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SFL Cat · 06-17-2006, 11:48 AM

THE SPORT (FEBRUARY, 1857)

BASE BALL

Boston's Olympic base ball club publishes rules

In response to last month's convention of prominent New York and Brooklyn base ball clubs, Boston's oldest base ball club, the Olympics, published rules and regulations for the Massassachusetts Game. The move is seen as Bean Town's attempt to slow the growth of the New York version of base ball - which uses the Knickerbocker rules - and promote its own brand of the game.

Sometimes called town ball, the Massachusetts Game differs from the New York game in the following ways: It features a square instead of a diamond for the bases, with the batter standing in an area halfway between home and first. While the New York regulations stipulate that the ball has to be pitched underhand, and that a ball knocked outside the range of first or third base is foul, the ball is thrown overhand to the striker in the Massachusetts game and there is no foul territory.

Under the Knickerbocker rules, a player is out if a hit ball is caught on the fly or first bounce, or if a fielder holds the ball on a base before the runner arrives, or if, between bases, a fielder touches the runner with the ball. Three outs retires a side, and twenty-one runs decides a game provided each side has an equal number of outs (Note -- this rule was changed at the New York convention. The winner is now determined by whichever team has the most runs at the end of nine innings). In the Massachusetts Game, the ball must be caught on the fly for an out or a fielder may also get an out by hitting ("soaking") the runner with a thrown ball. One out retires the side and victory belongs to the first team to score 100 runs. Whereas the New York game allows nine players per side, the Massachusetts game approves as many as fourteen men per side.

In addition to the Olympic and the Green Mountain base ball clubs, major rivals since 1855, several other clubs have formed for the '57 season. These include: Bay State, Tri-Mountain, Bunker Hill, American, Rough-and-Ready, Massapoag, Union, and Winthrop.

When asked if this was a move by Boston to counter the growing popularity of the New York game, the president of the Olympic club said, "several of our players have suggested adopting the New York style of play in the belief that it is a superior system. However, a majority of our Massachusetts men prefer to preserve the 'traditional' game of base ball."

Base ball makes strides in Philly, but Cricket is still king

At least four clubs, including the venerable Olympic club of Philadelphia, have announced intentions of organizing base ball matches for 1857. Despite this, English cricket remains the passionate game of choice for most Philadelphians. The city boasts ten top-tier teams in the sport. The four strongest include the cricket clubs of Germantown, Philadelphia, Frankford and Chestnut Hill. Although several clubs dedicated to cricket have experimented with base ball in the past, the number of clubs that exclusively play cricket continues to dwarf the number of base ball clubs in the city.

Philadelphia base ball remains an interesting mixture of the Massachusetts and New York versions of the game. It uses the diamond-shaped infield specified by the New York Knickerbocker rules, but in most other respects mirrors the Massachusetts game. Most games are played with eleven per side and games may last either two or eleven innings. If team captains agree to a two inning game, then every man on a side is given the opportunity to bat. If the game goes eleven innings, then one out retires the side. The first team to score 25 runs wins provided each team has an equal number of outs.

Harvard and Yale hope to renew regatta.

After a hiatus last year, student presidents of Harvard and Yale Universities say they hope to organize a third race between rowers this year. Harvard won both previous races. The first regatta was held in 1852 on Lake Winnepeaukee and the second was held in 1855 on the Connecticut River. The race is two miles in length and is patterned after the great Boat Race held each year on the Thames between Oxford and Cambridge Universities

Past Results

Code:

Year 	Winner   Time    Margin of Victory
1852    Harvard  10:17   21 seconds
1855    Harvard  10:27   19 seconds

Brits rev up for Grand National

At Aintree in Liverpool, preparations are underway for next month's running of the twenty-first Grand National Steeplechase Race. This event has become one of the most popular horse races in the world.

Past winners (Odds)

Code:

1836 The Duke       (No odds)
1837 The Duke       (No odds)
1838 Sir William    (No odds)
1839 Lottery        (5-1)
1840 Jerry          (12-1)
1841 Charity        (14-1)
1842 Gaylad         (7-1)
1843 Vanguard       (12-1)
1844 Discount       (5-1)
1845 Cure-All       (No odds)
1846 Pioneer        (No odds)
1847 Matthew        (10-1)
1848 Chandler       (12-1)
1849 Peter Simple   (20-1)
1850 Abd-El-Kader   (No odds)
1851 Abd-El-Kader   (7-1)
1852 Miss Mowbray   (No odds)
1853 Peter Simple   (9-1)
1854 Bourton        (4-1)
1855 Wanderer       (25-1)
1856 Freetrader     (25-1)

