Baseball

BASEBALL (so called from the bases and ball) is a game played by two teams in which a ball, bat and bases are employed. It is the national sport of the United States where it originated. Next to the United States and Canada baseball is more popular in Japan than elsewhere. The countries of Europe have been less attracted to it than those of Asia, although there are scattered baseball organizations in the British Isles, France, Holland and Australia.

Origin of Game.

The origin of the game was long disputed because of its resemblance to rounders, a game originating in Great Britain, and its similarity to modifications of games in the United States grouped under the common designation of Town Ball, and to "One Old Cat," "Two Old Cat," "Three Old Cat" and "Four Old Cat." These contained rudiments of baseball. "Four Old Cat" was played with four bases. Because of many disputations a thorough investigation into the origin of the game was instituted by Albert G. Spalding, who had been one of its first expert players. This included investigation of meagre pub lications of facts developed in the latter part of the 19th century and also personal evidence. A commission, of which Col. A. G. Mills, a leader in U.S. amateur sports, was chairman, decided that Col. Abner Doubleday (afterwards a general in the U.S. army) devised the diagram of bases and positions for players in thus becoming the inventor of baseball. His fixture of base loca tions and distances between bases has never been changed. In the games of "cat," which were played prior to baseball, it was necessary to bat, run and touch a base, or bases. The number of bases to be touched depended upon whether it was "One Old Cat," "Two Old Cat" or "Three Old Cat." A run was scored when the batter touched an outlying base, retraced his steps and regained the batsman's base, or "home-plate," as it later became known in baseball. "One Old Cat" could be played with three players, but more enjoyably with four or more. In "Two Old Cat," in "Three Old Cat" and in "Four Old Cat" the number of players could be increased to 1 o, 12, 14 or more. No organized teams played, nor were sides formally chosen. The object of the game was to "stay in" as batsman as long as possible, runs being con sidered merely an accessory to "staying in." From this primitive method of "bat the ball, run and tally" de veloped the game of Town Ball, in which the selection of teams upon the field, or competition of sides previously agreed upon or chosen, engendered the method of team competing against team. Thus when baseball was devised by Col. Doubleday, the fact of team competition had been determined in Town Ball. The Olympic Town Ball club was organized in Philadelphia in This appears to be the first team of that character assembled in the United States. Town Ball was played with a field diagram laid out as a perfect square with four corners, or goals, each of them about 6oft. apart. The batsman's position was half way between the ist and 4th goal. The catcher was back of the batsman and outside the square. There were no batted foul balls, and it was considered to be expertness on the part of the batsman. to deflect the ball back of him.

The playing field devised by Col. Doubleday is diamond-shaped. The bases are 9of t. apart. The ball is foul if batted outside the diamond or outside its lines indefinitely prolonged from home base, the batsman's stand, to the farthest limits of the playing area. The pitcher's position is equally distant between 1st and 3rd base, although not half way between 2nd base and home plate. Because Town Ball, also known as Round Ball, was thought by some to be the newly invented game of baseball, two entirely different games became identified with the name of baseball. In 1845 the Knickerbocker baseball club of New York drew up the first code of rules for baseball. The first match game of record was played under these rules between the Knickerbocker club and a picked team which, for this game, called itself the New York club. The game was played at Hoboken, N. J., in 1846. Games were played by the Knickerbockers in matches with the Gotham, Eagle and Empire clubs of New York city, and with the Excelsior, Atlantic, Putnam and Eckford clubs of Brooklyn, then a separate city from New York. There were other clubs than these.

From 1845 until 1854 baseball was played by the code of rules first written for the game. In 18S4 there was a revision which provided specifications for the • size and weight of the ball. On March Io, 1858, the first attempt was made at organization of clubs, their number having greatly increased and the game having expanded throughout the territory about New York city, extend ing to Philadelphia. Massachusetts still played Town Ball. In 18J9 Washington, D.C., organized a baseball club followed in 186o by Lowell, Mass. Allegheny, Pa., and Hartford, Conn., also organized clubs that year. From that time the game became more widespread, going to Maine, Kentucky, and in 1866 to Portland, Oregon. Baseball was played in towns and hamlets other than the cities mentioned during this period, but the clubs were considered to be town or minor clubs as against organized clubs, a distinction which has followed the progress of professional base ball since.

The National Association of Baseball Players, organized in 1858, embraced 16 clubs in New York city. W. H. VanCott was its president. The Knickerbocker playing rules were amplified, and the ball and bat were made to conform to measurements ap proximating those of the present day. In 1863 the rules were further amplified. From 1861 to 1865 baseball languished except in the armies of the Civil War. In 1865 a convention was held in New York at which 91 clubs were represented, including the cities of St. Louis, Chattanooga, Louisville, Washington, Boston and Philadelphia. It was strictly an amateur organization without schedules for games, and its purpose was to preserve the stability of the rules and the amateur status of the sport.

In 1865 and 1866 professionalism began to make its appear ance. Players did not derive their livelihood from baseball, but the more expert accepted sums of money as members of any club that would engage them for occasional games. This was a new development, somewhat unexpected, and it seriously per turbed the equanimity of the amateur players. Gentlemen players of baseball openly avowed their objection to what they expressed in caustic language as deterioration. In addition to the dis position of some players to accept hire for their services, open pool-selling and bribery by gamblers, some of which was suc cessful, outraged the better element among players and organizers of clubs. This conflict between amateur and professionalism eventually led to a professional organization, the first of its kind, and a puny affair compared with the later great associations of clubs in leagues.

