1830s.34

1883 Account Reflects on Details of "Town Ball" Played Decades Earlier

Salience	Noteworthy
Tags	Pre-modern RulesPre-modern Rules
Location
City/State/Country:	Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Modern Address
Game	Town BallTown Ball
Immediacy of Report	Retrospective
Age of Players	YouthYouth
Holiday
Notables
Text	"Old Town Ball: Reminiscences of the Game by a Very Old Boy. "I deem it probably that a description of the the game called 'Town Ball' fifty years ago, from which base ball of the present originated, will prove interesting to your readers. I propose to give it to them as it comes back to me through the mental mist of half a century." As described, the game used: [] at least four players on a side, but the average team size was about eight. [] a flipped paddle to determine first up. [] four bases, called "corners" [] home was called "the holes." Players came from "Pipe Town, Hog Town, Scotch Hill, the Point and Bayard's Town. Sligo and Allegheny" were often foes.
Sources	Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette, May 2, 1883
Warning	Some portions of this image were indistinct, and some areas were clipped off.
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External Number
Submitted by	Richard Hershberger
Submission Note	FB Posting of 2/25/2021
Has Supplemental Text

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