(ase Bait

O GAME of to-day is more popular than that of base ball; it is
indeed our national game, and where almost every boy is a
player, it seems hardly necessary to give any explanation of it,”
It stands without a rival in the opinion of all save a few follow-
ers of horse-racing, but were gambling taken away from the
latter sport it would disappear like mist before the summer's
sun. Fortunately base ball needs no such element to endear -
it to the people. It depends only upon local pride for its hold upon the peo-
ple. It furnishes its own attractions, its own excite-
ment; it affords the best of exercises, and has its fol-
lowers in every home.’

Base ball was not born; like Topsy, it “growed.”
The boys of Greece and Rome played a kind of hand
ball, the lads of England played “rounders” centuries
ago, but base ballas we know it is an American evo-
lution from “one old cat” and “town ball,” which our
fathers played a generation ago. The first organized
was the “Knickerbockers” of New York in 1845. The
Tules of those days were very simple. The pitcher,
instead of being the power he is to-day, was of little
importance. The only restriction put upon him was
that he pitch the ball, not throw it. Masks, gloves,
chest-protectors, spikes and the many accessories of
to-day were unknown. The best batter was the king
then, and the harder the ball was hit and the busier
fielders were kept in chasing the ball, the more fun
for the spectators.

The game made headway rapidly, but it was not
WL by, Until 1858 that there was anything like organization.

RAY} At a convention held in New York this year, twenty-
five clubs sent delegates, and base ball took its place

= at the head of American sports. In 1866 the number
Bounb For Fon of clubs had increased to two hundred and two, while
in 1891 the number was countless, every city, town and hamlet having its
“nine” and many places several. The city of Chicago alone had nearly three
hundred organized clubs, including amateurs.