In 1867 the Nationals of Washington, under the lead of Arthur Pue Gorman, afterward U.S. senator from Maryland, made the first trans-Allegheny tour. The team went as far west as St. Louis. In that year the Rockford, Ill., club began the practice of paying salaries to some of its players. In 1868 the Cincinnati team was organized on what were known as semi-professional lines, a characterization of athletes peculiar to the United States. A semi-professional does not play baseball for a living, but is hired in occasional games. In 1869 the Cincinnati team was hired as an outright professional organization, and made a successful tour of the United States from New York to San Francisco. The Cincinnati team did not lose a game that year and was undefeated until midsummer of 187o. During the successful career of the Cincinnati team rival clubs became imbued with an eager desire to win from it, throwing aside all restraint of policy relative to being amateurs in order to engage the best players available. Every attempt was abandoned by most of the important clubs to preserve an amateur standing, despite the fact that they were members of the National association, which was an amateur body. Once professionalism had entered the game it was impossible to keep the professional and amateur exponents of the sport recon ciled. The organization of the professional Cincinnati team was followed by that of another professional team at Chicago, and in 187o the National Associationf Baseball Players was disrupted, the pure amateurs withdrawing from the annual meeting. A new amateur organization was effected in 1872 but died in 1874, the last of the concerted attempts to keep the control of the game within amateur influence. In 1871 the National Association of Professional Baseball Players was organized in New York. This embraced the Athletics of Philadelphia, Bostons, White Stockings of Chicago, Eckfords of Brooklyn, Forest Citys of Cleveland, Forest Citys of Rockford, Ill., Haymakers of Troy, N.Y., Kekion gas of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Mutuals of New York. The affairs of the organization were loosely conducted. The circuit was not preserved intact. Many scheduled games never were played. Gambling and contract breaking became so repulsive to players of higher principle and to certain owners that they withdrew. The association dissolved in 1876 when the National League came into existence with the seceders from the association back of it. It was organized in New York city, Feb. 2, 1876, with a member ship made up of the Athletics of Philadelphia, Hartford, Conn., Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, Ky., St. Louis and the Mutuals of New York city. It is the oldest body of associated sport in the United States.

The first president of the league was Morgan G. Bulkeley, after ward governor of Connecticut and also U.S. senator from that State. He served one year and was succeeded by William A. Hulbert, commended everywhere by baseball followers because he expelled from baseball for life four ball players found guilty of dishonesty. From this time confidence was established in the professional branch, and amateur baseball grew with the revived interest in professional baseball. Hulbert remained president of the league until his death in 1882. During his administration baseball had sufficiently developed to be regarded as an institution. Col. A. G. Mills, one of the most notable athletic authorities in the U.S., afterward prominent in the Olympic games, was elected president of the league in 1883. He resigned in 1885. Nicholas E. Young was elected to succeed him in 1885 and held office until 1903. Presidents in succession since then have been Harry Clay Pulliam, Thomas J. Lynch, John K. Tener, former governor of Pennsylvania, and John A. Heydler.

In 1882 the American Association was formed in cities not members of the National League circuit. National League owners attempted to equalize salaries of players regardless of cities and local conditions, by a uniform scale of hire. The players opposed it, and in 189o, after forming a league known as the Players' League, took the field against the National League. In one year the player organization was wrecked. The American Association engaged in open rivalry with the National League in 1891, a venture hopelessly destined to failure, and in the winter of 1891 was merged with the National League into a 12 club organization having a monopoly of major league baseball. It continued to 190o as the National League when its membership was reduced to eight clubs. The league thereupon became composed of the cities of Boston, New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, St. Louis and Cincinnati, and has so remained.

In 190o Charles A. Comiskey, owner of the St. Paul club of the Western League, obtained permission to place a club in Chicago. The National League had abandoned Baltimore and Washington, and the Western League, seeking to expand, changed its name to the American League and asked permission to enter those cities. This was refused by the National League. Thereupon the American League declared independence of the National League and took the coveted territory and also invaded St. Louis, Philadelphia, Boston and New York. The newer organization became a rival of the National League with a following equally as great. B. B. Johnson was president of the American League from its first year until the summer of 1927, when he resigned.

Three tours have been made abroad under the auspices of baseball organizers in the United States. The first was in 1874 when players of the Boston team and the Athletics of Philadelphia went to England and Ireland, playing in cities of both countries. In 1889 the Chicago-All America world tour was organized by A. G. Spalding and travelled from Chicago to San Francisco, played in Australia, Colombo, Ceylon, Egypt, Italy, France, Scot land and Ireland. In 1913-14 there was the Comiskey-McGraw tour which played games throughout the United States, thence to Japan, China, the Philippines, Colombo, Ceylon, cities of Egypt, capitals of the continent, Great Britain and home.

Amateur baseball is played universally throughout the United States. There is no authentic census to be had of the players who follow it, but there is barely a hamlet in the country that has not its baseball nine. In scores of towns and cities there are local leagues patterned upon the methods of the major leagues. The members of these city leagues play for amusement and not always for a share of gate receipts. The playing rules of the game as used by the professionals are followed by the amateurs without demur.

Modern Government of Baseball.—The classification of baseball is divided into major and minor leagues. There are two major leagues, each of which has its own organization. There is no fixed limit to the number of minor leagues. All minor leagues are controlled by one association and subscribe to general rules. The two major leagues have eight clubs each. Boston has one club in each major league; so also have New York, Chicago, St. Louis and Philadelphia. Washington, Pittsburgh, Brooklyn, Cleve land, Cincinnati and Detroit each have one club only. Minor leagues are grouped in classes dependent upon the size of the population of the cities in that territory which they include. The highest class is AA. From that they range downward to Classes A, B, C and D.

