The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-06
BASEBALL LANGUAGE
Game Has Achieved Wonders
in Linguistic Line.
WORDS USED IN THE GAME
Report of Contest Given Out by a
Magazine and Compared with that
of Representation Which Mr..
Fitch Uses Would Indicate Fire
or Murder.

From Current Literature
It's linguistic achievements are still
more remarkable. 1t has done what all
the world conventions held to give a
vogue to Volapuk and Esperanto have
not accomplished. Baseball has made a
new language Of its own and put it into
wide and democratic use II was not al
ways thus. Back in 1856 baseball Ian
gUage was Addisonian in it's stateliness
and pomp. Here is the report of a game
thar appeared that year in Porter's Spirit
Of the Times:
No less than three matches we're
played last week. and the attendance at
each was not only very large bur made
brilliant by great gatherings OF ladies'
whose interest in the sport seemed to be
not at all short Of that experienced by
the most occupied observer of the other
sex. We are inclined to think. too. that
this feature OF these occasions has no
little effect in inspiring the players in
the game. and that the last energy OF
every contestant is taxed by the con-
sciOusness that he must win CT lose in
the minds OF an exceedingly keen and
scrutinizing class OF lookers-on. We are
much pleased TO see the beautiful and
fair Of this city lend the charm OF their
presence TO the healthfui out-of- doors
sports and exercises, and We have a
shrewd opinion that more than one OF
them attends the grounds with a view Of
sharply measuring among the players
the qualities Of what might make a ser
viceable future husband. Among the
matches we allude 60, the return game
between the Baltic club. OF this city, and
the Union club, OF MOTrisania may be
mentioned the most prominent. from
the great attendance that was present
II was played Wednesday Of last week,
but was suspended in consequence of be-
ing overtaken by the shades OF night"
Isn't that the sweetest and properest
and most ladylike ever? Compare Il now
with one OF the lessons in the art OF re-
porting baseball games given in the
American Magazine some nonths ago by
George Fitch
Ordinary English. says Mr. Fitch. will
report = fire or a murder. But ordinary
English is az -use.e ss in reporting base
ball game as Il is in exhOrting a Russian
army to turn around and run the other
way. The first lesson is, never call a
this:
Suppose Wagner makes a two-base
hit. These words would convey the in
formation all right but would they give
the reader any picture? They would not.
You must become an artist Carefully
bathing your throbbing typewriter in ice
water. tear OF the following literary REM
brandt.
Arose then the Brobdignagian Honus
and waddled 10 the pan. Waving his
trusty bludgeon thrice at the shrinking
Matty. he laid it athwart the thorax of
the pill. There was a demoniacal crash,
vision of warped underpinning in mad
action, a scurrying in the back garden,
and all was over. Honus rested on third.
tanning his glowing beak with his point
ed cap, while the fTenzied fans ehalked
down third degree assault TO his credit.
Now. this is a picture. You can't help
seeing something. Suppose you have an
error to record. Nowhere in all the wide
fen! of baseball is there such richness
for the describer as an error. Writing of
an error in English you would say that
Abbatichio overthrow first base and the
man on third scored. A baseball fan
would read this and then yawn until he
closed his face with difficulty. Paint for
him some such picture as this.
With Steinfeldt hanging of third
like an overripe peach pleading TO be
picked. Chance poled a sharp one at Abb
batichio Once Homer nodded, they say.
but that wasn't a circumstance 10 what
Abby did yesterday. With his cavernous
right paw he speared the singer, at the
same time stepping upon himself with his
erratic left hoof. This confused himtto
such an extent that he drew back and
threw madly at a personal acquaintance
IN Philadelphia There was an awful
groan as the bean Zeppelined over first
base at an estimated altitude of 800 feet,
and Steinfeldt, running like q Vanderbilt
cup winner. planted both feet on the
tombstone with heart-breaking thud.'