Every Boy's Book: A Complete Encyclopædia of Sports and Amusements

by Unknown

Article 3, Section 1. This Association shall be composed of delegates from the several State base-ball associations which have been duly admitted to a representation in the convention forming this constitution, or which may be admitted to a representation in the manner hereinafter provided. Each State association shall be entitled to one delegate for every ten clubs, or fractional part of ten clubs, belonging to such association. No individual club shall be entitled to representation in this Association unless located in a state, territory, or district, where there are not sufficient clubs to form a State association. Each delegate shall be entitled to one vote, and no vote by proxy shall be allowed.

Sec. 2. Any State base-ball association desiring to be represented in this Association shall present to the recording secretary, at least thirty days previous to the annual meeting of this Association, a written official certificate, signed by the president and secretary of the State association they represent, giving the names and number of the clubs composing said association, date of their organization, names of their officers, and number of members belonging to each club; also the date of organization of the State association, and the names of their delegates. Territories and the district of Columbia shall be considered as states within the meaning of this section.

Sec. 3. All applications shall be immediately submitted to the committee on nominations; but no such application shall be received by said secretary unless presented thirty days previous to the annual meeting. Said committee shall thereupon ascertain the condition, character, and standing of such State base-ball association, and report the same at the annual meeting, with the said application and their opinion thereon; and a ballot shall thereupon be had at such meeting, upon the admission of such State base-ball association, when, if two-thirds of the members present vote in favour thereof, such State base-ball association shall be declared duly entitled to representation in this Association. Any informality or irregularity in the form or substance of the application may be waived by a two thirds vote of the members present at the annual meeting.

Sec. 4. No State association shall be represented in the Association unless composed of ten clubs, numbering at least eighteen active members each, or by any delegate under twenty-one years of age; nor shall any State base-ball association be so represented until its delegates have paid a fee hereinafter designated.

Sec. 5. Any State association organized after the adjournment of the annual meeting of this Association, may be elected probationary members thereof, after conforming to the requirements of sections [second], [third], and [fourth], by the nominating committee. They shall be liable to the payment of dues and assessments, and be eligible to all the privileges of regular members of the Association until the next annual meeting, at which time they must be duly elected in the same manner as all regular members.

THE GAME OF BASE-BALL.

As before asserted, the American game of base-ball requires a high degree of physical ability, and the possession of manly characteristics to excel in it; for although in theory a schoolboy could easily comprehend the system, in practice an amount of manly vigour, courage, and physical endurance is requisite, surprising to those who regard the game in the light only of an improved edition of the old English school-game of rounders.

The theory of base-ball is as simple as that of any field sport in vogue, and therein lies one of its attractive features. But yet to play the game up to its highest point of excellence requires as great a degree of mental ability, and the possession of as many manly physical attributes, as any known game of ball. The theory of base-ball is as follows:—In the first place, a level field for play is selected, about three hundred feet wide and five hundred long. A space of ground is then marked out in the form of a square, with one corner as the position of the home base, and the other corners for the first, second, and third bases, the first base being on the right of the batsman, as he stands at home base, and the third base on the left. The contestants in a game consist of nine players on each side, and these nine players occupy the following positions: catcher, pitcher, first, second, and third basemen, short-stop, and left, centre, and right fielders. The first six players above-named form the “in-fielders,” and the last three the “out-fielders,” the nine taking the field being known as the “out-hand,” or “field.” After the parties toss for the innings, the losing side go to the bat, and the winning party to the field, and each man to his position. The pitcher then delivers the ball to the batsman of the opposite nine, who endeavours to send it out of reach of the opposing field party, and far enough into the field to admit of his running round the four bases, in which case he scores one run, provided he is not put out in the interim. He is followed by his companions, one after the other in regular rotation, until three of the batting side are put out, when the field side take the bat and have their innings. Nine innings constitute a full game, and no game is considered as played unless five full innings have been completed. The ball—the only trophy in a match—goes to the party making the most runs in a full game, or in any number of even innings played not less than five.

In case of a tie at the close of the ninth innings, the game, unless by mutual consent, must be prolonged innings after innings, until one or other of the contesting sides obtains the most runs. And if anything occur to interrupt or put a stop to the game before five innings on each side have been played, the game must be drawn. The rules and regulations of the game define all further particulars in reference to it.