Evening star., 1933-04-09
BY EARL H. SHINDELL.


bration of base ball, for just 100
wears ago this Spring the Philod2l-
phia OLYMPIC Club was formed to
pay town ball. from which grew,
in the next half century, the big
leagues and the modern game
While tennis, foot ball and golf hourisheo
bn American soil from stock bred for CEN
kuries base ball sprung full-grown from the
brow of the United States Jove, as it were. Even
lacrosse its nearest relative came from the In
hans The Greeks were the frSt bill players, ana
khey erected statue to Aristonicus, the great
bayer of the day. phase Of popular ap-
broval which has been dropped in succeeding
centuries Except for the use Ct the ball, tnere
little resemblance in the American game to-
bay to that of the Greeks.
Boston saw the first base ball organization
Although New York early took the lead IN fts
development As played then, it resembied
Ierv closely the indoor base ball Of the pres
mt man could be put out either by hitting
him with the ball while he was running 10
base or grounding the sphere in hole near
Inc home base The team first receiving Il
Bcores was the victor, in one version OF the
lame In another the side scoring the most
home runs in given time won The diamond
vas a square When a man struck at tfnee
Ialls he was a hand out. New York players
Ieed a large elastic ball weighing about three
Aces which could be pitched only under
ded but when the game went to New Eng
I'd a small ball was allowed and overland
hrowing was the proper style.
rHE Knickerbockers of Boston, the first club
to play under fixed rules, came into being
b 1845, and four years later tr1cked tnem-
Elves out in gaudy blue and white uniforms
nat were the admiration of that growing VII
hayed their first recorded match against the
ew Workers, beating them 25 to l, in four
hands" or innings
The Capital City, on the banks OF the Fo-
mac River just then growing out OF its swamp,
as not to be outdone, sent invaders Nortn
1851. who barely missed returning With Two
ew York scalps. Each time they lost by the
eore OF % to TO- The first battle lasted eight
Innings the second 10. and the close verdicts
mt the 'Washingtcns" home enthusiastic
bout the game.
In 1857 nearly 60 clubs were in the field,
national association of base ball players
as formed and rules. the most important OF
hich was to divide the game into nine IN
nes. were written by Henry Chadwick,
ather OF base ball." then sports writer for
he New York Clipper. The Fashion Race
purse Of Flushing, Long Island, became the
nd lot Of the day. In 1861 attendances were
aching $1,000 The players OF course were
nateurs and admissions varied from 10 70
cents
The New England Association came into being
R858 and formed its own rules. The squad
zen consisted of a player at each base, several
lders. pegs for bases that were four inches
ove the ground, pitcher and a catcher with
70 or three to help him." The fielder in
itching the ball had TO keep his feet rule
at would bother players today who ike to
rn somersaults and handsprings and come up
nilng with the hall while the multitude ap-
auds There were no "called balls" although
allied strikes" came IN 1853 Batted balls
ught either on the fly or on the f1rst bounce
sposed of the batman. The pitcher couio
come closer than As feet In delivering the
II to the batter but could stand of 10 or IL
et and run up to his mark for greater speed
he bat, until 1868, could be Of any length and
e, and the base runner not required
touch the bases in order.
The game spread across the Alleghanies and