Clipping:How old is baseball?

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Date Sunday, November 15, 1863
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It is plainly evident that each year’s experience and practice adds to the improvement of base ball, and with the revision of the rules that is to be made at the ensuing Convention, there is little doubt that, in a year or so more, we shall place the game in a thoroughly complete and permanent position. There is yet ample room for improvement, and each year’s play will lead to additions to the rules, until the game becomes perfect. It required over a hundred years to bring the English game of cricket to its present position, and base ball, as a National Game, dates back only to the organization of the National Association. Indeed, the game can scarcely be said to be more than five years old. It is true that base ball, in one sense of the word, has been played for fifty years past; but what is now called base ball, was only introduced in 1858. New York Sunday Mercury November 15, 1863

a letter to the editor dated Nov. 10 with a proposed rule change; early suggestion of the ten men rule

I was pleased to notice in last Sunday’s paper suggestions from a correspondent to improve the game of base ball. There is an imperative call on the National Association in regard to the present style of pitching, or the game will become unpopular. There are many fine clubs that have good players, with all the abilities of a first-class nine, that are dying a slow death, simply for the reason that they have no ‘would be Creightons”, as your correspondent aptly terms them. The “grand” matches this years have turned out, for the most part, grand failures, in point of interest and in fine fielding and batting.

The suggestions by your correspondent are too complex, and would necessitate the employment of two umpires. The simpler the change the better. I, however, contribute my views, which, if carried out, will invest the game with more interest, viz.: Let the pitcher hold his arm perpendicularly with his side, and when he delivers the ball, let the arm from the shoulder to the elbow remain in the same position, the fore-arm, by bending at the elbow, making the requisite motion to deliver the ball, and in the delivery, the hand in no wise to go behind the perpendicular line of the side, or be declared a balk, or no ball. If the above is carried out, we will hear no more complaints about swift pitching.

The above changes throws the game in favor of the batter, and it would be well to have an extra fielder, either as right short-stop or middle fielder.

I have tried swift pitching and those that were slow, and found a remarkable uniformity in the speed.

Let some of our clubs that play on Thanksgiving Day try the above plan, and note the results.

Respectfully yours, F.C.S.

New York Sunday Mercury November 15, 1863

Source New York Sunday Mercury
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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