Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-24
BASEBALL TO BECOME.
INTERNATIONAL GAME.
Soldiers OF Many Countries Learn
Sport In Contests Staged Be-
hind the Trenches.
FRENCH TRANSLATION MADE
Players and Positions Receive Names
That Sound Peculiar In This Coun.
try-Englishmen Manifest Iuter-
est in Sport.

into which this country has been drawn,
has brought together the peoples from
the four corners OF the globe, and all
now arc receiving introductins to tho
great pastime OF the United States.
Cnconsciously. perhaps. they are alb
sorbinG the principles of the game.
the methods OF play and the verf spirit
OF the competition which a j. Spald-
ing did so much TO develop.
Without doubt. baseball will be
taken home with them upon the con-
clusioh OF the war. The veterans. of
trench fighting and back-of-the-
trenches diamond contests will teach
the youngsters in their native towns
the new sport, and. in the course OF
few years. it is probable that baseball
will be played not only in France and
England. but in many other nations
we'll.
This appears to he one of the great
est results OF the great war. from an
athletic standpoint. but there Is an
other which arises to the mind as a
logical consequence. Not only will
American baseball and other games DO
introduced in foreign countries, through
the close association Of men represent
Ing the various nations. but the sports
OF these other peoples will be brought
to US by our returning troops.
Athletics make up considerable
portion of the soldiers activities dur
inE the respitcs given them from SER
vice in the trenches. and it is there
taking place. The troops are becom-
ing familiar in every detail with the
games of those countries whose troops
are fighting with them. Continued
practice In the games is making them
proficient. and. once the hostilities
cease. those who have learned tho
games from expert players will return
home to teach others.
Baseball at the present time Is ono
OF the most popular sports among the
tTOOnS ,lr
or the lines. Even before the arrival
OF American soldiers upon the firing
lines the game was introduced by tho
few representatives OF the United
States fighting with the allies, and 10
already has become immensely popu-
lar. Reports Of games staged a short
distance back of the trenches and
within sound or even the smaller guns.
show the extent to which the game
has been popularized already
The French have shown especial in
terest in the sport, and have made
rapid progress in learning the finer
points of the game. They have coined
their own words denoting the various
players and. while their remarks during
contest or the appearance OF box
score OF one OF their games might ap-
pear absurd to those who have not
taken part in such a setto, it is en-
tirely !ntelligible to those Americans
who have been doing the pioneer work
In introducing the sport abroad.
Translate Game Into French.
Comment of Americans who have
participated in baseball battles back
of the firing lines has been forwarded
to the faculty OF the Assumption Col
lego at Worcester. Mass. where q
manual giving the translation into
French has been prepared. Distribu-
ton of this manual among the French
fighters as well as the French
Canadians is expected to do much to-
ward increasing the popularity OF the
game and in familiarizinE all of the
allied nations with the sport
The manual presents baseball In
terms scarcely recognizable to most
followers of the nations pastime.
The pitcher is "lanceur." the
catcher receveur" AT short stop
faculty's designation would pc a
"bloquer." Other places in the line
up are indicated in the manual In
this manner: First base. premier
third base. "troisenne but: right field,
voltiguer droite": center field,
"voltiGcur au center: left field. vol
ttseur gauche." The coach is termed
"agasseur." -
In announcing the result OF it's work.
the faculty OF the Assumption College
stated that while the game was al
ready popular among the students of
the French-spea king colleges In this
country and Canada, It fell short fof
those institutions to which It was
entitled, largely because OF difficulties
Of the teachers in becoming familiar
with the terms of the game. It was
10 bring the language of baseball
within reach of strange ears that the
manual was devised. the announcement
says.
American sailors already have in
trenched the baseball standard firmly
upon English soil. At recent con-
a
spectators. among whom were many
senior and Junior officers OF each fleet
and number Of women. the greatest
interest and enthusiasm was mani
tested. Play was fast and spirited
throughout. and the zest with which
the men entered into the sport and
the evident enthusiasm OF the newly
made fans did much to convince re-
viewers who witnessed the contest that
what the people OF America long had
thought impossible is now an accom-
pliShed fact.
Commenting upon the spread of
baseball to other countries. a recent
issue OF the Baseball Magazine saws
that the war has taught England a
wholesome respect and growing
fondness for the sports OF other ma
tons. The great trouble experienced
in popularizinE the American game In
England has been due to the fact that
Englishmen never have understood the
game. Like other athletic competi-
lions. it must be understood to be
appreciated. and Britons had not had
the opportunity for learning Its in
tricacies.
Spectacular tours like that Of the
Giants-W White Sox are all very we'll
as hippodrome features. but they arc
nothing more. large, good -natured
crowd turned out to SEQ that we'll
advertised event. Most Of the crowd
didn't know n two-bagger from a base
on balls. And naturally they didn't
appreciate the game. They wanted to
SEQ what sort OF sports appealed to
Americans just as Americans would
turn out to see n Spanish bull aght
from curiosity, and little else.
War Upset sports Completely.
The coming OF the war implicitly
upset athletic sports but tho general
effect has been to stimulate interest In
baseball. This has been duo primarily
to the presence OF a great number Of