"Organized Baseball" in United States is the general designation given to associations of professional clubs which are merged into leagues under one administration and executive. Organization be came necessary to protect club franchises which are based on territorial monopoly, and also to protect investments in players. The player-holding is a peculiar self-asserted right of a cor poration or party of the first part to what are called the artistic or playing rights of the party of the second part, invariably an individual. Prior to the formation of clubs into leagues it was common for rival owners to hire players away from each other, even during the playing season. Clubs were occasionally arbi trarily dispossessed of their franchises, losing all or nearly all of their investment. In 1879 Arthur H. Soden of Boston effected the adoption of a resolution by the National League by which five players of each club might be named who could not be ap proached for hire by any other club of the league. This was the beginning of the reserve rule which was amplified in 1883, when Col. A. G. Mills brought about a national agreement between leagues and increased the reserve limit to 11 players. The reserve limit was later increased so that 4o players may be reserved by each major league club, and fewer by each minor club depend ing upon classification. The reserve rule, with its extraordinary assumption of perpetual equity in the player's services, binds him whether or not he signs a season's contract. If a player does not agree with a club as to salary for a season he must remain idle unless the club makes other provision for him. A player reserved by a minor league club may be drafted by a club of higher classification. Any player's services may be transferred from one club to another by the sale of his contract without his consent. With the reorganization of baseball in 1921 an optional clause was inserted in the player contract by which a certain sum gives the club right to re-engage the player a succeeding year. Every player must be paid his salary in full, if it has been earned, by the club which engages him or that to which he may be trans ferred.

The National League, after a bitter resistance in the fight with the American League, admitted that it had been worsted, and signed a new national agreement in 1903. The greatest era of prosperity for baseball set in with that year. The new agreement contained the best features of the old. The minor leagues were granted permission to regulate their own affairs through an or ganization of their own, known as the National Association. The new agreement further established the National Commission, a final court of resort for all organized baseball and a new system of government. The commission was composed of three members, the president of each major league and the third selected by these two. This third member was also the commission's chair man. The president of the National League, Harry Clay Pulliam, and of the American League, B. B. Johnson, elected August Herrmann, president of the Cincinnati Baseball club of the Na tional League, to become the first chairman of the National Commission.

In 1905 a formal post-season series of match games, known as the World Series, was established between the championship clubs of each major league. The rules for this series were formulated by John T. Brush, president of the New York National League club, assisted by John B. Foster, and when adopted by both leagues became known as the "Brush rules to govern World Series." Prior to 1905 there had been post-season series which were called World Series. None of these earlier series was under joint league control and jurisdiction. The establishment of the new National Commission paved the way to place the World Series under its authority. Its success has been one of the most remarkable developments of professional baseball. The first series under the Brush rules was of five games played alternately in Philadelphia and New York between the Athletics, American League champions, and the New York Giants, National League champions. It was attended by 91,273 persons. The attendance since then has been more than 280,00o persons for seven games, the limit of the series. The team first winning four games is the immediate winner, and receives the greater share of the players' prize pool. The total receipts for the series in 1905 were Since then they have exceeded $1,000,000 more than once. A percentage of gross receipts is first deducted for the Advisory council. Sixty per cent. of the remainder is deducted for the players, and the balance is distributed between owners of the rival clubs and the rival leagues. The minor leagues have imitated the major leagues with a post-season series between their cham pionship teams, one being held by the Class AA organizations and one by the Texas League and the Southern Association, the latter called the Dixie Series.

Decisions rendered by the National Commission after a few years in office provoked another controversy in baseball. The National Commission was abolished, and in place of it there came into existence a one-man authority centred in Kenesaw Mountain Landis, a Federal judge, who was elected commissioner of baseball with jurisdiction over all clubs and all leagues. To act in consultation with him an Advisory council was named composed of Landis, Johnson, president of the American League, and Heydler, president of the National League. Shortly after being installed in office Commissioner Landis objected to criticism of his office which was asserted to have been made by Johnson and did not call further sessions of the Advisory council. In Oct. 1927, the American League accepted the resignation of Johnson as president and in the following month Ernest Sargent Barnard, who had been president of the Cleveland Baseball club of the American League, was elected to the presidency of the American League. Final authority and decision are vested in Commissioner Landis.

How to Play Baseball.—The game of baseball is played by two teams. Each strives to make more runs than the other in nine innings, which are the subdivisions of each game. Baseball may be played on any smooth level field which is about 400ft. on each side. Boys may play on a smaller field, and some of the larger professional grounds have playing areas that are not more than 26oft. in length between home-plate and the nearest barrier, which is the wall of a stand for spectators. When played on a field that is considerably smaller than the official measurements, special rules, known as ground rules, are agreed upon.

In laying out the field for play powdered chalk, or a similar substance, may be used to mark out the diamond. It is best first to designate a point distant about 3oyd. from one corner of the field. This point is the home plate or home base. This base is the only five-sided base on the field. Two of its sides extending along what are known as the base lines, are each 12in. long. Its front surface facing the pitcher is 17in. wide. From the home plate extend a line to the right for 9oft. at an acute angle toward another corner of the playing area. At this 9o-ft. point the first base is located. Extend another line from the home-plate to the left toward another corner of the playing area for a distance of 9of t. This locates the third base. Then extend a line from the centre of the home-plate and through the centre of the diamond for a distance of 12 7f t. 3iin. This establishes the fourth corner of the diamond and locates the second base. Each base except home is a white canvas bag, 15in. square, filled with sand. The chalk lines leading from the home plate to first and third bases are called the base lines. They are prolonged indefinitely beyond first and third bases to the limits of the playing area. They divide foul ground from fair ground. All ground between these lines and of which the second base is approximately the centre, is fair ground, which also continues indefinitely outward from second base. That part of the playing area within the lines extending between bases is called the infield, and that part of it extending outward from second base and from the lines running between first base and second base, and second base and third base, is called the outfield. The term "diamond" often is applied to the playing area as a whole; sometimes to the infield only.

