20
make the bag in safety. And the catch
ers can wing the bah about with great
facility. OF course their team work is
amateurish, but no more so than the ordi-
nary college club.
MARK my prediction. II the Japs master
the hitting end of the game they. VIII be
demons on the iamond, and they are
very liable to improve their batting ma
%terially. for they love baseball as no other
outdoor sport. The English colony here
have at different times tried TO induce such
gentle sports as cricket and golf, but
never to any degree of success. 1t was
explained to the writer that the reason
that the japanese were partial to our
national game was because of the action.
Cricket and golf lack ginger, dash and
excitement. which cost them the support
of the Japanese.
tent that it is now played all over the EN-
pire. and on the way TO the games we
sec boys and 5 years old playing our
sport in the parks and small lots. I9ere
sional league, but the time is hardly ripe.
However, 1t is only a question Oh time