Trench and camp. ([Admiral, Md.) 1917-1919, 1918-08-01
THIS rs HOW BASEBALL
STRIKES A BRTTTSHER


Sometimes the picturesque slang Of
the sporting page is puzzling even to
the man who knows American sport.
But far more mystifying must be
the game itself to the uninitiated.
This 10 how an Englishman-Ar-
thur Machen, in the London Daily
Mail-describes baseball:
There was o brief mental struggle
at the beginning.
went up to the Arsenal ground at
Highbury on Saturday afternoon muir
muring to myself: Baseball Is Just
FOUNDERS, and that's all there is to it.
X Is perfectly simple"
tried to be firm and take the
match between the u. S. A. Army and
Navy In this spirit, but when found
e:sss through friendly American that
4 the third innings between the U. S.
A. Army and Navy In this innings was
we'll begun, gave up all notions of
understanding baseball and settled
down to enjoy the game-and enjoyed
It very much.
Describes Diamond
Thus comfortably settled, 1t may be
stated that the field is marked out in
D large square. At each angle there Is
q big, rough stone. There is fifth
stone about the middle of the square.
To this stage entered the two
teams. These were dressed in cos
tunes that suggested bit of polo
player, hint of jockey and dash of
running men. They scattered about
and began to fling balls at each other
and to catch these balls. Some Of
them swung bats In their hands.
These baseball bats are not at all un-
like the eighteenth century cricket
bat. The ball is about three ounces
heavier than cricket ball.
Then . gray-bearded naval officer
stood by the middle stone and danced
madly In the ART looked like that.
But Is was Admiral Sims, of the q. s.
A. Navy, throwing the ball to General
Biddfe, of the U. s. A. Army. The
General did not succeed In locating
the ball in his palms. And then the
game began.
So far as / gathered, there are
three principals in the wonderful
baseball drama. They are called the
pitcher, the striker and the catcher.
They correspond, roughly, sometimes
very roughly, to the bowler, batsman
and wicketkeeper OF cricket. The
pitcher stands at the stone in the
middle Of the square. The striker
stands at one of the angles holding
his bat. Behind him stands the catch
er, who wears padded armor and an
elaborate face mask, with helmet at
attachment.
A Wonderful Game
Now, / say, the game begins.
Frenzy seizes the pitcher and claims
him for her own. He writhes. He
twists. His limbs are terribly con-
torted. His head appears to be
Wronched round about. He leaps in
the air as If he had taken poison.
Suddenly the ball leaves his writhing
hands, and you know he means muir
der. The ball is thrown, not .bowled;
and It looks as IL It were thrown with
: savage violence.
The striker hits that ball, and be-
gins to run for the next stone. He
throws his bat away as he runs. Ev-
erybOdy seems to be running. One
man Ia dancing between two stones,
or bases. feinting now toward one.
\ now toward another, in a mad jig.
Ills IL W VUZZ40 tuO AGl1OW WIZ Lac
got the ball and is to throw 1t at one
base or another and 30 put the dancer
out. Occasionally man running for
base, and one of the field with the
ball. VIII meet just over the stone and
crash to the ground together. This
gives pleasant little dash of Rugby
football to the game.
That is baseball. And all the while
the United States Army and the Uni
ted States Navy on the stand kept up
q stream of comment that far sur
passed anything that the most ambi-
ffous Greek chorus ever dreamed of.
They yelled, they hooted, they uttered
strange cries., they contested every
decision of the umpire, they ycwled
wild announcements.
every poor play" said my friendly
American. THE runs are coming
much too fast"
Too fast! The board showed four
runs at the end OF an hour and half.
Baseball is q wonderful game.