Each team in a baseball game is composed of nine players. One of these teams takes its turn at bat while the other takes the field and endeavours to put out three players of the batting side so that an inning at bat may be completed. The team in the field takes its turn at bat when three of the batting side are out and the team that had been at bat goes to the field. This alternating process continues until nine full innings have been played.

If the side that has been in the field at the end of the eighth inning is in possession of more runs than the side that has fin ished its time at bat in the first half of the ninth inning, the game is over, as there is no reason to play the last half of the ninth inning. If there is a tie at the end of nine innings the game is continued until one side or the other may win or until it is necessary to adjourn it for lack of light or because of storm. A game thus terminated is drawn. A player may be substituted for another at any time on either team and there is no limit to substitutions. But a player once out of the game may not return to it, except by the permission of the cap tain of the opposing team. To score a run a player must legally touch each base beginning with first base, then second and third, to home plate again. If the side is put out before a player can score he is "left on base" and receives no credit for the distance that he may have advanced.

The Players.—The fielding side consists of the pitcher and catcher, sometimes called the battery, first baseman, second base man, third baseman and short stop, called in-fielders, and left fielder, centre fielder and right fielder, called out-fielders.

The pitcher delivers the ball to the batsman. He may throw overhand or underhand. In the act of pitching he must keep one foot in contact with a white plate called the pitcher's plate, 24in. long and 6in. wide, which is 6oft. 6in. from the apex of the home base on a direct line towards the second base. Before 1875 the pitcher was obliged to deliver the ball with a forward toss only, something like the delivery of a ball on a bowling alley. Unex pected speed was developed with this archaic motion, and because it was found that speed could be increased by an underhand throw, which was the evolution of the toss, underhanded pitching was soon legalized. The overhand throw followed as a matter of course. In 1867 William Arthur Cummings developed the curve ball. This inaugurated the most radical departure in pitching in the history of baseball. The most common and most used curve is the out-curve. The ball, delivered by a right-handed pitcher, proceeds on a straight line towards the batsman until almost within reach of his bat when it suddenly swerves and twists away from him, if he be a right-handed batter, or toward him, if he be a left-handed batter. The reverse is true with a left-handed pitcher. This curve is caused by a strong twist being given to the ball by the wrist of the pitcher as the ball leaves the pitcher's hand from between the first or index finger and thumb. There is no in curve. Many pitchers throw a ball with a pronounced in-shoot, but none has been able to develop a pronounced "break" (another name for curve) to the ball as in the out-curve. There is a drop ball which proceeds on a straight line from the pitcher toward the batter and then suddenly descends toward the ground. There is also what is known as the raise ball which is started close to the ground and sails upward with an out-curve motion. There is what is known as the knuckle ball, in which the knuckles of the pitcher's hand play a prominent part in giving the ball erratic motion; the screw ball, which, to the batter, has a seeming zigzag motion ; the fork ball, in which the first and second fingers of the hand exercise a peculiar grip on the ball, and other varieties. Change of pace on the part of the pitcher, that is, ability to pitch both a fast and a slow ball with a similar motion, is essential in modern baseball. For every ball that is pitched over any part of the home-plate between the shoulder and knee of the batsman, the umpire may call a strike if the batsman declines to swing at the ball. A ball pitched at the proper height but not over the plate, or one pitched below the knee or above the shoulder, is a called ball. The batter is allowed three strikes and is out if he misses the third strike and the catcher holds the ball. If the umpire calls four balls the batter may go to first base in safety. The pitcher ordinarily will dispose of the batter within a maxi mum of six thrown balls or send him to first base. The pitcher, while in position on his plate, may not make a motion to de liver the ball to the batsman without actually throwing it, or to throw to first base, while that base is occupied by a runner, without completing the throw. If he violates this he is said to have made a balk. Each base runner may advance a base if the pitcher balks, but the batsman may not go to first base. In addition to his duties as pitcher the pitcher is also a fielder, stop ping batted balls and throwing out the batsman and occasionally covering first base whenever the baseman must leave his base to make a fielding play.

The catcher stands behind the home-plate and the batter, and must be within a ten-foot radius of the home-plate when the ball is delivered to the batsman. The pitcher throws to the catcher and endeavours not to let the ball strike the ground. The catcher has the most important position on the field as the playing of the game is always in front of him. In addition to catch ing the pitched balls he often fields short hits, called bunts, to the first baseman and catches high foul flies which otherwise might fall a considerable distance to one side or back of him, It is his duty to try to prevent base runners from advancing a base after the ball has been delivered to him by the pitcher, Hence he must be a very strong, powerful and accurate thrower. Often the catcher by an adroit throw will catch a runner off a base. When this happens the runner is said to be "napping." The catcher also assists the pitcher in catching runners "napping" by a system of signals between them. The catcher, by signs which may be of any nature, but are hidden and presumed to be unin telligible to the batting side, gives directions to the pitcher as to what the latter shall throw to the batsman. When the catcher assumed his position directly back of the batsman in modern base ball (he once played far back) he did not wear the heavy glove on his left hand, a chest protector which is inflated with air, the wire mask over his face, and shin guards. These have been con siderately provided for his safety. Expert catchers, except in rare instances, are right-handed.

