AND NOW FOR BALL--SOME OF THE MANY GOOD GAMES THAT CAN BE PLAYED WITH
A BALL, BAT, OR RACKET
Ball in some form is played all the world over. Before Columbus came
across, the Indians of the St. Lawrence valley played a ball game with
rackets, which the French adopted and named Lacrosse. No game requires
more dexterity of foot, hand, and eye.
Certain games seem to be favored in certain lands; Cricket in England,
hand ball in Ireland, and baseball in the United States. But, then, as
we adopt and absorb peoples of all nationalities so we take all the
good things they have to offer in the way of games and, modifying them
to suit our own tastes, we make them American.
In addition to these imported games, we have, with characteristic
originality, invented a lot of games of our own, and in these the boy
takes endless delight, without bothering about their origin. On
cricket, baseball, hand ball and other great games, many books have
been written telling how to play "scientifically". Now, I am not
trying to teach scientific games. My purpose is to add something to
the knowledge of games which my readers already have, and so to
increase their interests in those healthful sports that add to the
joys of boy life.
TOWN BALL
This game, before being imported from England, long, long ago, was
called "Rounders." In this game the bat and ball are both different
from those used in baseball. There are corners instead of bases, and
there is a "giver" instead of a pitcher. The fielders may be of any
number, but they are not known by distinctive names.
The greatest freedom is permitted in the choice of ball. It may be of
hollow rubber, or it may be of the good, old-fashioned, home-made
sort. Did you ever make a ball, but of course you have, by unravelling
a heelless worsted stocking and then winding the thread about a core
of cork or rubber till the whole is quite round, the end being sewed
to keep it from unravelling. This ball is finished by a cover of thin
leather, cut in the form of a three-leaved clover and neatly sewed on
with a waxed thread. The bat is like that used in baseball but lighter
and shorter. The corners are usually three in number, with a home-
base, making four, but this varies according to the whim of the
players or the locality where the game is played. Ordinarily with
three corners the distances are about the same as between the bases in
baseball. In place of home-base there is a rectangle marked on the
ground where the striker and catcher stand.
The giver stands in the same position that the pitcher occupies in a
game of baseball; but in place of pitching or making the underhand
throw, he throws overhand and "gives" the ball to the catcher over the
right shoulder of the batter.
The batter stands at the front line of the home-base and holds his bat
above his shoulder and strikes from that position, with both hands
grasping the handle of the bat, if he is using a flat bat. But if he
is using a "delill" he holds it with one hand and allows the swiftly
thrown ball to strike his club and glance off at an angle to a part of
the grounds where no fielders are on the outlook for it. Every time
the ball touches the bat it is considered a fair hit, and the batter
must run for his first corner and reach it, if possible, before some
fielder, the catcher, or giver secures the ball and "burns" or
"stings" him, as they call it when they hit a player with the ball. No
one stands on guard at the bases to catch the batter out, and the
ball, in place of being thrown to the base, is thrown at the man
running the corners. When one batter makes a hit or is put out the
next batter takes his place as in baseball.
The catcher stands behind the bat and without gloves, and with no
protection for his face or body he catches the "hot" balls the giver
sends to him. The balls are not heavy enough to be dangerous.
The fielders scatter themselves over the field, according to the
directions of the captain, and try to catch or stop all balls from the
bat, or those that are thrown at and miss the runners between corners.
When a man is out he is out until the next inning, and the game
proceeds without him. If a striker sends a ball in the air and it is
caught before it touches the ground by the giver, the catcher, or any
one of the fielders, the batter is out. If the ball touches his bat it
is counted a hit, and if it is caught by any one of the opposite side
he is out.
If any one of the fielders, the catcher, or giver makes a successive
throw at a man running the corners and strikes him with the ball when
he is not touching his corner, he is out.
If the batter misses a ball that he strikes at, and the catcher
catches the ball before it strikes the ground, the batter is out.
When a man is put out, he is out for that inning, and cannot strike
again until the next inning for his side. When all are out but one,
that one has a very difficult task to make a score, unless he can make
a home-run strike. There are no other batters to help him by sending a
"skyscraper" over the fielders' heads; but he must run his corners
while the giver and catcher, standing in their regular position, pass
the ball between them. This always produces a great deal of excitement
and sport, as all the batter's side coach him, and if he succeeds in
stealing a corner or successfully dodges the ball thrown at him, he is
greeted by wild cheers from his side.
