Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-21
Catcher Stood Way Back.

The catcher stood about forty-flve feet
back Of the home plate, while the short
stop used to change from the left to the
right side Of the field. accordingly as to
whether or not there was a right handed
or left handed batter UP. The outfielders
were about fifteen yards behind the base
lines positions which if held at present
would allow so many home runs that it
would be a task to count them. If half
dozen hitters like those who now face ma
jor league pitchers could have gone to bat
in those days. with the pitcher compelled
to throw the ball about where they want
ed, they would score enough runs In an
inning to drive the scorers to frantic cries
to desist.
Rather remar kable was the position of
the umpire. lie was supposed to take his
place about ten yards from the home plate
and in line with the home and third bases.
and he should be either standing or sit
ting" Wonder what would be said to an
arbiter now IL he were to give one deci-
sion at the home plate sitting a third OF
the way down to third base? Players in
those days must not have expressed such
lurid opinions of the umpires, else their
Jobs would not have been open to envy.
Standing right over the plate they gen.
orally have two or three close decisions to
make at home now In each game, and
sometimes not that many. yet they never
escape those without scathing criticism
from players and fans alike. Suppose they
tried to make twenty-five or thirty such
decisions from a position as far away
from the plate as were the arbiters OF
81?
A player was out on third strike if the
ball was caught by the catcher on first
bound. If he hit the ball he could be put
fptt
subject him to retirement before reaching
first base now. A batter had the liberty
Of waiting until the ball was pitched
where he could best hit it.. If he waited
200 long, though. the umpire was sup
posed to call strikes on him. On a. foul
ball the batter was out If the ball was
caught on the fly or on first bound. A
PLAYER could be caught off the base and
touched out. A player was also out on
interference, and was entitled to his base
il interfered with. Three men were put
out in each inning. .-..-...-.. II
Gives Players Hints.
After the dissertation on the technical
points the writer, who was c. w. Hall.
finished with a paragraph under the sub
head Hints to Players 1t was as fol-
lows:
Never use profanity or foul language
Never lose temper or get into a quarrel.
Never censure the play of another. unless
you are certain that he will take it kind
ly. Never question the decision Of your
umpire. even IL apparently unjust Never
take an ungenerous advantage of an adj
versary. Practice continually In throw
ing and catching. until you can. throw a
ball with accuracy a hundred yards, Or
p<cl1 he rupi t0ct hs,l1 Iln obi - rafn
swiftly. stop quickly, and to catch up
ball while running. Practice batting at
balls sent in at all, heights and yelocities.
And. above all. make your play second
airy in Importance to your, duties at school
or at horne-a rest to- the mind and not
an all-absorbing pursuit" These hints
were probably intended for beings of
superior order. because anybody who
could adhere to such admonitions in base
ball would be considered about as much
methods Of perfecting the play of an in
d.vidual were pretty much as would have
to be used today. The game, as it was
played then. for recreation. has given
place to a great profession for the play
ers and a recreation for those who at
tend.
First Worlds Series Played.
The first worlds series was played in
Detroit August ID. 1867. Instead of de-
voting a whole page to the game. short
paragraph was deemed sufficient to re-
count all the happenings in the series.
That is. of course. with the exception OF
designating the prizes which went to the
teams There was one difference in
the series then and now. Where two
teams have won the right to compete for
the title by reason Of a process of elini-
nation in the two best leagues. many
teams met and simply eliminated one an
other In q series In which one team
played only once against another. The
prizes In those days were greatly differ
ent from what. they are now, too. since
the club which won the first champion
ship only got $500 in greenbacks. and a
gold-mounted rosewood bat. This honor
went to Unknown club of Jackson. Mich.
The worst beaten team received prize
which consisted of '.sor1e peanuts" This
award went to the Tecumseh club OF Te-
cumseh, Mich.
And it must not be thought that WASH
ington did not have a team then. and 1t
was known as the Nationals, too.