The Washington herald., 1913-06-29
GAME OF BASEBALL
AND CRICKET COMPARED

W. Bardsley, Australians greatest bats
man, witnessed the Athletics playing a
game at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, the
other day, and there was not more
interested spectator on the grounds
BardsIey has played a little baseball IN
Australia. nut had never seen TWO top
notch teams in action. Therefore, he
was delighted at Connie Mack's invita-
ton TO see a game mere. from IneI
start BardsIey watched every play ana
smart fielding drew loud applause rom
MIN, but he was disappointed at the lack
OF hitting, IL being game in which only
seven hits were made by the two teams.
That evening BardsIey was asked ms
opinion or baseball ana cricket out safd
he preferred TO see another match be-
fore expressing any opinion. Since then
he has witnessed a second contest, and
his opinion is that CRICKET Is the better
game. He says:
Naturally, my sympathies are with
cricket. because 1 have played that game
since 1 was a kIddy, and / suppose II
is thoroughly impregnated into my sys-
TEN. So far as baseball goes. 1 think
the fieIders are particularly smar: IN the
way they handle the ball and get rid OF
II again, and the outneIders make some
remarkable running catches; but, to my
mlnQ, tnere Is not enough sAIe
u don't think that cricket will be-
popular with Americans as a class, De-
cause It Is not quick enough. Americans
seem to want something snappy ana a
game that can be played IN a few min
utes, while Australians and Englishmen
prefer a game that is more carefully
played. In cricket nearly every stroke
is played differently, and man who is
an expert viii furnish something pretty
Tor the spectators every time ne plays
the ball. In baseball, however, II Is DIFF
terent rnree-quarters OF the WORK IS
done by the pitcher and catcher. ana II
Is once in a while that any other player
gets a chance to handle the ball Then,
TOO, all the players nave pig gloves on
their hands, which enables them to get
the ball much easier than n they were
playing with bare hands. OF course,
playing every day gives the players that
needed practice which makes them ex-
rert, and they pun on some wonderIuI
fielding plays; but 1 don't think they
would shine much more II they were
placed on cricket team and compelled
TO play without gloves. In cricket the
slip Is anywhere from twelve TO nrteen
feet from the batter, and the ball often
comes TO him ike nasn. TAKE man
like Hobbs, the Surrey player, and II
warrant he would make as good fielder
in baseball as there Is today; for ne
certainly is one OF the best rieiders IN
the world today. In baseball the telder.
except the pitcher. has az least ninety
feet in which to watch the ball coming
to him, while IN cricket the Instance 10
several positions Is less tnan thirty reer-l
quite a difference.
Another point is that a baseball
hangs longer in the air and gives the
fielder a better chance of running after
it. while a cricket ball drops faster once
1t loses its momentum. In cricket a hard
bGtsman will get boundary hits on GER
tain hard hit balls, while in baseball
1t must be a particularly hard hit ball
to go for a home run. 1t does seem that
when a batsman has succeeded In driv- |
ing the ball hard and far IL should yield
him something. as in cricket.
One point in particular strikes me as
being open to criticism. That is the way
in which players dispute an umpire's
decision. The umpire is selected because |
he Is supposed to be a capable man, and |
he is making his living by umpiring; |
therefore. II stands to reason that he is |
not going to put himself in wrong by !
giving unfair decisions. In cricket we
often think that an umpire has made |
wrong decision, but we take our medi- |
cine with smile and hope for better |
luck next time. Furthermore. there is |
nothing to be gained by disputing an
umpire's decision. 1t only makes the off, |
cial sore to be shown UP before crowd. |
and he will not look kindly upon the
brawier. I think that is the only OBJ !
jectionable feature of baseball. and with |
that eliminated the game would appeal
more to me. Personally. would rather |
play cricket, but as the French say, |
"Chscun son govt" and since Ameri-
cans prefer baseball 1t must be the best /
sport In the world for them Each coun-
try has Its national game. and Ameri-
cans certainly do put their heart and
soul into theirs. =