BASEBALL IN CITY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22501, 8 September 1938, Page 8

BASEBALL IN CITY

♦ Revival After Many Years TEN TEAMS LIKELY THIS I • SUMMER For the last 18 months a small band of enthusiasts has played baseball regularly in Christchurch. In the coming summer an attempt will be made to place the game on an organised basis and there is every prospect of up to 10 teams taking part in inter-club competitions. Sportsmen whose memories go back a long way will know that this is the third attempt to introduce the national game of the United States to Christchurch, but each of the other attempts was foredoomed to failure because its devotees endeavoured to play the game in the winter. The game, of course, is not much more adaptable to winter conditions than cricket, and although the players in the late eighties of last century, and of 1923 and 1924 had plenty of enthusiasm it was not surpnsnig that the game failed to survive. On the former occasions, of course, it was - fostered by cricketers, 'who thereby hoped to “keep their eye in” for the summer game; in the latest revival it will stand on itS own feet as a summer game and it is not difficult to conceive oi it becoming a serious rival in popularity to cricket and lawn tennis. Baseball. played properly, requires exceptional physical fitness and it is fairly certain to attract a number of foot- ; bailers and hockey players anxious to / xeep in training during the summer. A modified form of baseball has achieved extraordinary popularity in Wellington in the last two or three years. Thirty-two teams took part last year and there will be 52 in the coming season. This game is known as softball, although a soft ball is not used. It is, in fact, similar to the ball used in baseball, but larger, and it enables the game to be played in more confined areas. The Christchurch enthusiasts, however, have been playing the “real thing.” and intend to continue doing so. They have been fortunate in having the services of two Americans with expert knowledge of the game to assist in coaching. So far their modest requirements have not overtaxed the accommodation of the available sports grounds and adequate grounds are assured again for the coming season. Organisations interested in the new move include the Air Force staff at Wigram Aerodrome, Addington Work shops employees, various gymnasium and physical culture schools in the city, and the prime mover in the scheme, the Christchurch Baseball Club. The opening match of the season will be played on Saturday at Hagley Park near the United Club’s grounds, and the contestants will be teams from the Christchurch Baseball Club and the Adi dington Workshops. A public meeting will be held on Tuesday evening with the object of forming a provincial association. Once this is established there will-be every prospect of reopening the interprovincial matches with Wellington, last played in 1924. Incidentally. Canterbury holds a trophy given for interprovincial competition, and this will be at stake if the representative matches are resumed this year.