New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-04
CIubmen Romp Round the
Bases and Pound Ball in
a Biting NortheaSter.
RULES MADE TO FIT
MILLION DOLLAR YARD
Knickerbockers and Twelfth Regi-
ment Victors In Lively
Double. Header.

The Winter Baseball League. the only
organization OF its kind north Of Mason
and Dixon's line not confined 20 the gossip
column Of the sporting page, got under
way In earnest yesterday at its million
dollar park on Fifth avenue. II Is the
only league Boosting playing field on
that exclusive 'thoroughfare which withai
is probably the most modest Of all League
backgrounds with the possible excep-
ton Of the back lot fields OF boyhood
memories.
Although there was northeaster OF
sixty miles an hour laden with soggy
moisture and the breath OF the Arctic sea,
the winter leaguers had a double-header
all 10 themselves behind the twenty
seven-foot fence bounding the vacant lot
in the middle OF the block running from
list to 72d streets. Just across from Cen
trail Park. The Knickerbockers and the
Calumets clashed in the first section OF the
double bill and the 18th Regiment battled
with The Racquet and Tennis Club in the
second half Ct the afternoons entertain
ment
The Knickerbockers and Calumets had
a nip and tuck battle up 10 the seventh
inning. when the Knickerbockers garnered
half dozen runs in one fell swoop and
made sure of the game. the final score
standing at 16 10 7. The first game was
not over unit. almost 4 o'clock. so that
the 18TH Infantry and the Racquet and
Tennis teams had TO wait. and were
forced TO abandon the game in the sixth
| inning, when darkness fell and made fur
! nor r.Ia tr,, ha hpiDO I n
II for the infantrymen.
| The baseball that the Winter Leaguers
! play is not the major league quality. per-
! haps, but the players get more fun out OF
| half an inning than a major Lacquer ever
got out Of a whole season. There ars
only six men on team. the playing field
making any greater number than that
superfiuous, and the usual indoor baseball
! implements are all the equipment neces-
! sary.
, The positions on the field are pitcher
catcher, first, second and third basemer
and shortstop, and a good many Of the
rules arc made up as the game goes along
For example. a healthy wallop which
sends the ball sailing over the fence
INTO Fifth avenue retires the runner. q
regular er-the-fence-and-out PROPOSE
ton. as II were.
A hit over the spite fence" which the
owners OF the neighboring lot erected two
weeks ago Is an ordinary foul. and one OF
the players has the privilege of retrieving
the ball.
Freddy Kernochan, who is better know
| 10 the rank and file OF New Yorks popu'
/ lace as Justice Kernochan. had busy
afternoon. In the opening game h.
played second base for the Knlckerbockers
and loped around the bags with good
! speed, but In the second game the lure OF
the ermine was too strong and he found
himself officiating as umpire for the 12tn
Regiment AMI Racquet and Tennis play
ers. His lot as umpire was not unique,
for he had no end of trouble deciding
whether q ball that thumped onto the
ground in front OF the box with so much
reverse on 1t that II rolled foul was foul
or fair and whether man could steal on
called strike.
The scores follow:
| Knickerbockers .... 40 0s+ Ola - :
Calumet -. ......... o 02 . y o o. IL
Ratteries-Hoyt Do Rham ana Livingston;
Warren and B.gelow. =, ~
Twelfth Regiment. 3 8 IA ~
Racque- and Tennis. ] i vi N
Bsttsries-Koen and Dresnerd; Norris ana
Worden