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Home , Baseball in India, Baseball in Ireland, British baseball, Cricket, Origins of baseball, Rounders

1 The SABR UK 11

Examiner July 1999

THE JOURNAL OF THE BOBBY THOMSON CHAPTER OF THE SOCIETY FOR AMERICAN RESEARCH (UK) IS ALIVE AND WELL IN Or, how a letter from Japan helped us discover an ancient English

by Martin Hoerchner by William Clarke, published in Lon- mon ancestor to baseball and . don in 1829, with “The Book of ” The common lore is that milk maids by Robin Carver, published in used their milking stools as both It amazes me sometimes how in 1834, where the rules of an English (i.e. a target to throw at) and life dishes up treats and surprises, game called “” and an Ameri- bat (with the legs removed). The first how things unexpectedly fall in place, can game called “base ” are al- reference to the game by name is in how coincidences solve riddles, and most exactly the same. I’ve always 1450, but Henderson thinks it could how, as Ray Kinsella quotes Terence questioned Henderson’s conclusion date from at least 1330. There’s a Mann “There comes a time when all that it means baseball was descended page for “stool-ball” in the “Little Pretty the cosmic tumblers Pocket Book” from have clicked into 1744, a few pages place, and the uni- from the first illustra- verse opens itself tion of a game named up…” base-ball. In its earli- So it happened est incarnation, the last June when I re- game was played by ceived a letter from two people; one would Japan. It was from a throw a ball at a stool SABR member and the other would named Kazuo stand in front of it and Sayama, saying he try to hit the ball away was researching the from it with their open . He palm. The winner asked if the of would be the one that rounders and hit the stool the most stoolball were still times. Modifications played in Britain. It struck a special from rounders; to me it only proves like using a piece of wood to hit the chord with me, because I’ve always that rounders and baseball were once ball, running between two or more considered the genealogy of baseball different names for the same . stools, and having fielders to retrieve to be my speciality. So I composed a That’s a very big distinction. the batted ball, came later. It was the letter my computer and stated that Rounders is still a very popular first game recorded as being played in rounders was very common all over game in Britain. In fact, if anything the English colonies in America, in this island, but that stoolball, first has dampened British enthusiasm in 1621. And finally, mentioned in the middle ages, has towards baseball, it’s that a similar in 1801, Joseph Strutt in his “Games been long extinct. but lightweight game exists over here. and Pastimes of the People of Eng- Both sports have a long history Mention baseball to a native and they land”, writes of a variation where - in Britain. Rounders is the sport that say “it’s just a girl’s game”, or a “it’s ners, after they have hit the ball, race Robert W. Henderson, the prime ge- just a school game”. I presume none around a course of stools set out in a nealogist of baseball, points to as the of them has ever faced Randy Johnson circle. It is not difficult to see that the direct precedent of baseball, in his in the batter’s box. two-stool variety could be the pro- 1947 book “Bat, Ball, and Bishop: A As for stoolball, it’s the game genitor of cricket while the multi-stool History of Ball Games”. Henderson that Henderson defines as the com- compares the “The Boy’s Own Book” continued on page 8 www.sabr.org.uk 2 VIEW FROM THE CHAIR by Mike Ross

Each time another AGM is wander for a bit, resulting in the proof that these many items do finished I feel a great weight ease loss of a Brian Williams world indeed exist in the flesh. The star off my mind. There have been eight class trivia quiz. of Day’s collection centers around AGM’s and they don’t get any All of which brings me to a a trophy he was given, allegedly easier. There is not as much prepa- point: more informal gatherings. one of the original ones presented ration now because many more We have a system in place whereby by Albert during the last members are participating. In the we can start to subsidise gather- decade of the nineteenth . beginning SABR UK was like a dog ings that constitute a local SABR An enormous thing, sadly stripped and pony act. Now organising on meeting. I urge members to be the of its baseball details, standing the day is the hard part. Standing one to pick up the telephone, send almost as high as a table. up before you, I am more like a an email and base. I mean Lastly we were honoured by circus ringmaster then a SABR stretch it to a triple! Meetings will a visit from Larry Gerlach, presi- drenched fan. When SABR UK become a lot easier for me. Yes, dent of SABR (worldwide). He’s members gather as we do, for many and we got everything in this year, the one in the photo with me. I the journey and the subsequent but with less audio visual than