The Washington herald., 1911-02-12
YANKEE BALL TEAM
HAS HARD TIME
BEATING JAPANESE

The game of baseball was introduced in
Japan about twenty years ago, but never
gained much hold until about eight years
ago. Then it was taken up in the leading
universities as L result of the efforts of
Fred MerrifelI and Alfred Place, two
old University of Chicago ball players
engaged in educational work in Japan.
Almost Immediately the game spranS
into widespread popular favor Not only
the leading universities but also the lower
schools began to organize teams. and
since then the game has become as popu-
lar among the youths of Japan as II Is in
the United States.
One rather unusual and perhaps favor
able feature of baseball as played in
Japan is the absence of any professional
influence. The Japanese seem to believe
in sport for sports sake alone, and
prefer to support contests by contribu-
ton rather than by paid admission TO the
field of play.
Two years ago Waseda University of
Tokyo gave a standing invitation TO the
University of Chicago To send over a
team to test the skill of the two colleges
and to promote friendship between the
two countries. Last June the Chicago
faculty decided to allow the team to
accept the invitation provided the players
would attend the summer school of the
university so as not TO get behind in their
work. 1t is TOO hot for foreigners TO play
ball in Japan in the summer, SO the trip
was to be in the fall.
Two university teams, Washington
and Wisconsin. had already visited
Japan writes the captain of the Chicago
team in the Indepedent. Both had found
the Japanese more than a match for them
after a summer without team practice
knowing this We determined to spend the
summer playing practice games with
strong semi professional teams IN Chi
CagO.
Teams in Fine shape.
AS a result we were really in better
shape for a hard series in the fall than
during the regular spring college season.
The teams Of Waseda and kcjo also spent
the summer months in practice. 50 that
all three teams were in the pink of con-
dition.
Prom the time we decided to make
the trip the Japanese in this country and
at nome showed an interest that amazed
Us. And when. barely within wireless
radius. some 100 miles out Of Yokoha-
ma. We received the first Of a series Of
messages from Japanese papers. univer-
sites, and individuals bidding US welcome
and asking for news our amazcment
grrw still greater.
''Everywhere we went we were objects
Of unending interest and courtesy.
Throughout our stay We were considered
not only a. guests of WaSeda University
but also as guests of the japanese nation.
and while objects Of constant curiosity
We Were at the same time subject TO
every form of Japanese politeness.
Hundreds Of Japanese turned out to
watch Us practice and to compare Us
with their champions. So great was the
interest manifested that we were re-
qUested to practice in secret as far
possible and without previous anounce-
ment. as it was feared the students would
desert their classroom work TO watch us
in action.
Only a worlds series could excite such
interest at home and We looked forward
with much curiosity to the first game.
We had been told at home that immense
crowds would turn out, but that unlike
an American crowd they would sit like
stone images throughout the contest
watching the game without a sound or
the slightest show Of enthusiasm.
We were soon to find out for ourselves
When we drove up To the field for tn"
first game We found it decorated for The
occasion. The fences were draped with
red and white bunting and the entrance
festooned with American and Japanese
flags.
Greeted by Applause.
practically all of the spectators had
entered the field when we arrived an hour
and a half before the game was to COM
mence. and as we passed in We were
greeted with 4 great outburst of hand
clanpinE. Every one rose to salute US and
then settled down once more and waited
for the game to start.
1T was strange sight which we saw.
Their grand stands were merely high
earth embankments, where IN" ha~"
legged kimono-cIad crowd sGuarrcd "n
their heels. Not a japanese woman war
in sight. and during the entire series only
a few came out to see a game, as it is
still considered hardly proper for them
to do so.
when the time for the game to COM
menCe arrived the captain Of the WasrdL
team insisted on our taking the choice of
innings, privilege always assumed by
the home team in America The fIrSt man
up for WaSeda drove a clean hit to the
outfield, and to our amazCmcnt. as Uc
had expected absolute quiet. the whole
crowd rose as one man and yelled till
they were hOarse.
Prom then on the crowd behaved eE-
lCtly as a crowd at home would. yelling
and cheering continuously. The students
also had an organized roofing section.
led by cheer leaders. Once the noise
felt natural. The odd
faded out Of our minds.
and we were playing baseball. not some
queer japanese game.
That first game ended . to . in our
favor This I think was somewhat Of a
surprise to the Japanese. a. ih"y had
confidently expected to beat us. our
next game was with kciO, on Hhom the
now pinned their hopes, but in
vain. as we downed them 3 to = in a hard
fought contest.
Fought Hard to Win.
Even then they expected TO take the
series from US. and they fought like de-
mons for every game, never giving up till
he last man was out. Two OF the sub
sequent games took ten innings to de-
,ide. but We made clean sweep of the
entire series. taking the seven games
played at Tokyo and the three played
ater in Osaka.
The games while exceedingly hard
fought were characterized by friendli-
ness between the players. by clean play
and by ready acceptance Of the umpire's
decision on both sides. Only once did
II