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BILL LYNCH, Help
BARRAS.
CENTENARY OF BASEBALL.
An Obscure Beginning.
Every country where basebalJ is played held some ceremony
on June 12 to marks the official centenary of the American
national pastime. The celebrations in the United States were on
an elaborate scale. Amongv the most interesting features was the
opening of the baseball museum at Cooperstown, in which the
chief ceremonies were special "days" devoted to honouring famous
players, extending over a week.
The following appeared in a recen
issue of the "Sydney Morning Herald,'
on the official centenary celebrations o:
the American national game, and i
should be of decided interest to all sport-
ing enthusiasts:
The first was in honour of Christs
Mathewson, former New York Giant
pitcher, by the unveiling of his bust ir
the Hall of Fame. Another was a pil-
grimage to the National Baseball Museum
where hangs an oil painting of Genera!
Abner Day, who was mainly responsible
for the spread of the game. Cooperstowr
is regarded as the birthplace of the sport
and was the focal point of big gathering:
of clubs and many big league officials.
All games have a beginning that is more
or less obscure. Even though the authori-
ties have arrived at a date to celebrate
the centenary of baseball, the actual start
is still obscure, because it is an outgrowth
of the old English game of "rounders,'
and was played in so many different
localities with gradual development inte
what it now is. The first records ol
organised games show that they we«
played at Hoboken, New Jersey. Soldiers
playing behind the battlefields during
the American Civil War gave the game
a tremendous impetus after the cessation
of hostilities, and it soon brought thou-
sands of followers. Umpires were ap-
pointed to "call" the pitchers' deliver-
ies, and a factory to manufacture mater-
ial was established in New England in
1865. The first professional team that
played was Cincinnati in 1868. It was
the nucleus of the famous Cincinnati Red
Stockings, which in 1869-70, played 80
games without a defeat, setting a record
that has not been beaten.
Before 1876 the catcher stood some dis-
tance behind the batsman and took the
ball on the bounce. The later introduc-
tion of masks, breastplate, mitts and leg-
gings enabled him to move up close be-
hind the batsman. The catcher had
always worn a glove, but it was not until
1886 that players adopted this protection.
The Game in Australia.
The game in Australia officially began
In Sydney with the establishment of the
New South Wales Association in 1898, but
it had been played several years before
that. It has spread to all States, and
last year Western Australia entered the
annual interstate series.
All Australian States joined in the cele-
brations. During the week the country
carnival, in which seven associations from
widely separated areas embarked on a
competition as a prelude to a series of
inter-association games jointly controlled
by the State body, the City Houses as-
sociation, and the New South Wales
Junior Union. These series extended
over the week-end, culminating in finals
on June 12 at Marrickville Oval.
In Melbourne, the Victorian associa-
tion is staging games in which selected
teams will meet at St. Kilda cricket
ground as a means of assisting the selec-
tors in choosing the team to represent
Victoria in the annual interstate series to
be held in Melbourne from July 29 to
August 5. The Victorian body is also com-
peting against the University of California
in a field games contest. The test is
being held by means of cablegrams. It is
being carried out in three phases, "fungo"
hitting, long throw, and encircling the
bases. The American figures so far are,
"fungo" hitting, Albert White, 367ft. 2in.;
long throw, Cliff Perry, 334ft. lin.; and
encircling the bases. Melvin Duezbou,
13.8sec. The time for the last item is
remarkable and it is unlikely that any
of the Victorians will get anywhere near
that time. In the "fungo" hitting, two
or three Victorians have gone close to
the American gures, and it looks certain
that the long throw will be beaten
by Ernie Bromley, the former Australian
Test team cricketer.
BILL LYNCH, Help
BILL LYNCH,
State Coach.
Outstanding Play in
Week-end Games.
QNCE again a high standard of base-
ball was seen at most grounds during
the week-end. State players attracted
much attention, particularly the three
Victoria Park representatives who were
opposed to Puckett for the first time in
league games this year.
Although his team was easily defeated,
Frank Day pitched splendidly, holding
the Press combination down to five scat-
tered hits. Poor infield work, mainly due
to a rearrangement of positions, was a
big factor in Victoria Park's defeat. Day
has "plenty on the ball," but he should
endeavour to get the ball to his catcher
as quickly as possible with runners on
bags.
Shorn and Greenwell were in good
form, and bdth played their posi-
tions well. The latter man looks like
developing into a first-class third-base-
man.
Centre-fielder from the second nine,
Tommy Smith made a great double play
by taking a spectacular "fly" and catch-
ing a runner off second with a fast
"peg."
