BASEBALL

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 154, 17 March 1923, Page 17

BASEBALL

(By

“Burwood.”)

WILL THE GAME BE REVIVED?

An effort is being made to revive the Wellington Baseball League, and for this purpose an enthusiastic meeting, convened by B. J. Kortlang, was held at the Windsor Hotel during the week. Mr. L. Cohen, who was associated with the league before the war, has been appointed secretary. Some time was taken up at the preliminary meeting in discussing the question whether tho game was likely to oust cricket, especially in the schools. The same question cropped up m 1914, when the league -Ais formed originally. It was pointed out then that New Zealand was not a “cricket country,” and that there was no alternative, apart from tennis, to the summetr pastime. The success that has attended the introduction of baseball in Australia fully warrants the belief that it would meet with the same success, comparatively, in New Zealand. In Australia, the majority of first-class players take up baseball as a winter pastime, mainly for tho fielding and catching practice it gives. It is essentially a spectacular game. It may be a matter of years before the public is educated to a keen appreciation of the game- The opinion is held in many quarters that, if baseball were taken up seriously in New Zealand, it would nival cricket as a summer pastime. The consensus of opinion at the meeting at the Windsor Hotel was, however, that it should bo played rather as an adjunct to cricket, and between the cricket and football seasons. There is always something happening at baseball; good pitching, fine batting, clever catching and fielding. ■The excitement, when a player is running to base and the fieldsmen are intent on getting the ball there first, is intense, and rivalled by nothing to bo found in cricket as an appeal to the spectacular. Everybody is on the alert to do something. Baseball calls for tho exercise of all those qualities that are found in a good cricketer—the quiok, keen eye, speed, agilitv. and sure hands in fielding;, head v/ork, as well as finger work and arm work in pitching. The. moist climate of New Zealand may prove a handicap to popularising the game here. Baseball requires a fast, dry turf, and plenty of sunshine. 11, an English summer these conditions are often absent. It is probable, therefore, that baseball at its best could seldom be seen here. The work of training the players would bo long and. arduous, although generous offers have been made by Americans resicleait in AVellinaton to coach the juniors and beginners.