The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-08-14
Baseball of 1876
 Played Yesterday | At Polo Grounds
Especial to The Democrat


 New York, Aug. 14.-"Ninc balls take your basel" Batter is out foul fly caught on first bounceI"
 You didn't sec that play, Mir Umpire. Please ask the spectators whether or not I was out" "Ali- rightI I will"
 That's baseball a la 1876. Yes. terday ct the Polo Grounds the New York Giants turned back the clock sixty years. Baseball aa lt was played in 1878, the National Leagues first year, was portrayed in c modern setting, the million- dollar arena on, which the Giants are making their strenuous bid for the i036 pennant.
 The Giants of i030 came homo from their Brooklyn invasion, play ing the Phillies of l036 at the Polo Grounds in regulariy-sche game starting at 3:i6. In the hour before that there was recon. structed on the playing.field c page out of history, with baseball . la 1876 played by two teams reprc- senting the New York Mutuals and the Philadelphia Philiies of the 1876 season.
 Tho pagentry of the past was New York's celebration of the Na- tionai Leagues 60th anniversary year. Old-time major league heroes were there in perSon-old Giants, old PhiliicS, old Cubs, old Aineri- can Leaguers aS well as National Leagues-guestS of the Giants at luncheon and in Polo Grounds boxes for tho 1e76-l036 double -header.
 The parade was of 1876 style, with all its horsepower in the form of horses, old buses in which the contcsting le76.ers will ride, old barouches, landaus and cabrioletS for the fans of oiden- times. After parading from the original Polo Grounds site at 10th street to the ball park, the cavalcade entered the modern Polo Grounds and Cir- cle the field, SO that inside the park Is the best place to watch the par- ade.
 The bewhiskered teams of 1876 wore uniforms built to 1876 specifications, with thickiy padded pants, necktieS, and stiff-bosonl blouses. The wore neckties but there wasn't sign of glove mask, chest-protector, shin-guarda or any of the other modern protective devices armoring the big leaguers of today.
 The catcher plays back near the grandstand but frequently charges up to guard home plate. His ma jesty the umpire stands of to the right of home plate and never goei into the diamond. He has a chail on which he sometimes sits ol stands and the rules permit tht umpire to ask the opinions of tho fans on decisions and to forfeit the game at the slightest provocation.
 His majesty is not an official eni- ployed by the league. In 1876 the managers met on the morning ot each game and agreed upon "a gen. tleman of high repute in the conn- munity" to act as umpire. It was Q weighty honor to be invited to iiH- pire a big league game, 6 sacred trust and @ stern responsibility.
 The picture of the game in action shows striking differences although the play could never be mistaken for anything else than baseball.
 The 1876 pitcher stands IS feet nearer home plate than to-day's aces in a real "box" 6 feet square.
 The pitching rules require the ball to be pitched, not thrown. Tn other words, underhand pitching is compulsory. Carl Mays would have been Q perfect 1878 pitcher.
 The batter calls for either c thigh" or . How" ball. If it's a high bali, the pitch must cross the plate between the shoulders and waist. Otherwise it's . 'ball." But 1t takes Q balls for Q base on balls. "Waiting out" . pitcher in 1876 is . long wait.
 There are 10 men on . side. The tenth man, or right.shortstop, or- dinariIy backs up the infield, but his