For Press, Charlie Puckett pitched a
no-bit game. The Slate pitcher looks bet-
ter than ever, and in this game he com-
pletely silenced the strong Park batters.
Fourteen strikeouts were credited to him,
and in one innings only ten pitched balls
vere needed to strike out three batters.
Puckett also registered tv» bits.
Dunstan, State captain, is improving
with every game, and, with Nisbet and
Gilmour, completed a good trio.
In the Chevs-Bristile game the former,
team, by clever "squeeze plays" and good
base-running, always looked to be even-
tual winners.
Nelligan was used as pitcher in this
game, allowing Dickinson to take third,
where he did a very good job. This is
the position which he will probably fill
in the carnival games. While his general
play is still of a high standard, I am per-
turbed about Dickinson's .batting. At the
moment the Chevs star looks to be in
the "horrors."
Len Orr is definitely an acquisition to
this team. His work at short stop is
good, and his batting is strong. Chevs
would be well advised to retain Orr at
short stop.
Probably the most outstanding feature
of this game was Jack Beale's double
play. Taking a nicely judged "fly" at
centre-field, Beale pegged to first with
a magnificent throw to cut a runner off,
who was endeavouring to regain his bag.
A great effort, and one which brought a
terrific cheer from the big crowd."
J. Dore at Third Base.
Third base, commonly known as the
"hotcorner," is a difficult position to fill,
and one in which very few class players
are seen. However, Jim Dore, the Bris
GLEN DUNSTAN. Help
GLEN DUNSTAN.
State Captain.
tOe third-sacker, has all the attributes
of a champion, and X will be surprised if
this youngster does not develop Into a
State **player.
Wren, playing centrefield for the same
team, dragged down a potential homer,
and gave the spectators a thrill by
juggling the ball several times before
finally taking the catch.
Players who weekly try hard for this
team are Gordon, in the No. 2 position,
and Bell, at first. There are several
other promising youngsters in the Bris-
tile line-up, but, until a good pitcher is
found, the team will make little pro-
gress.
Three hits and a walk was Bill Lynch's
contribution for Wests against Blue Sox.
Captaining the team in the absence of
Carr, the State coach also gave a good
display at first, a new position for him.
Butler also registered two "safeties,"
and, once more back in the infield, played
his position well. He has the m airing* 0f
a good ball player.
Jack Taylor is another vastly improved
player, and his outfield work on Sunday
was of a high order.
By taking a hard drive bare-handed,
Keith Jeffreys converted what looked io ;
be a certain twô-bagger into an out
during this game. This was one of the
highlights of the game. j
Once again called upon as pitcher for
Wests, Eric Garrett showed better con-
trol, and only three hits were scored
against him. This is Garrett's second
win in succession, and it Should give him
confidence when Carr vacates the box
to play for the State team.
Centre-fielder Charlie Bushell played
a grand game for Blue Box, taking
numerous catches in good fashion.
Bushell also batted in the only run with
a neat hit to right-field.
The brothers Nevill bore the brunt of
the work for their team, and never ap-
peared to be discouraged. I like the way
these youngsters chatter to, or, should I
say, at, each other.
Mosmans Defeat Nedlands.
Mosmans surprised Nedlands with their
standard of play, and the latter team
was annihilated in a mediocre game.
Heading a team of strong batters, the
Mosman captain, Lou Jones, was in his
best form, getting three good hits.
Showing a complete reversal of form,
Jack Laurent pitched a splendid game,
only two hits being debited against him.
A few more showings such as this will
give his team a good chance of making
the final four.
Four Mosman batters secured two hits
each, and, altogether, 12 hits were ob-
tained off the three pitchers who tried
their hand for Nedlands.
Downing caught well, but the game
was in a hopeless position when he took
over the. pitching job. Probably this
change should have been made earlier,
as Downing has had plenty of experi-
ence in this department of the game.
The Mosman infield ls one that could
rise to any heights, if a little more steadi-
ness was shown.
Allan Jeffreys has a "cracker-jack"
arm, and is playing third well. D. Watt,
P. Jones, L. Oliver, and-W. Havercraft
are all young players who should show
a vast improvement as the season pro-
gresses. This team might quite easily
cause an upset in the premiership cal-
culations of one or two others who ap-
pear to be certainties.
Of the next round of games, the one
offering the most attraction is the meet-
ing of Chevs. and Press. On paper the
latter should win-but who knows?
Other games are as follows:
Weste v. Nedlands.
Blue Sox v. Mosmans.
Bristile v. Victoria Park.
$