Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-06-10
FILIPINO BALL
PLAYERS CLASSY
LOOKING CROWD
Manager WiIIets Tells of the
Games Growth and Progress
in the ISIands-Uni-
verSaI Now


The members Of the All-Filipino
baseball team, who arrived on the
Manchuria late yesterday afternoon
were given a rousing reception by a
large number OF their fellow island
ers, who waited patiently on the
dock to give them a glad-hand vel
come. Supper time came and went,
but there were no desertions.
The baseball players from Uncle
J Sans Pacific outpost are fine look
ing set Of clean-Iimbed young athletes.
Few OF the players have ever been
away from home before, and every.
thing they saw I'm Honolulu last night
and this morning proved of interest.
With the team are A. Albert, presi-
dent and treasurer of the organization
that is organizing the tour. and +. r.
Willets, manager of the club. The
latter has some interesting informa-
ton regarding the growth and spread
of the national game In the Philip
pines.
Baseball was introduced in the
Philippines by the American soldier,
and the game is there to stay, said
WilIets. The hold il has taken on
the Filipino people has surpassed all
expectations of the pioneers of the
days OF the empire II will eventual
ly force the cockpits all over the
islands to close for lack of patronage.
The predictions made by many Ameri-
cans a few years ago that in the
future the Filipinos would be playing
the game for the amusement of the
general public have come true. Every
back-lot now has Its diamond and
every district, school or college its
ball team.
las soon as the early troubles in
the islands settled down enough for
the American troops to be assigned
to regular stations, the game was
taken up again by the soldier teams.
The most interested spectators of the
games were the wide-eyed pickanin-
MES who crowded up the side lines
and looked on with wonderment. AS
soon as they were able to absorb the
points of the game. these pickanin-
MES began to try their own skill,
using bamboo bats. coco shells for
gloves and rag balls when oranges,
etc. were not to be had.
most attempts by the grown-ups
to play the game failed for several
reasons, but the ;pickaninnies kept at
it with untiring energy, One attempt
made by the commanding officer Of
native scout company to teach his
men the game was given UP In disgust
after a few weeks A moderately bat
ted bah would scatter his men more
effectively than solley Of insurgent
Uniforms Helped
"The soldier teams at first did not
wear baseball uniform but as things
became more settled the uniform
made its appearance on the ball field
and with it's advent, the game re-
ceived its greatest impetus. The va
riety of uniforms seen on the dia-
monds throughout the islands defies
description.
"In 1905 good native bell teams
began to spring up here and there.
and year orsso later. the American
teams were being challenged for
friendly contests In 1908, during
the stay of the Reach 'All-American
team in Manila on their tour of the
Orient, a native team had the honor
of playing one game against them.
A few Of the members Of the All
Filipino team now in Honolulu, were
members of this native team.
ITO the bureau of education In the
islands is a great amount of credit
due for the development of the game.
For several years baseball has
almost been made part of the cur
riculum. The school teams are a
credit to any country. The high
school team OF Cebu province has the
honor of defeating the Japanese team
sent by Waseda University to COM
pete in the carnival games held at
Manila during February, 1912. In this
series OF games the best talent of the
islands competed. During the car
nival games held at Manila in Febru-
airy of this eyear, the Japanese ball
defeat at the hands of a Filipino team
from the senior amateur league of
the islands. The 'AllFilipino' team
also defeated the Neil team two out
of three in a series played after the
close of the Carnival games.
I'VE believe that we will succeed in
getting the Philippines on the base
ball map and keep them there.
Strong Backing
1.-The personnel of the club guaran-
tees its success. Mr. Albert, its presi-
dent, who is now touring with the
club, is also director of the Ateneo
of Manila. college that can claim
as former students two-thirds of the
brightest men in the Philippines. He
has travelled in the states and speaks
English fluently. Mr. Singson I. a pro-
gressive member of the legislature
in the Philippines, is one of the di-
rectors of the club. Mr.. Palermo and
Mr.. Linn and the others are no less