The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1914-10-02
LOOKING BACKWARD.
A Glance at Base Ball When 1t Was
Merry. Go Round.

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published in an Illinois town, located
at spot of rare scenic beauty, on the
bluffs overlooking the majestic Missis-
sippi, along which stream are to be
seen many pretty cities. and villages,
yet none that surpasses the one to
which we refer. In that town we spent
the callow days of youth, happy days
they were in the hanpiest age of man,
the memory of which has always lin
gered with us like holy incense, pleas
anter to look back upon as years are
added to our earthly pilgrimage. But
this particular copy of this particular
paper was not referred to for the pur-
pose of reeling off sentiment In this
paper the editor weekly publishes
items under the heat OF "In Days Be-
yond Recall" which are a summary
of events that happened in that quiet,
picturesque Illinois town nearly half a
century ago. Among the players ap-
pears the name of the writer. OF the
nine players only three are now living,
one in the home town, to which he stuck
and prospered, one in California and
one out here in Washington. The game
mentioned was a lulu, the score being
IS to AZ in favor of the Illinois town
against an Iowa city rival. That score
will bring a smile of derision to the
mugs of the boys who play more sci
entific ball in this day and age, when
II single run against victorious team
is considered something of mistake.
Baseball at that period was just COM
ing into vogue. 1t was shortly after
the time that the Washington, D. c.,
club came west to introduce the game
to the heather of the Mississippi val
ley, during which tour 1t was nothing
unusual for the Washington club to
score 100 runs against the inexperi-
enced dubs they went up against. Ev-
erybody played ball in the beginning.
The banker and merchant, the baker
and butcher, the lawyer and doctor,
old and young took hand in the ex-
citing recreation. 1t was miserable
small town, indeed, that did not boast
Of half dozen Mines, When a game
was on business wss Suspended, and
two or three afternoons during each
week every vacant block was peopled
with victims of the fad, eagerly inter-
ested in the sport. The visiting club,
when a match was on, was met at the
train or boat with hacks, taken to a
hotel, and after the game banqueted
by the home team. Paid players were
then unknown. Men entered into the
sport for fun and exercise, and there
was lots of the latte'. 1t was popu-
lar craze. When match games were
played scores were always large. The
legs of the boys of those days were
made of tougher material than the
limbs of the boys Of the present day,
for it was nothing to take part in
game of over so runs, gorge at ban
quet subsequently, and dance the night
away. The rules of the game were
somewhat different than at present.
The pitcher was not allowed to raise
his hand in delivery above the hip. He
simply lobed the bsu over the plate,
and blind man could hit 1t. Then
the ball used was lively one, that is
it contained more rubber than the
pl esent ball. When hit a solid whal-
lcp it sailed out of sight, and the un-
lucky fielder over whose head 1t few
had to run mile to retrieve it. Fouls
could be taken on the bound. The
catcher stood far back of the home
plate, and when batsman made first
! all he had to do was to make the
rounds without danger of being thrown
out Hand protectors were unknown,
and there was such a demand for ar
MICA that drug stores could hardly
keep up the supply. Gnarled and
broken fingers were too common to
cause comment. Catchers did not have
to face the cannon shot pitching of the
present day, for such pitching could
not be handled bare handed. Still
throwing on the bases was just as
swift as it is now, the ball was knocked
even higher to the out field, and the
unprotected hand was expected to take
and hold the ball. Muffs then were
just as inexcusable as they are now
There was action in the old game, and
lots of it. Terrific hitting, much base
running and no chance for the out field
to go stale on the job. There was not
as much science to the game as to the
base ball of today, but there was just
as much fun, just as keen rivalry, less
Iexpense, and the public seemed to en-
joy the exhibitions as heartily as the
crowds do nowadays. But it is game
o. the past, these games where big
scores were the rule. A score of that
kind in the year 1914 would send the
Icrowd away from the grounds in dis
gust, and a repetition would put the
eternal kibosh on the sport as draw
ing card.
ONE OF THE ANCIENTS