New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-07
PARTING
SHOTS +:

Friends Romans. countrymen, we have
with us to-day an account Of the first
game played in Australia by the Giants
and White Sox. 1t was printed in The
Melbourne Age" under the caption
American BasebaUers." 4 few bits have
been culled, as follows:
''To see an American baseball team taking
the field il TO lie vastly impressed at the
oatset" Naturally.
There are nine men a side. and the
New Workers, as they stepped onto the
ground. looked a formidable and rather
fearsome contingent. In size they are
above the average: one or two Of them
would easily turn the scale at fourteen
stone" Fred Merkle can't seem 10 get
away with anything.
They add TO their bulky appearance by
wearing loose and baggy garments surmount-
ed by white hats pulled well down over their
eyes. IL Is hard TO say which they most
resembIe-a band OF Arctic explorers. braced
for a march due south, or contingent Of
prizeighters getting ready for the ring.
THE man who acts as catcher is fear
fully and wonderfully arrayed against all
possible mischance of the game. lie
carries a heavy glove In one hand; he
has his legs incased in pads OF considera-
BILE size and THICKNESS and he wears
around his body sort of leather buckler
that would lie a fair protection against
A Macedonian phalanX. One would not
he surprised TO see him mount a charger
and gallon three times around the ground,
defying all and sundry to mortal COM
bat" 1t is too bad they didn't see the
stalwart Chief Meyers in full regalia
instead Of the rather slender Wingo
ITO say that baseball is very much like
rounders-that juvenile game which the
young Australian plays with his sister
until he reaches a certain age-is 10 state
ar obvious truth. OF course. there are
any number Of fine points in the game
points Of fielding, pitching, catching and
so on-of which the rounder player. with
his soft ball (and dread Of injuring the
girl player knows nothing Ie gods.
To think of it.
"The game. a. a game. seems 10 lack
tensity and continuous interest. 1t Is rather
suggestive of a large garden party. 1t re-
minds the Australian 81 his first open air
picnic" McGrsw shout nave taken Adde
Brennan along and rc-enacted the little
garden party" of last August in Philadel-
pha.
1T is not 10 tell the truth. the kind
Of pastime over which a crowd. other
than an American crowd, would be eX-
pected to get excited" Slap. slap. on
with cricket, and we'll all drink tea.
ITO give them a chance against the
New York Giants they 1.-THE Victorian
team. in preliminary gamel we're re-
inforced by a battery from the visiting
PLAYERS The battery comprised Mr.. Nc
Graw. the popular New York manager.
and Mr. Sharp. In spite of this rein
forcement. the Nictorians could never
make a match of it. They could do next
TO nothing with the mallet that does
duty as a bat" OF course. the bat might
do duty as a mallet. but who would call
McGraws dinky curves reinforcement?
"The umpire who stands just behind the
striker. combines the duties of judge with
those Of herald" Our arbiters have long
had the "pomp OF power" but now is added
the boast Of hersldry."
Every time a player went 10 bat the
umpire turned to the crowd and. I'm stri-
dent tones, with voice that could be
heard all over the ground. announced 10
the listening multitude who the distn-
guished batsman was. Thus II was:
Ladies and gentlemen (cheers) the
striker is jim Thorpe renewed cheers.
the undoubted champion Of the world
tremendous cheering. If the striker
posed Of. the umpire sang his dirge in
this fashion He's out.
The umpire who acted 20 public announc-
er was Mr. KLEIN. and the deep. sepulchraI
tones Of his voice were greatly admired"
All. Bill. Bill. That voice. That face. That
form. who could resist ite Champion her
aid OF the universe!
AT the finish the game was Giants, T..
White SoX. s. Giants thus won by four
runs" So ends the tale. but OF course
no one was interested in who won.
". n. W
ERASMUS MEET TO BE TEST
Crack Schoolboy Athletes Will
Compete in Games.