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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 13, Issue 4 (July 1, 1938.)

This Game of Baseball — New Zealand's New Summer Sport

page 49

This Game of Baseball
New Zealand's New Summer Sport

Last summer, spectators on New Zealand sporting fields witnessed a strange game being played. It was baseball—the fast-moving national pastime of the Americans. Attempts have previously been made to introduce the game in different centres of New Zealand, but not until the present year has it become firmly established in both islands. Enthusiasts claim that next summer it will attract thousands of spectators, as does our national winter game, rugby.

There is no need to mention that it is the summer sport in the United States. It may come as a surprise to some, however, to learn that it is the national pastime in Canada and Japan, besides being played extensively in England, South Africa,. Europe and Australia. The sport is in its infancy in New Zealand, but the support accorded it in the main centres indicates that there is every prospect of this million-dollar game challenging cricket for popularity.

Authorities agree that the game is fundamentally a development of the old English pastimes of rounders, and cricket, but the characteristics of both have been submerged beneath the speed and accuracy which marks the game among American professionals. The only game which has been played in New Zealand is the softball game, which is identical with true baseball, except that the bases are further apart, the ball is smaller and the rules are slightly different. However, there is no difference in the actual playing, so softball will be described in detail as it is the Canadian game and, in America, is threatening hardball, which is tending to slow up because of the padding used by the players. The differences in the two games may be readily ascertained by reference to a rule book.

The game is played by nine players on each side, one team fielding while the other players take their turn at bat. The baseball field is a square with a side of sixty feet, at the corners of which are the four bases. The ball is delivered from the centre of the field to the batter, who stands at home base. He attempts to hit the ball so that he may run one or more bases. The fielders attempt to put him out by the methods described later in this article. The bases are canvas bags 15 inches square, with the exception of home base, which is a rubber plate measuring 12in. × 12in. On both sides of the home plate rectangles are marked out in which the batter must stand when striking. The bat is made of any hardwood 34in. long and 2in. in diameter at its largest part. The ball is of simliar composition to a cricket ball, 12in. in circumference and weighing 6oz. Wearing apparel consists of a wire mask for the catcher and gloves for both catcher and first baseman. Of course, these safeguards are not necessary, but for those who prefer their bones in one piece, they are strongly recommended.

Diagram showing the position of players on the field.

Diagram showing the position of players on the field.

Forty feet in front of home plate on a line to second base, is the pitcher's plate, of wood or rubber, measuring 24in. × 6in. The pitcher is the player who delivers the ball to the batter. When pitching, he must have one foot on the plate, and he must not take more than one step. He must deliver the ball so that the hand is below the hip, and the wrist not further from the body than the elbow. As is the case of the bowler in cricket, the art of pitching is to deliver the ball so that the batter is unable to hit it.

The most important member of the team is the catcher, who stands immediately behind the batter and catches all balls which pass him. He must, therefore, be able to take balls which fly off the bat at an angle, while he must also be able to throw quickly and accurately. He conspires with the pitcher in various signals, so as the latter may know which type of ball will deceive the batter. There is one player stationed near each of the bases, so as to be able to touch the base with page 50 the ball before a runner arrives there, and thus dismiss him. There is also a rover, known as short stop, playing within the diamond between second and third bases, to field balls that may be beyond the reach of the basemen. He is the most active man in the field, as he must take a baseman's place should the latter run after a ball, while he must also be prepared to take particularly “hot” balls from right-handed batters.

The remaining three players constitute the outfield, and their duties are to field and return balls which pass beyond the reach of the infields. Besides being reliable catchers, they have to be able to throw fifty yards, with accuracy, and they should also be very quick to back each other up.

The function of a batter in baseball is identical with that of his cricket counterpart, but he is required to show much more “hustle” in running. He has to attempt to hit all balls which pass directly over the home plate between the height of the knee and shoulder, as these count as strikes against him whether he hits them or not. He must also decide quickly whether the ball is a strike, because any ball at which he swings, whether a strike or not, registers as a strike. If, after three strikes, he has not attempted to run to first base, he is out. He must run on the first ball he hits which settles within the diamond, or passes over the diamond on its flight. A ball which he hits and which settles outside of the right-angle formed by the lines from home to first and third bases, is a foul hit ball. A foul ball counts as a strike against him unless he has had two strikes previously, after which a foul ball ceases to register. As soon as the batter has made a fair hit, he runs to first base or further if he thinks he can make it. If the pitcher delivers four balls which do not pass over the home plate at the correct height before the batter has had three strikes, the batter is allowed to walk to first base without liability to be put out. A ball which touches the batter is counted as one ball against the pitcher, but the batter is not allowed to walk to first base as is the case in hardball. That provision was necessary, as a batter may be intimidated by a pitcher who was allowed to throw the ball straight at him without penalty. This used to be particularly the case if the batter was up against a pitcher who would make Larwood look like a beginner, and we can scarcely blame the batter for not desiring the outline of the “body beautiful” altered by a hard ball travelling at sometimes 160 m.p.h., even though, when he was hit, he was permitted to walk to first base, if not permanently disabled. However, to return to the batter. When he makes a hit and the ball is caught by any fieldsman, or is thrown to first base and held there by a player in contact with the base, before the runner arrives, he is out.