Every batsman upon hitting a ball must run for the first base. If the ball is batted on the ground it may be fielded and thrown to first base. For that reason the first baseman must be a sure catch of a thrown ball. As the first baseman may also field a ball batted in his direction and then run and touch the base he must be an accurate fielder. A tall man, if agile, naturally is preferable for a first baseman, but men of medium height play the base with great skill. The second baseman usually plays back of the base line between first and second bases. He may choose any place in that area which he deems best for his success. He fields the balls batted toward him whether grounders, line hits or flies. He must also be ready to cover second base whenever a runner tries to advance, or steal, from first to second base. The short stop occupies almost a similar position between second base and third. His duties are identical with those of a second baseman, and he shares with him the responsibility of covering second base to put out base runners. The short stop has a longer throw to make to the first baseman on most of the balls batted toward the short stop's position. He must be a quick and accurate thrower. It is also his duty to back up both the second baseman and the third baseman when he can do so. The short stop may be called the "Handy-Andy" of the infield.

The third baseman fields ground balls, as do the other base men, and short stop, and his throw to the first baseman is usually the longest of all on the infield. Batsmen become very adept in tapping the ball a short distance toward third base, and a third baseman must be very active and alert on his feet in order to run forward, pick up the ball and throw the batsman out before he reaches first base. These bunt hits, as they are called, at times are fielded by the pitcher or catcher. This is made necessary because the third baseman is compelled to play very close to his base when there is a runner advancing toward it from second base.

The outfielders roam back and forth, and in and out at will, to catch such long fly hits as are batted into their territory. It is their duty so to place themselves as to be in proper position for certain batters who have a propensity to bat the ball in one general direction. It is also the duty of the out-fielders to be ready always to field such batted balls as pass between the in fielders to the out-field and to back up the basemen when the ball may be thrown to them to try to put a runner out, or to re cover the ball if it has been batted and has passed an in-fielder. Teamwork in baseball makes it imperative that each player must know when to "back up" or come to the support of another player. The out-fielders must be very good throwers, as they IN BUNTING THE BALL, THE BAT IS HELD HIGHER THAN USUAL. ORDINARILY A BATTER IN BUNTING HOLDS THE BAT OUT AND HITS THE BALL WITHOUT STRIKING AT IT. IN SUCH A PLAY THE BATSMAN STARTS TO RUN A SECOND OR SO BEFORE BUNTING are often required to throw to the home-plate from long distances to try to put out runners who are endeavouring to score. If the catcher is standing near the home-plate ready to receive such a throw, the pitcher and even the first baseman may run in back of the catcher to "back up" the thrower. The captain of the team, or some other player designated, usually calls the name of the player who is to catch a fly ball. This is especially necessary for the out-fielders who run at top speed, two or three of them trying for the ball, and who are in danger of collision unless there is someone to call out which player shall make the catch.

On either side of the home-plate a parallelogram, marked with chalk, 6f t. long and 4f t. wide, is drawn. The batter stands within one of these. Each is called a batter's box. If he oversteps the box and at the same time bats the ball, he is declared out. The object of the batsman is to get to first base without being put out. He may do this in several ways: (r) He may make a base hit, which is a batted ball in fair ground that cannot be caught or fielded to first base in time to put him out; (2) he is entitled to first base if the umpire calls four bad balls at none of which the batter has struck; (3) he is given first base if struck by a pitched ball unless the umpire decides that the batter did not attempt to get out of the way; (4) if the catcher fails to hold the third strike the batter is safe at first base if he can reach it before the catcher can throw the ball to the first baseman, and the first baseman, with the ball in his possession, touch first base; (5) the batter may reach first base by a mis-play of some fielder, which may be a muffed fly, a failure to field successfully a ground ball, a muffed thrown ball or a bad throw. Fair batted balls are only those which are batted within fair lines. Foul balls are all others than fair balls. The batsman is riot compelled to run on them. Until two strikes have been called by the umpire, foul batted balls are called strikes, under the provision of the foul strike rule, a modern innovation of the game.

The more clever batsmen try to place the ball to a certain part of the field. Bunting the ball is the act of tapping it slowly for a short distance toward either first or third base, as closely to the baseline as possible. It is an acquired art as there are very few natural bunters. The batter endeavours to make a safe hit by striking the ball between the fielders or batting it so hard that a fielder cannot handle it successfully. In the latter case the fielder is not given an error. "Error" is the technical name used by the scorer for a mis-play and is charged against the fielder who makes it. The judge of a mis-play is the official scorer. The batsman may also hit safely by placing the ball over the heads of the in fielders or out-fielders. A hit by which the batsman makes two bases, the ball being handled without error, is a two-base hit or a two bagger, one for three bases a three-base hit or three bagger, and one for all the bases, a home run. There are many ways in which the batsman may be put out : (r) He is out if he fails to bat in the regular order given to the umpire by the captain of his team; (2) if he fails to take his position within one minute after being summoned—this rule is seldom enforced, it being one in tended more for discipline than anything else; (3) if he makes a foul fly hit and the ball is caught before it strikes the ground. A foul tip, which is a pitched ball grazed by the bat, barely de flected in its course and caught by the catcher, is a strike; (4) if he wilfully obstructs or interferes with the catcher; (5) if he misses the third strike and the ball is caught by the catcher. If the ball hits his person on the third strike he is out. If the catcher drops the ball and throws it to first base where it may be caught by any fielder before he gets there, he is out; (6) if a foul or fair hit fly ball be caught before striking the ground; (7) if any fair hit ground ball is fielded to the first baseman who touches the bag before the batter arrives at the base. If the batter steps out of the batsman's box and meets the ball he is not out if he does not strike the ball.