took him to Lord’s Cricket event is like a two where he was al- week holiday. Sel- lowed a seat in the dom if ever during sanctified “Long the year do UK Room”. Accompa- members get the nied by Stephen chance to sit down Green, Curator at and rap on and on MCC Lord’s, we about baseball. lunched upstairs (There are few if any and downed some “baseball wives” righteous ale, while here - write in if you overlooking the hear of one - in Brit- wicket during a ain; indeed baseball match. Later can be grounds for Martin Hoerchner, divorce). Graham Winterbone Even those and Jim Combs sat who live in central cannot usual around with him and talked base- nip to the 7-eleven for some milk Meanwhile it was good to see ball. and talk last nights game. The so many familiar faces, and of Larry must have the hardest AGM intermissions take on the course the new ones such as my job in all of baseball, that of - atmosphere of Wall Street near new neighbour, an unapologetic ing after a vastly widespread or- closing bell time. At our meetings Yankee fan, Alan Weinstein who ganization of 7000 members with I clock-watch, I cut short, speed happens to be a weather expert. diversified interests and agendas. along, sit you down, beg for si- SABR UK didn’t have a weather It must be thankless task with lence. As a , one time - was expert. And good to get our trivia only two years to get everything it last year? - we had a walkout. master, Brian Williams, back af- done, and keep everyone happy. So, it is no fun having to direct; for ter a long absence, although Tony Nice going Larry; we will miss you. I would much rather stop playing Darkin filled in most admirably The King is dead, long live Mr. “A Man and His Dog”, and let out of the bullpen. Details of the the King. Congrats to new Prez things flow naturally. This year I meeting will follow in The SABR Jim Riley. got an idea. I looked around the UK Newsletter. Note: Mike’s new book, Fenway Saved, room and decided who I would Next issue I hope to explore containing gorgeous photos of the clas- pick for a Sergeant-of-Arms to help the Bernard Day story, and his sic ballpark, is now available at keep order. Naturally I chose the visit to the realms of SABR UK. All Sportspages London and Manchester, biggest guy and came upon too brief I fear. Members who at- and at Dillon’s Piccadilly. - ed. Stephen Laski, who may be big tended SABR AGM VI and VII will but is more on the soft spoken remember his whirlwind arrival Examiner Staff side and served me not at all. and presentations in which he Editor: Stephen you’re fired! Volunteers regaled us with stories of extraor- Martin Hoerchner are welcome. Yes, at the meetings dinary adventures into research Executive Editor: we have business to attend to, with discoveries of many baseball Mike Ross reports to be made, presentations treasures. We have only seen a Circulation Manager: presented, all-in-all mostly photo or two and some Xerox cop- Graham Winterbone amusements to amuse. I still bear ies of the items, but hopefully by Research Submissions: the shame of letting one meeting next issue we will have concrete Jim Combs 3 ILLUSTRIOUS TURNOUT FOR BASEBALL IN BRITAIN: 1918 by Stephen Green, - he was the ‘Welsh Wizard’, David Milner, the former British High Lloyd George. In addition to his Commissioner in that country. Curator, wife, two of his predecessors were One of the most famous Marylebone Cricket there. They were AJ Balfour and present was Lord Grey of Falloden. HH Asquith. The latter was also He was the Foreign Secretary in accompanied by his wife. 1914 who said ‘the lights are go- Equally important was the ing out all over . We shall This is the first of hopefully many presence of two future Prime Min- not see them lit again in our life- stories to come out of the Wilson isters, Arthur Bonar Law and time.’ Cross scrapbook, which was gra- Winston Churchill. The latter was Possibly the most knowledge- ciously loaned to SABR UK by Jim to lead his country in an even able British spectator would have Montgomery, a baseball collector more significant wartime alliance been Lord Desborough, the great living in Miami. The scrapbook with the United States, his moth- sportsman and public figure. covers baseball in Britain during er’s native land. Three high ranking military the First World War and the follow- Many of the Cabinet attended figures were present. Sir William ing decade, and Robertson contains a wealth was the only of information. Field Marshal We are greatly in- in the British debted to Stephen Army to have Green, who is the started his ca- Curator for the reer as a pri- Marylebone vate. Sir Cricket Club at Henry Wilson Lord’s, for his was later to be analysis of arti- murdered by cles and photo- Irish extrem- graphs relating to ists. Major a match held on General Sir U.S. Independ- Francis and ence Day in 1918. Lady Lloyd - ed. also were in The Weekly the Royal Box. Dispatch for 7 Cricket July 1918 made was repre- the confident assertion that a including Sir Eric Geddes (the sented by Lord Hawke, the fa- recent event ‘was the most First Lord of the Admiralty), ES mous former . momentous day in Anglo-Ameri- Montagu (the Secretary of State He is said to have prayed that no can history’. In similar vein the for ), Walter Long (the Colo- professional would ever captain paper said that by going on 4 nial Secretary) and the prominent . One wonders what he July to the playing fields of politician, Austen Chamberlain. thought of the match. Chelsea in South West London GN Barnes, a leading Labour Mem- The present writer is not com- ‘George V wiped out the blunder ber of Parliament, was also in the petent to judge whether it was a of George III.’ Royal Box. great baseball game. In one re- This may be pitching it a bit Two former Viceroys of India spect, however, it was possibly high but it is clear that tremen- (Lord Curzon and Lord Hardinge) the most distinguished sporting dous efforts were made that day to were present as well as that coun- event ever held in England. The promote the wartime alliance. This try’s leading statesman, the Hon Royal Box was full of the most culminated in a baseball match at Sir SP Sinha. They were accompa- eminent representatives of the al- Stamford Bridge in which the US nied by , the Maha- lied nations - the great and the Navy defeated the US Army in raja of Patiala. good in fact. front of 38,000 people. Leading figures from the Do- One hopes that the VIPs were King George V was there as minions included Sir Robert enlightened and entertained. For with his wife (Queen Mary), his Borden and WF Lloyd from a few moments the leaders of the mother (Queen Alexandra), his Canada, WM Hughes of allied nations could forget the con- daughter (Princess Mary, later the and WF Massey, the flict. Thanks to the new Anglo- Princess Royal) and his aunt (Prin- leader. South was repre- American alliance, the war merci- cess Louise, Duchess of Argyll). sented by their great statesman, fully had only four months more The Prime Minister attended General Smuts, in addition to Lord to run. 4 WHO EXACTLY WAS ON FIRST? The story behind the creation of the Abbott & Costello routine “Who’s On First” by Mike Ross, immigrant population. That is, than icons for an unlikely comic unless you spell the names cor- script - a rather elaborate form of as told byWill Chance rectly. The legendary fictitious professional assassination. ©1999 “Who” of the text is, dear readers, Armed with a Watt family none other than one Honus J. scrapbook, Timmy Watt combed Baseball has provided Ameri- Hooehe, born in Rotterdam, Hol- libraries and perused the small can literature with several clas- land, nicknamed “The Dutch- town newspaper archives across sics, none more enduring and man”. “Hooehe’s on first?” That’s America, following the smallest popular than Who’s on First. This right. clue. Fruitless journeys to Oregon, is best known to the public as An impetuous researcher Texas and Louisiana maybe, but performed by the comic team of from the north of England, a Timo- not fruitless when he landed in a Abbott & Costello. The routine thy (“call me Timmy”) Watt, was town beginning with “P” in a state was first heard by a mass audi- researching his family tree and starting with “I”. At last baseball ence in the film The Naughty Nine- found a baseball player among fans can touch base with the likes ties in 1945. Visitors to the base- the close knit Watt clan. Mr Watt Honus Hooehe, Tom Morrow and ball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, Isaiah Donough and the rest of New York may find the routine this real life squad. shown on video in the public gal- Costello: Tell me the names of the lery. players on our team. Now it has emerged that what Abbott: Sure. Hooehe’s on first; was thought to be purely a prod- Watt's on second; I.Donough’s on uct of a fecund comic imagination third. is in fact based on reality. Here is C: Wait a minute. a taste of the fabled jest that has A: What’s the matter? come down to us through the years C: I want to know the names of the compliments of the zany comic players. duo: A: I’m telling you. Hooehe’s on Costello: Hey Abbott tell me the first; Watt's on second; I. Donough’s names of the players on our base- on ball team so I can say hello to third. [Not to be confused with his them. brother U. Donough.] Abbott: Sure. Who’s on first; What’s So now picture if you will a on second; I Don’t Know’s on third. cub reporter back in 1919 inter- C: Wait a minute. viewing the manager of the town A: What’s the matter? team. That reporter’s inability to C: I want to know the names of the comprehend the manager - who players was playing it up for the assem- A: I’m telling you. Who’s on first; bled mass - has allowed for a What’s on Second, I Don’t Know’s journeyed to the United States in precise albeit innocent rendering on third. search of one Archie Watt, his by the precious talent of dear Lou C: Now wait a minute. What’s the great grandfather, who emigrated Costello; not to deny Bud Abbott name of the first baseman? soon after the birth of his