After a runner has made a base or is put out, the next player in the team batting order becomes the batter. When he makes a hit, the runner on first base must vacate that base and run to second, as no two men may be on the same base, nor may one runner pass another. When a runner is not in contact with his base, he may be put out by being touched with the ball by any fieldsman. Thus it is necessary that a runner be able to stop dead when he arrives at a base, for if he overruns, he is liable to be dismissed. Thus players coming into a corner at top speed hurl themselves at the base in all types of spectacular dives. It is this race between man and ball, with a diving climax, which arouses the crowds to a tremendous pitch of excitement, particularly when a runner is coming into home, and a run may mean all the difference between victory and defeat. It is comparable to the race between a rugby player running down the line with the ball, and another player coming across field to tackle him, and it seems likely that the tremendous enthusiasm an incident of this type arouses on a football ground will be duplicated on the baseball diamond, where it occurs many times in the one game. Already spectators in New Zealand have confessed themselves thrilled by the resemblance between some plays in the ball game, and those of the rugby field. However, to return to base-sliding. It might be remarked that opportunities for headfirst sliding are more likely to occur in softball than hardball, as the baseman is not shod in solid shoes with vicious spikes against which even the keenest of base runners might hesitate to dive his head. The feet first slide was largely practised in hardball because a baseman objected to having his shins dented by the spiked shoes of the incoming runner, and thus he kept clear of the base until the last moment, giving the runner a better opportunity. However, that advantage has ceased to exist in softball, so that spectacular head-first sliding, which is losing favour in America, should gain prominence here.

(Rly. Publicity photo.) A typical scene in the concourse at Wellington Station, North Island, New Zealand.

(Rly. Publicity photo.) A typical scene in the concourse at Wellington Station, North Island, New Zealand.

The only remaining point in baseball is the method of scoring. Each team has a definite batting order, and when a player has completed a circuit of the diamond and returns home, he scores a run. There are seven or nine innings in the game, and an innings closes when there are three men out. Unlike cricket, a player may be put out more than once in each innings, when the other eight men have batted, and it is page 51 his turn at bat again. Of course, a player may only be put out three times, as when there have been three put-outs the whole team is out. A “home run,” that is a complete circuit on the one hit, just counts the same as a run in which the player never strikes the ball. In fact, more credit is attachable to a runner who “steals” a base than to one who runs a base on the hit of another. A base may be stolen when the catcher fails to hold a ball which the batter does not strike, and the runner makes a base. A base may also frequently be taken when first or third baseman fails to hold a ball thrown to him, and as a result, it passes on to foul ground. Of course, the runner is liable to be put out in both cases if the ball is returned before he arrives, to the base to which he is running. The plays when the runner discovers he cannot reach the base, and he attempts to go back to the base he left, are another feature of the game. The baseman close in on him, and as he runs towards one or the other, the baseman throw the ball back and forth until finally they close on him. However, the runner has a space of three feet to work on, and should one of the basemen drop the ball, the former has a chance to dodge past to safety.

A brief summary of the rules under which a player may be put out, should be of interest. Firstly, if he makes a foul hit which is caught by a fieldsman, except when it does not rise above the height of the shoulder. Secondly, immediately after three strikes have been called. Thirdly, if a fairly batted ball is caught before it touches the ground. Fourthly, if the ball is securely held by a player contacting a base before a runner arrives. Fifthly, if he is touched by the ball in the hand of a fieldsman when he is not in contact with a base. Lastly, if, when a hit ball is caught, a runner who had attempted to run a base while the ball was in flight must return to the base before the ball is securely held there, or he is tagged by a fieldsman.

A peculiarly American flavour is given by the behaviour of the spectators, who thoroughly “let themselves go” with the spirit of the game. Every hit, slide or catch is greeted by a tremendous shower of wild cheering. Hats and cushions are tossed into the air, and every decision of the umpire is received with vociferous acclamation or disapproval. In fact, contrary to all our English ideas of sport, a man is considered lacking in enthusiasm if he does not abuse the umpire when a doubtful decision goes against the team he supports. The duties of an umpire are extremely arduous. Every pitch must instantly be declared “strike,” “ball” or “foul,” and he must decide whether a runner is safe on a base or not.

The terrific excitement when a runner is sliding into a base, or dodging a fieldsman, when he attempts to tag him out, has to be experienced to be appreciated. Actual players must be excellent throwers and quick thinkers, as will be seen when a player fielding finds there are three opponents running between bases, and he has to decide which runner is likely to be most easily put out, and to throw the ball accurately to the baseman. This pronounced ability required has led to the professionalisation of the game in America, because no ordinary person could cultivate in spare time the skill and speed required. Baseball is an excellent pastime, and one which should challenge cricket and tennis as a summer sport for the people.