Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1925-07-02
Early Days of Baseball In
Baraboo There We're Giant
"A Players In Those Days

about one or two seasons, but it
proved to be so dead that it was
not often that it was batted outside
the diamond.
Before a game started it was al-
ways mutually agreed and stipulat
ed, as to whether the live or the
dead ball was to be used; and oc-
casionally attempts were made at
opportune times, to smuggle the
other ball into the game. This
trick was usually soon discovered,
and was generally smoothed over
with an apology, accompanied with
few remarks about mistake.
Neither the live ball or the dead
ball seemed to be satisfactory, SO
they finally hit on a happy medium
by making a ball with one ounce of
moulded rubber in the center. This
seemed to have about the right
amount of life to it, and is probably
what they are still using today.
The bats were all home made,
and were mostly turned out at the
upper Baraboo mills, either at the
Drown factory on the island or at
the Thomas & Claude mill just
above the upper bridge at Lyons.
Usually each individual had his
own favorite bat, made according
to his own specifications, and they
all varied considerably in length,
diameter, heft and material. The
favorite material was willow Or
ash. but sometimes elm or oak,
and various other timber was us
ed and tested out. A collection OF
those old time war clubs would no
doubt be very interesting in these
days.
The Grounds
Baraboo had the choice of at
least two extra good baseball parks
in those days. One was on the
block just west of the court house
park and at that time the block
was mostly vacant. The home
plate was located up towards the
northwest corner, opposite where
the present library building is, and
the field was laid OUT cornerwise
across the block These grounds
had the advantage of being central
ly located, and were equally ac-
cessible from any part of town.
Owing to the nature of the soil,
it would dry off rapidly after a rain,
and this at times made it quite
desirable. This field was the scene
of many hot contests, but it
gradually began to be occupied by
buildings and they finally took
full possession.
The other park was in the east
part of town, and was located Oh
the west end of block two in Litch-
field, lying between what is now
Mound and Second streets, and it
also included the adjacent part of
Elizabeth street. This was an
:Ioo1 80 xx,o1I 90 n n a +,1roI mazda
ball park, and was evidently the
bed of an ancient pond which had
gradually filled up until the ground
was firm and smooth. No timber
ever grew on it, but it was COW
cred with luxuriant growth of
June grass which was always crop
ped short by the large herd OF town
COWS, which, at that time, enjoyed
free range. 1t was almost entire:
ly surrounded by beautiful
growth of oak trees, which furn-
ished a very agreeable shade for
the spectators and consequently
there were no bleachers to mar
the beauty of the scene. The land
on both sides of the grounds slop-
ed gradually away, and this gave
the spectators a-view of the entire
field from a slightly elevated pos
ition.
The home plate was located a
few rods to the north of what is
now the intersection of Mound ana
Elizabeth streets, not far from
the present home Of George Howe;
and the field was laid out to the
northeast. This was the favorite
park during the hot, dry weather,
but a few years later it was spoil
ed and the end came, when Eliza
beth street was extended through
it. After that a vacant block out
in Lyons was used for this purpose
for a number of years.
Some Hot Disputes
One of the most interesting feat
ures of the old time games, were
the disputes that arose from time
to time over various things that
came up during the progress of the
game. These disputes usually
waxed hot and eloquent, and some
times even looked serious. I have
No recoIIacfions of an umnire he