Should he at last succeed in reaching home-base untouched, he has the
privilege of "putting in" the best batter on his side, and there are
then two men in and a better chance to score.
ONE OR TWO OLD CAT
is a modification of town-ball, and was played by our great
grandfathers while in camp during the Revolution. It is a good game
for three or four boys, not less than three, as there must be a
pitcher, a catcher, and a batter. Any goal can be decided on in
advance, but usually the striker, after making a hit, runs and touches
the pitcher's base. If he gets back without being it, or stung by the
thrown ball, he can keep on, each run counting one. If the ball is
struck at and caught, the striker is out, and the catcher goes to the
bat. This is one old cat. With two strikers, there are sides and it is
called two old cat.
HAND BALL
is another game that has grown into popularity in the United States.
It is said to have originated in Ireland, where regular courts are
built for it, but it can be played in any place where there is a high
brick wall with a smooth open space in front.
This game can be played by two, or sides may be chosen with any number
of players on each.
A medium ball, with good bounding qualities is the best for this game.
The player throws the ball on the ground and in the bound he strikes
it with the palm of his hand, sending it against the wall, above the
three foot line. The force must be enough to cause the ball to drop
outside the taw line. The next player uses his hand as a bat, and
sends the ball back against the wall in the same manner. He must hit
the ball on the first bound or before it has touched the earth. The
next player is ready to take his turn and strikes the ball on the
rebound, and so the game proceeds, until some one misses, or sends the
ball below the three foot mark or outside the boundaries.
If it is the first striker who misses or sends the ball out of the
boundaries on the ground or side of the wall, then he loses his
inning, and the boy on the other side drops the ball and strikes it as
already described.
If it is a player on "outs" that makes a miss, then the "inners" count
one for each miss or foul. A foul is when the ball goes below the
three foot line on the wall or rebounds outside the boundaries.
The Outs cannot count when the Ins miss, but they take the place of
the Ins and the Ins are out. After the first hand up or play it is
unnecessary that the ball should rebound beyond the taw line. Fifteen
points make a game. In England the boys have the same game under the
name of Fives.
ANTHONY OVER
or _House Over_. This game was very popular out West when I was a boy.
We called the game Anthony Over; in the East I find it is called House
Over. But no matter the name, it affords a lot of exciting sport. It
is best played in the country for there can be found a house or a barn
standing alone and with lots of space on either side for running.
After sides are chosen and all are ready, divide into two groups, each
out of sight on opposite sides of the building. The ball may be that
used in Town Ball. The boy who has it throws it over the building at
the same time shouting as a warning to the boys on the other side:
"Anthony Over," or "House Over."
One of those on the opposite side must try to catch the ball before it
reaches the ground and if he succeeds, he shouts, "Over! Over! Over!"
at the same time rushing around one end of the building. Those on the
side from which the ball was thrown at once make a rush for the
opposite side, and all whom he reaches by touching or by striking with
the ball are his captives and are counted "out".
If there is no catch, there is no count and the sides remain as they
were, each throwing the ball alternately, and shouting as before to
give warning. In some places the boy hit, instead of being a captive,
joins the opposite ranks. It is always very hard, sometimes
impossible, to capture the last boy, but it can be done through
strategy.
CORNER BALL
In this game the corners depend on the number of players. With six
boys there are three corners, which make the limits of a triangle.
With eight boys there are four corners, the limits forming a square.
You should have more than four players because with this number you
would have only two bases and the boundaries would be a straight line.
The Ins take the bases and the Outs group themselves inside the
triangle, square or whatever figure may be formed by the corners. The
Ins pass the ball around the corners, throwing and catching until they
see a good chance to hit one of the Outs grouped inside the
boundaries. The ball is then thrown at the Outs, and if it hits one he
is out of the game; and if it misses, the thrower is out of the game.
But, if one of those in the center catch the ball, there is a laugh
and the ball is thrown back to a corner man with no scorce either way.
When all of the one side are put out of the game the opposite side has
won, and all are entitled to a throw with the ball at the boy on the
losing side who was first put out. The victim stands with head down
and back arched facing the wall, while the victors line themselves at
thirty feet distant and take turns "burning" the captive--that is,
hitting him with the ball--if they can. It must be remembered that the
dangerous baseball is never used in these games, and the other ball
does no injury to the lad struck.