BASEBALL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 871, 9 November 1888, Page 13

BASEBALL.

The Wellington Baseball Club played at Newtown Park on Saturday afternoon a - match between teams selected by the captain and vice-captain. The latter won by 7 runs, the scores being 23 and 30. Some excellent base-running was done by Messrs Henderson, Mills, Lawrence, and Scutt, the former especially excelling in the art of “ stealing ” and “ eliding ” bases, much to the disgust of the pitcher. The players as a whole have improved very much on the form displayed in previous games, and there is no reason why, with steady practice, a nine could not be chosen from this Club that would render a good account of themselves in a match against any team. Baseball is the national game of the United Stateß, aud also of Canada, where it is fast superseding lacrosse. It has many fine points, which to the uninitiated or casual observer are not apparent, and it is not until the rules are thoroughly understood and plenty of practicing done that the game becomes fascinating. From the moment that the teams take the field until the end of the ninth innings the players on both aides are constantly on the alert, for smart fielding, long throwing with perfect judgment, a correct eye for judging a “ pitched ” ball, and knowledge of base-running and “stealing” are absolutely necessary for a man to become a good baseball player. It is a mistaken idea that anyone can play the game, or that it is “agame for women and children.” The “ infield” is 30yds square, the bases, four in number, being 90ft apart in the form of a diamond, and called first, second, third, aud home base. Nine men constitute a team, andare placed as follows :—“ Pitcher,’’whose box is 50ft in front of the home base ; “oatcher,” whoplaya immediately behind the bat; one man on each of the bases numbered 1,2 and 3 ; “short stop,” fielding between second and third bases ; and an outfield of three men, called respectively right, centre and left fields. To score a run the circuit of the four bases must be made, either by a clean hit for a “ home run,” or by ruuning tho bases singly. Men left in bases at the close of an innings do not score. A batsman may be caught out on a fly hit, either fair or foul, or may be thrown out at one of the bases. The side having the greatest number of runs at the end of the game (nine innings) wins the match.