The moment the batsman has batted a fair ball he becomes a base-runner and must start for first base. He may overrun this base if he desires to do so. He may turn in either direction with out being put out, but if he shows intent to go to second base he forfeits his right to return to first base without being put out. After he has once reached first base he may be touched out with the ball in the hands of a fielder, unless some part of his person is in contact with a base. When a fair or foul ball struck by a bats man of the runner's side is caught on the fly the runner must re touch his base or be put out if the baseman receives the ball be fore the runner can get back. A runner on first base is forced to run to second when the batsman hits a fair ground ball. He is not forced to run on a fly hit. If there is a runner on second and an other on third, with one on first also, the bases being filled, as it is called, all are forced. This is called "forced off base." When this happens the forced runner can be put out if the ball is thrown to the baseman and held by him on the next base before the runner arrives there. It is not necessary to touch the runner with the ball. If the batsman is given a base on called balls and there is a runner on first base the latter, although forced to go to second base, may do so in safety. A double play is one in which a bat ted ball is fielded with the runner on first base, tossed to the second baseman, putting out the runner, and then thrown by the second baseman to first base in time to put the batsman out. Occasionally triple plays are made when there are two or three runners on bases.

Base running is one of the most beautiful arts of baseball. If there is a base-runner with intent to steal the next base, as it is called, he tries to gain as much advantage as possible when he is sure that the pitcher is about to deliver the ball. When the base-runner nears that base which he is trying to steal he usually slides into it, if he thinks it necessary. He may slide head fore most or feet foremost. Sliding to bases is done to baffle the base man who finds it difficult to catch the ball and stoop to touch the runner. A "double steal" means that two runners act in concert, one signalling to the other that he will make the play. Sometimes this double steal is tried when there is a runner on first and an other on third, the runner on first deliberately leading off the base to induce the pitcher to try for him, hoping that the runner on third may be able to elude the fielders and score. A base-run ner is out if he interferes with an opponent while the latter is fielding a ball or if the runner is hit by a batted ball.

There are three principal ways to try to advance a runner:

(I) If a runner is on first the batsman deliberately bunts, expect ing that he may be thrown out himself but making sure that the runner shall advance to second. This is called a sacrifice; (2) the so-called hit and run play, which should be more clearly called the run and hit play, takes place with a runner on first base. The runner gives a signal to the batsman that he is about to start, and the batsman tries to place a hit through that territory which he thinks will be vacated by an infielder. Thus both runner and batsman may be safe; (3) hitting behind the runner takes place when a runner on first base gives a signal that he is about to start and the batter tries to hit the ball through that space between the advancing runner and the base he has just left. The squeeze play is used only to attempt to assist a runner from third base to score. The runner signals to the batter that he will start on the next pitched ball. The batter bunts the ball and the play is often successful. The batter may be safe at first, thus gaining double advantage, or he may be put out. There is also what is known as a sacrifice fly hit. The batter raps the ball so far out that any runner on bases may remain there until the fielder touches it and then advance to the next base. To render it a sacrifice the runner must not be put out. The pitcher may de liberately give a base on balls to the batsman if he desires to do so. But the catcher must not step out of his position while this is being done. If he does a balk is called on the pitcher and all runners may advance. This so-called "intentional base on balls" is a strategic attempt on the part of the pitcher to send a pre sumably strong batter to first base in order to bring up the next batter on the list.

Two umpires are now used in the higher classified leagues of

baseball, and in the major leagues three are used, and in the World Series, four.

Scoring.

Scoring of baseball games is customarily attended to by experts, although the theory of scoring has become so well known that hundreds of spectators keep their own scores. Books are printed containing special diagrams upon which the score is kept. The score is arranged in vertical columns: (I) How many times each player has been at bat (exempting a time at bat for bases on balls and sacrifice hits). This exemption is made to en courage patience at the bat and skill in sacrificing; (2) how many runs each player has scored ; (3) how many base hits he has made; (4) how many sacrifice hits he has made; (5) how many op ponents he has put out; (6) how many assists he has made. An assist is given to a player whenever he has assisted in putting a player out. For example, if the second baseman picks up a ground ball and throws to first base to put a batter out, he is credited with an assist; (7) how many errors (mis-plays) he has made. Passed balls, which are pitched balls not held by the catcher, are not given as errors against the catcher except in the case of a missed third strike, in which case an error should be scored. Balks and bases on balls are not errors, nor are wild pitches, ex cept that if a pitcher makes a wild throw on the third strike, the batter reaching first base, the pitcher is given an error. In the summary which is provided below the "Box Score," the name given to the vertical column arrangement, are included the long distance hits credited to each batter, stolen bases credited to each runner, double and triple plays, batsmen struck out by each pitcher, the number of bases on balls given by each pitcher, the number of men struck out by each pitcher, the number of run ners left on bases, the time of the game, the names of the urn pires, and also the number of runs batted in by each batsman.

Records of Baseball.

