Detroit evening times., 1942-08-19
Don't Mix
Baseball
And Cricket
Sin q e Exom pie VIII
Point Out Danger
BY HENRY McLEMORE

poration now reads the
major league baseball scores
each evening for the benefit Of
our soldiers. This is a gracious
and hospitable act, but il is not
without its dangers. There is
always the chance that British
curiosity will be piqued by the
scores and Britons will begin dis
cussing our national pastime
with our soldiers.
This would be certain 10 re-
suit in trouble. because baseball
is completely beyond the COM
prehension of any subject of the
king. In my years as a sports
writer 1 have taken at least a
score of Englishmen 10 see base
ball games, and not one of them
was able TO grasp even the rudi-
ments Of the sport.
They all insisted on comparing
IL with cricket, and nothing can
be compared with cricket. un-
less IL be a rowdy session Of the
Ladies Midweek Browning So
ciety.
EFT an American baseballer
~ start arguing with an Eng
lish cricketer and you can widen
the hyphen between Anglo
American relations until it is a
mile long. The American will
swear that Babe Ruth could have
broken all cricket batting rec
ords If given a chance 10 bat
against pitched (bowler) 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
II.
Any picture of Mr.. Grace. and
he is a national idol. is certain
10 bring laughs from the Ameri-
can, because Mr.. Grace has a
beard that makes him look
much like the father OF the
Smith Brothers, and he en-
ployed a stance at the plate
(wickeD which at first glance
would indicate that something
was biting him on the ankle
and that he was scratching it
with his bat
NO American who is anxious
~ 10 maintain his British
friends should ever go out and
play a game of cricket with
them. I speak from experience.
In 1892, when / was on
sightseeing tour of all the his
toric pubs in Fleet street, l was
asked by some friends on the
London Daily Express TO join
them on their annual outing and
cricket game.
When we reached the picnic
grounds lovely spot IN Surrey
sides were chosen for a cricket
game and l was included.
l forget just what position
was assigned me, but in base
ball it would correspond 10 a
backer-up of the center fielder.
The game started about l
O'Clock At $3.50 I hadn't
handled a ball, didn't know what
the score was, and hadn't
spoken 10 a soul. For all the
good / had done, my side might
Just as we'll have had a Jersey
COW playing for them.
T HELLOED to a teammate.
Il Tommy Wisdom. AT that time
racing editor of the Express and
now with the Raj.
when do we get TO bate" I
asked, anxious to take swipe
at the ball.
"It doesn't look as II we'll
get to bat today" T o IN my
answered. THE other chaps are
doing so splendidly. Aren't they
hitting beautifully
He suggested we walk across
the road and have a spot of tea
1--WE can't have tea now"
answered. Were playing"
Nevertheless we abandoned our
stations. walked 10 the tavern,
and had a leisurely cup Of tea
and buttered bread.
When we returned, the other
side was still batting. What's
the score ." | asked Tommy. II
have no idea, Old Fellow" he
answered. "but they must have
so or 20 runs in"
4 ~ hour or so later batter
n hit a tremendous fly II
came my way My baseball
training sent me running for II.
Here's chance, I thought, 70
show these Englshmen how
Americans can field a ball
Here's a chance, l said 20
myself as I raced across the
turf. TO prove that baseball
fielding is much better than
cricket fielding Near the
boundary line l made a running
dive and, miracles of miracles.
caught the ball It really was
a fine catch, and I expected 20
get a lot of pats on the back
and "Well done, well done, or
Fellows" when I trotted back.
Nothing of the sort. "Shame
you caught that one" said
Tommy
His sentiment was echoed by