06-17-2006, 11:48 AM	#3
SFL Cat College Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: South Florida	THE SPORT (FEBRUARY, 1857) BASE BALL Boston's Olympic base ball club publishes rules In response to last month's convention of prominent New York and Brooklyn base ball clubs, Boston's oldest base ball club, the Olympics, published rules and regulations for the Massassachusetts Game. The move is seen as Bean Town's attempt to slow the growth of the New York version of base ball - which uses the Knickerbocker rules - and promote its own brand of the game. Sometimes called town ball, the Massachusetts Game differs from the New York game in the following ways: It features a square instead of a diamond for the bases, with the batter standing in an area halfway between home and first. While the New York regulations stipulate that the ball has to be pitched underhand, and that a ball knocked outside the range of first or third base is foul, the ball is thrown overhand to the striker in the Massachusetts game and there is no foul territory. Under the Knickerbocker rules, a player is out if a hit ball is caught on the fly or first bounce, or if a fielder holds the ball on a base before the runner arrives, or if, between bases, a fielder touches the runner with the ball. Three outs retires a side, and twenty-one runs decides a game provided each side has an equal number of outs (Note -- this rule was changed at the New York convention. The winner is now determined by whichever team has the most runs at the end of nine innings). In the Massachusetts Game, the ball must be caught on the fly for an out or a fielder may also get an out by hitting ("soaking") the runner with a thrown ball. One out retires the side and victory belongs to the first team to score 100 runs. Whereas the New York game allows nine players per side, the Massachusetts game approves as many as fourteen men per side. In addition to the Olympic and the Green Mountain base ball clubs, major rivals since 1855, several other clubs have formed for the '57 season. These include: Bay State, Tri-Mountain, Bunker Hill, American, Rough-and-Ready, Massapoag, Union, and Winthrop. When asked if this was a move by Boston to counter the growing popularity of the New York game, the president of the Olympic club said, "several of our players have suggested adopting the New York style of play in the belief that it is a superior system. However, a majority of our Massachusetts men prefer to preserve the 'traditional' game of base ball." Base ball makes strides in Philly, but Cricket is still king At least four clubs, including the venerable Olympic club of Philadelphia, have announced intentions of organizing base ball matches for 1857. Despite this, English cricket remains the passionate game of choice for most Philadelphians. The city boasts ten top-tier teams in the sport. The four strongest include the cricket clubs of Germantown, Philadelphia, Frankford and Chestnut Hill. Although several clubs dedicated to cricket have experimented with base ball in the past, the number of clubs that exclusively play cricket continues to dwarf the number of base ball clubs in the city. Philadelphia base ball remains an interesting mixture of the Massachusetts and New York versions of the game. It uses the diamond-shaped infield specified by the New York Knickerbocker rules, but in most other respects mirrors the Massachusetts game. Most games are played with eleven per side and games may last either two or eleven innings. If team captains agree to a two inning game, then every man on a side is given the opportunity to bat. If the game goes eleven innings, then one out retires the side. The first team to score 25 runs wins provided each team has an equal number of outs. Harvard and Yale hope to renew regatta. After a hiatus last year, student presidents of Harvard and Yale Universities say they hope to organize a third race between rowers this year. Harvard won both previous races. The first regatta was held in 1852 on Lake Winnepeaukee and the second was held in 1855 on the Connecticut River. The race is two miles in length and is patterned after the great Boat Race held each year on the Thames between Oxford and Cambridge Universities Past Results Code: Year Winner Time Margin of Victory 1852 Harvard 10:17 21 seconds 1855 Harvard 10:27 19 seconds Brits rev up for Grand National At Aintree in Liverpool, preparations are underway for next month's running of the twenty-first Grand National Steeplechase Race. This event has become one of the most popular horse races in the world. Past winners (Odds) Code: 1836 The Duke (No odds) 1837 The Duke (No odds) 1838 Sir William (No odds) 1839 Lottery (5-1) 1840 Jerry (12-1) 1841 Charity (14-1) 1842 Gaylad (7-1) 1843 Vanguard (12-1) 1844 Discount (5-1) 1845 Cure-All (No odds) 1846 Pioneer (No odds) 1847 Matthew (10-1) 1848 Chandler (12-1) 1849 Peter Simple (20-1) 1850 Abd-El-Kader (No odds) 1851 Abd-El-Kader (7-1) 1852 Miss Mowbray (No odds) 1853 Peter Simple (9-1) 1854 Bourton (4-1) 1855 Wanderer (25-1) 1856 Freetrader (25-1) Last edited by SFL Cat : 06-22-2006 at 10:04 AM.