Evening star., 1942-08-18

IL time with our
soldiers.
Henry MeL.msrs. This would be
certain to result in trouble. because
baseball Is completely beyond the
comprehension Of any subject of tire
King. In my years a. a sports
writer I have taken at Least a score
Of Englishmen to see baseball games,
and not one OF them was able TO
grasp even the rudiments OF the
sport. They all insisted on COM
pairing 1t with cricket. and nothing
can be compared with cricket. unless
it be rowdy session OF the Ladies
Midweek Browning Society.
Let an American bssebaIIer start
arguing with an English cricketer
and you can widen the hyphen BE-
tween American relations un-
TIL It is mile long. 80
The American win swear that
Babe Ruth could have broken all
cricket batting records II given
chance TO bat against q pitcher
tbowler) who threw underhanded.
The Englishman will retort by
saying that their Mr.. Grace was the
greatest batter OF all times, and
will show pictures to prove 1t. Any
picture of Mr.. Grace, and he Ia a
national idol. Is certain to bring
laughs from the American, because
Mr.. Grace has = beard that makes
him look much like the father of the
Smith Brothers, and he employed a
stance at the plate tvicket) which
at first glance would indicate that
something was biting him ON the
ankle and that he was scratching
1t with his bat. -
No American who Is anxious In
maintain his British friends should
ever go out and play . game OF
cricket with them. / speak from
experience. In 1892, when was on
sight-seeing tour Of all the historic
pubs on Fleet street was asked l,y
some friends on the London Daily
Express TO join them on their an
nual outing and cricket Rame.
When We reached the picnic grounds
a lovely spot in Surrey-sides were
chosen for a cricket game and I
was included.
/ forget just what position was
assigned me, but In baseball 1t would
correspond to a backerup OF the
center fielder. was to hell-and-
gone in the meadow, and could but
vaguely make out the forms of my
opponents who were at bat.
The game started about l O'Clock.
At $50 I hadn't handled a ball.
didn't know what the score Was,
and hadn't spoken to . soul. Fhr
all the good I had done, nv side
might Just as well have had q Jer-
sey COW playing for them.
I he1oed to q teammate. Tosnnnv
Wisdom. at that time racing editor
OF tho Express and now with ths
Raj.
When do We get TO bat7- I asked,
anxious to take . swipe at the bail
1T doesn't look as If we'll get to
bat today" Tommy answered. This
other chaps are doing 30 splendidly.
Aren't they hitting beauttfully?"s
-
He suggested we walk across the
road and have a spot of tea.
We can't have tea now" I en-
swered. We're playing"
Nevertheless We abandoned o,,r
stations, walked to the tavern and
had a leisurely cup Of tea and but
tered bread. When we returned the
other side was still batting. What's
the score?' I asked Tommy. T have
no idea, old fellow he answered.
but they must have so or 10 rms
in"
An hour or so later batter hit
tremendous fly. 1t came my vay.
My baseball training sent me run
ming for 1t. Here's a chance. 7
thought. to show these Englishmen
how Americans can field a ball.
Here's a chance, I said to myself
as raced across the turf. to provs
mat baseball fielding is much better
than cricket fielding. Near the
boundary line made running dive
and miracles Of miracles. caught
the ball. 1t really was q fine catch
and I expected to get q lot Of pats
on the backs and well done, we'll
done. Of fellow when I trotted
back.
Nothing Of the sort. Shame yo,
caught that one" said Tommy.
His sentiment was echoed BY hal,
3 dozen OF the other players on NV
side.
What are you guys talking
aoout?' I demanded, little sore.
Ihey explained. The ball was 20
well hit that the batsman should
never. never have been put out on
IT, He should have easily gone for
tour on It," meaning that he sho,,,d
nave had the English version ofs
nome run.
In other words. I wasn't cricket
while playing cricket. Yn, cam
beat that