El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-06-26
Ancient Baseball Is Insured For $1,000
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Oldest Baseball Dates Back To 1857

~EW YORK, June 2s.-Veteran
n baseball fans whose memories
- = carry them back to the early
days of the national game are
discussing the recent report from
PiutsburE that the Oldest baseball in
existence had been insured for 5000
against loss by fire or burglary. This
sphere, which is covered by one piece
Of horsehide sewed in the center, is
said TO be So years old, having made
its initial appearance in game played
between the Eclipse club Of Kingston,
n Y, and the Hudson team Of New
burgh, y Y, an June 20, 1852, which
was won by Kingston players, 49 to IS.
While this ball is undoubtedly one
Of the old time spheres 1t is not the
Oldest by some years If the records
regarding this department OF baseball
can be relied upon A baseball which
antedates the Pittsburg one by five
years is OF was. until recently, in the
possession Of P. n white Of Emporia,
Kansas This sphere was used in what
is claimed to be the first championship
game ever played in this country 1t
figured in the contest between the Tri-
Mountain club Of Boston and the Port
land, Ne, team in a game played Sep
TENDER g, 1857.
Like the Pittsburg ball it has a one
piece cover and measures ten inches IN
circumference. The contest in which
this ball, now preserved by a coating
Of gold leaf and suitably inscribed, was
used, was played on Boston Commons
and was won by Portland, AZ to - The
match was memorable in other respects
since IL was the first played under the
nine inning rule and the first in which
the pitcher was permitted to pitch IN
stead Of being forced to use the toss or
underhand throw.
The Speedway association Of America,
recently formed to control auto racing
on the speedways Of seven cities
throughout the country, marks a new
era in automobile racing. The asso-
citation includes speedWys at indiana
polls. Chicago, New York, Omaha, Sioux
City, Minneapolis and Tacoma with
Detroit as a possible member OF the
near future
The organization as composed at
present represents seven speedways
with a total seating capacity OF close
TO 400 900 and ; miles of track india
napoIis and Minneapolis have the larg-
est courses both being two and a half
miles TO the lap. The other cities in
the association have two mill tracks.
Three tracks are wood. three Of asphalt
and one brick. More than ten million
dollars worth Of property and buildings
are represented in the organization.
Early calls for practice are 10 be the
rule in eastern university football cir
Pennsylvania will assemble a large por-
ton Of their squads sSme days before
the opening Of the universities in order
that the players may be coached in the
fundamentals Of the game before the
serious work Of the season begins.
The Quakers will report at Mt Gretna,
Pa. on August 2S for two weeks work
before the training at Franklin Field
and Harvard candidates will begin 90
get acquainted with the pigskin on
September 13 two weeks before the
Cambridge university opens its scho-
lastic doors for another year.
The all eastern tennis team consist
ing OF Williams, Church, Washburn and
Nathey. selected to represent the east
in matches against the Pacific coast
stars. makes its first official appear
ance at PittsburE today IN the clay
court championships The form shown
by this quartet will be watched close
y, since IL is expected 10 give a line
on the probable outcome Of the west
VS.. east matches to be played at san
Francisco about the middle Of July.
The personnel Of the western team has
rot been made public as yet but II IS
known that the Pacific coast has q
number Of racquet stars to select from
including Mclaughlin, Bundy, Murray,
Johnston, Fottrell, Griffin and Strachan-
The preponderance Of past perform
ances points TO victory for the west
in the play at the Golden Gate next
month
That the war has not deprived Eng
fish sporting events Of interest is in
dicated by the controversy regarding
the Bombardier Wells-Sergeant Dick
smith heavyweight battle. recently
fought in London. Public prints have