The word "record" is not limited to apply to actual individual achievement by player or team, but it is accepted in a general way as a descriptive title for any event in baseball, including history, legislation and executive action, as well as designation of achievement on the field by the player. The following records are considered to be vital to baseball:— I. The first match game of baseball of record was played at Hoboken, N.J., June 19, 1846, Knickerbockers v. New York, score 23 to I, in four hands which were later called innings. 2. The first baseball uniform was worn by the Knickerbocker Club of New York, coloured blue and white, in 1849. 3. The first extra-inning game of baseball (nine innings being the legal limit) was played June 17, 1861, by the Knickerbockers and Washing tons, at New York city, score 22 to 20, innings numbering ten. 4. The ball was first standardized in size and weight in 1854, a rule being adopted that it must be 51 to 61 oz. in weight and 21 to 3-,',-in. in diameter. This was modified in 1872 by an amendment making the weight of the ball not less than 5 and not more than 51 oz., with a circumference of not less than 9 or more than inches. These specifications have not since been changed and are to continue until 1948 except by special order of the major leagues. 5. The first baseball association of clubs was formed in 1858, and the runs made in nine innings were declared an official game as against victory going to the team that first made 21 runs, or aces as they were then called. The rule never has been changed. 6. In 1859 a rule was adopted that no ball player could receive money for his services. This became worthless with the organizing of professional baseball clubs a short time afterward. 7. Albert J. Reach, born in London, England, became the first professional baseball player in 1864. He was engaged by the Athletics of Philadelphia. He also became the first baseball player to be sent to one city by a club in another, Brooklyn releasing his services to the Athletics on payment of a fixed sum. 8. In 1864 Henry Chadwick, born in England, devised the first method of scoring a game, that is, keeping a record of the plays and runs made by each individual and the team. 9. In 1865 the method of computing individual statistics of players was begun. More than 5,000 players are now reported annually by this system. 10. In 1869 the Cincinnati team played all of the season without defeat, winning 81 games. 11. In 1871 the first professional asso ciation of baseball clubs was organized, the actual beginning of that which came to be known as "organized baseball." 12. The first game with a I to o s'core to be played in organized baseball took place in St. Louis in 1875, Chicago defeating St. Louis. 13. The National League, one of the major associations of baseball in the United States, was organized Feb. 2, 1876. It has existed since then continually, although its circuit of cities has been changed. In 1876 the bat, for the first time, was limited to 42in. in length. 14. In 1877 the first minor league, as it was classified, its title being International League, was organized. There is now an association of minor leagues embracing cities of all sections of the United States and Canada. 15. In 1882 the American As sociation was organized to rival the National League, but not in cities occupied by the National League. 16. In 1883 salaries were first paid to umpires. These salaries have since been increased until certain umpires have been paid as much as $10,00o for the season. 17. The pitching distance was increased in 1893 to its greatest length from home plate, 6oft. 6in., where it has since re mained. 18. The American League, now the junior league of the major organizations, was developed from the Western League, combined with cities in eastern territory. 19. In 1905 the World Series was first played under the Brush rules and it was provided that the National Commission should have control of the series. 20. In 1921 organized baseball, for the first time, modified its system of government by placing one man at its head to act as court of final resort. Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis was elected to the office with the title of Commissioner of Baseball. 21. In 1923 the gross receipts for all seven games of the World Series amounted for the first time to more than $1,000,o00, to be slightly exceeded in succeeding seasons. On Feb. 2, 1935 the National League had its 6oth anniversary, and in the same year the Na tional Association, composed of minor leagues, had its 34th.

BIBLIOGRAPHY. See A.

G. Spalding, America's National GameBibliography. See A. G. Spalding, America's National Game (1911) ; F. C. Richter, History and Records of Baseball (1914) ; Spalding's Baseball Guide in Spalding's Athletic Library and Spalding's Little Red Book (baseball's best records), published annually.

The following is not a complete glossary of baseball terms,

but a list of those terms in general use and included in the rules.

At bat: Term used to express batter's turn to hit the ball. Backing up: Playing behind another player to guard against a probable error or to assist in retiring a batsman.

Backstop: Barrier behind the catcher to stop the ball when it passes him.

Bag: Any base except home plate.

Balk: Motion made by pitcher as if to deliver ball without de livering it and which deceives the batter.

Banished: Ruled from the field by an umpire.

Base: One of f our points to be touched to make a legal run. Base hit: Ball batted between fielders or with such force field ers cannot handle it properly to put the batter out.

Base lines or paths: Runways between home plate and first and third, also between second and first and second and third bases.

Baseman: Player who is stationed at first, second or third base.

Base on balls: Calling of four illegal balls by umpire which gives batter right to go to first base without being put out. Batter: Player at home plate seeking to bat the ball.

Batter up: Player immediately at home plate in proper turn. Batter's box: Two rectangles, one on either side of home plate, in which batsman must stand to bat the ball legally.

Battery: Pitcher and catcher.

Behind the bat: Position of both catcher and umpire-in-chief. Bender: Pitched curve ball.

Blocked off base: Runner restrained from getting back to base because baseman's body or some part of it is in the way. Boxman: Pitcher.

Called ball: One of the balls pitched which the umpire judges not fair.

Called strike: Strike designated by the umpire at which the batter does not swing.

Calling time: Stopping of the game temporarily by the umpire. Catcher: Player who receives the balls thrown by the pitcher. Centre field: Position in mid-outfield.

Centre fielder: Player who guards mid-outfield position. Centre field hit: Hit which goes into centre field territory. Coacher: Man who may or may not be actively in game and, standing at corner of diamond, encourages team at bat.

Crowds plate: Stands as closely to home plate as rules will permit.

Curve: Bend of ball in air as it leaves the pitcher's hand and approaches the batter.

Diamond: Either all the field or the field between bases, more generally the latter.

Dish : Home plate.

Double: Hit for two bases.

Doubled: Batted for two bases.

Double play: Retiring two runners before ball is returned to pitcher and while it is in continuous motion.

Drop or drop ball: Term to describe drop in thrown ball from pitcher to batter.

Error: Mistake in fielding play which is charged to the indi vidual record of the man who makes it.

Extra innings game: Any game in excess of the legal number of nine innings, whether a drawn game or played to a finish.

Fair ball: Any batted ball on fair territory or pitched ball over home plate between shoulder and knee of batter.

Feet first: Sliding to base feet foremost.

Fielder: Any player on the field trying to put batters out. Firing line: Used to denote the position of pitcher as he is combating the batters.

First baseman: Player stationed at first base.

First strike: First strike called by umpire against the batter whether swung at or not.

Flied out: Batted fly caught by fielder.

Fly ball: Any ball batted into the air.

Foul ball: Any batted ball that remains on foul ground as gov erned by rule.

Foul fly: Fly ball batted foul.

Foul strike: First and second fouls against batter called strikes.

Four bagger: Home run.

Grounder: Ball batted on ground.

Half inning: Exactly half an inning, or one side out only. Heavy ball: Thrown ball that seems overweighted to player catching it.

High ball: Pitched ball above the waist of the batter. Hit safely: Made base hit.

Home plate: Base at first corner of diamond and that also at which batter stands to bat.

Home run or Homer: A hit that permits batter to make circuit of all bases without error being made in handling the ball.

In: The batting session of either nine.

In-curve: Same as inshoot.

Infield: Surface of playing ground bounded by base lines. Infielder: A baseman, sometimes the pitcher, catcher or short stop.

Inning: Term at bat of both teams.

Inshoot: Variation of pitched ball toward batter.

Leading off bases: Trying to get a start to the next base while the pitcher still has the ball.

Left field: Outfield back of third base.

Left field kit: A hit toward left field or into it.

Left fielder: Player who guards the territory of left field. Line drive: Straight hit in the air travelling direct to fielder at minimum height from ground.

Lined to the fielder: Batted directly into the fielder's hands and not on the ground with force.

Long drive: Any long hit beyond the infield.

Moved up: Advanced a base.

Muff: Failure to catch a fly ball or throw.

Muffed fly: Fly uncaught because of clumsiness or poor judg ment.

Nine: Players of either team even if more than nine. Nine innings: Legal period of game.

Ninth inning finish: Fine rally as the game is about to end. One base hit: Hit on which the batter reaches first base safely and without a contributing error on the part of a fielder.

Out: End of player's term at bat, or end of runner's safety when circling bases.

Outcurve: Curve that turns away from batter on pitched ball.

Outfield: All fair and foul territory back of the base lines. Over the plate: Ball pitched over home plate, usually referring to one that is also at the right height for batsman.

Overhand delivery: Pitcher throwing the ball with an arm mo tion straight over the shoulder.

Overrunning bases: Failure to hold base when up to it and after touching it.

Pass: Base on called balls.

Passed ball: Pitched ball that is muffed by catcher and goes back of him.

Pennant: Banner denoting championship team.

Percentage: System by which records of players and teams are computed.

Pitch or Pitched ball: Ball thrown by pitcher to batter. Pitcher: Player who throws ball to the batters.

Pitcher's plate or Plate: The plate from which the pitcher throws the ball to the batter.

Player: Anyone actively engaged in a game.

Player trapped or pocketed: Runner who is successfully pre vented from advancing a base by skill of more than one opposing fielder.

Player's bench or coop: Where members of batting team sit when their team is at bat.

Pulled off base: Runner induced to leave base by strategy of opposing player.

Put out: Any player who has been retired on the batting side; also a technical term to denote a scoring play.

Regular: Player who is named to start in game and is also a constant player on team.

Right field: Outfield back of first base.

Right fielder: Player who guards right field.

Right field hit: Batted ball that goes toward right field or into it.

Run: Circuit of the bases by batter, counting one point for his team.

Sacrifice: Deliberate out on part of batter to advance base runner.

Safety: Base hit.

Score: Tabulated record of the game.

Scorer: The man who keeps the score of the game.

Second base: The base located half-way between first and third. Second baseman: The guardian of second base.

Second strike: That following the first, and may be called by the umpire if the batter does not swing at a properly pitched and fair ball.

Sent to base: Given a base on called balls or ordered to first base by the umpire because of a penalty against team in field. Shortstop: The player who guards the field between second and third bases, acting also as second baseman at times.

Shut out: Team retired in game or inning without scoring. Side-arm delivery: Throwing the ball by the pitcher with the arm horizontal to the body.

Side out: Three hands of the team at bat retired.

Slide : Plunge by base runner along the ground to make the next base or return to one held.

Steal: Obtaining a base against the best defence of the fielders. Stolen base: Base obtained by runner against the best defence of the team in the field.

Straight-arm delivery: Pitching the ball without crooking the pitching arm appreciably.

Straight ball: Pitched ball without a curve or shoot.

Strike: Penalty called against the batter, who is allowed three strikes by rule. Umpire may call strikes if ball is pitched fair and legally and batter does not swing at it.

Strike out: To be out on three strikes whether called by the um pire or swung at by the batter.

Three-bagger: Batted ball on which the batter can make third base safely against any defence.

Third baseman: Guardian of third base.

Third out: Third player out of the team at bat.

Third strike: Third and last strike called by the umpire or swung at by the batsman, the maximum allowed to each batter. Three-base hit: Same as three bagger.

Three hundred hitter: One who bats .300 or better, based on a decimal percentage system which establishes records for in dividuals.

Time at bat: Term of the batter against the pitcher.

Time of game: Actual hours and minutes consumed in play. Triple: Three-base hit.

Tripled: Made a three-base hit.

Triple play: Putting out three men and retiring side in suc cessive plays before the ball is returned to the pitcher, an unusual feat, very infrequently witnessed by spectators.

Two base hit: Same as two bagger.

Umpire: The judge of all plays. There may be from one to three of them.

Whitewash: To put a batting side out without scoring in an inning or to defeat a team in a game without a score by losers.