first his due as an equally believable A: No. What’s the name of the child, unable to take the strain of manager. second baseman. family life. Watt’s dig was strictly family C: I don’t know. As a result, Watt inadvert- research and, at first, utterly un- A: He’s the third baseman. ently discovered the original box concerned with the crack of bat C: Let’s start over. from whence the origins of and baseball, and moreover, curtly A: Okay. Who’s on first… the Abbott & Costello routine ema- if not rudely dismissive of the C: I’m asking YOU what’s the name nated. Yes, the Today’s, Who’s famed routine. Yet such naive ef- of the first baseman! and What’s that sent fans and forts have led to the most signifi- The full roster of the Abbott regular people alike into fits of cant baseball research discovery & Costello squad reads as: Who, mirth were real players with bat- since the unearthing of Honus What, I Don’t Know, Why, Yester- ting averages, wives and children, Wagner’s lost plate appearance. day, Tomorrow, Today, Because, hobbies, fetishes, drinking prob- Watt, while relating his tale and I Don’t Give A Darn. One lems and comic book addictions. to Will Chance, tended toward ef- might contend that these are un- In short: real life fiction turns to fusive verbosity, often vacuous and likely names even in late 19th real life fact when characters’ strangely reticent, albeit darn- century USA, with its burgeoning names exist as something other right evasive. Persistence, how- 5 WHO EXACTLY WAS ON FIRST? (con’t) ever, based on unbearable excite- work’s basement archives and The radio writers certainly ment, paid off. other secluded locations where indulged themselves, creating the Watt, despite his scant he unearthed early radio scripts, famous “I Don’t Give A Darn” from knowledge and little interest in learning of such facts as Nat Farr-Darne. In the early versions baseball, suddenly became - once Turley’s early inclusion as “Natu- Nat Turley was the shortstop. Watt he knew he had struck gold - a rally” - subsequently dropped from unearthed records relating to veritable Mr. Baseball. And most the version folks have come to Herman Donald Farr-Darne, painfully, he held firm to a jour- know and love. whose parents were born in York- nalistic credo previously foreign Here is the lineup in more shire, England. Watt was so mean to him. “Sorry Will, but I cannot detail: with his sources, he would only divulge my sources”. He refused Honus Hooehe was indeed a say “A place beginning with a W”. to name the town from whence Dutchman. Likewise Frank Archie There Joseph Farr met and mar- came his sources, only that it be- Watt, the man without whose pres- ried the winsome Marie Darne. gan with a ‘P’ in a midwestern ence on the roster Timmy Watt They assumed for the good of their state starting with the letter ‘I’. He would have been rendered pur- heirs, the -barrelled Farr- said he would tell me more once poseless, was also European born Darne, as was, and is, quite the his book was published. A serious and indeed did second base. common practice in the Britain of researcher could come to hate this Archie Watt made the big leagues today, especially among those of man. as a late callup with Wash- higher station, thus preserving Chance spent three long ington in 1920. Watt is reckoned collateral wealth. years gathering the information to be the only second baseman This wealth was far greater now in his . Chance with a career average of then would ever be achieved by spoke of how this Timmy charac- 1.000 in the majors. His name the fleet-footed Donkey. The poor ter chipped off bits of his sanity, does not appear in some reference chap was disinherited very early but satisfied his lifelong urge to books because he had only one in his career for disgracing the understand carving in flint. Watt turn at bat in which - legend has names of Darne and Farr with his had spoken guardedly of how the it - he doubled, giving him a admittedly quaint monicker. story first spread, starting in 1919 slugging percentage of 2.000. The Moose Skowron, former Yankee in a tavern where a “beaver-like highest in major league history for slugging first sacker, in later years cub reporter” [Watt’s mixed meta- a second baseman. acknowledged Farr-Darne’s con- phor] was interviewing the man- Isaiah (Ike) Donough, an tribution. “Donkey was a great ager. Among those watching the Irishman and former railroad influence on me; he had the guts proceedings in the tavern in what worker, Donough was the brother to support the animal kingdom was described as “the waning af- of Ulysses Donough. Both were which too few players do nowa- ternoon sun”, were your arche- born in county Wicklow, near Dub- days. I did the same because of typal booze hounds: a salesman lin, . The team manager in him. He would have made it to the on a good day, a woman practising the original ‘folk’ version used the major leagues, I can tell you that the oldest profession, and not initial before the surname, recit- much.” Rabbit Maranville was also least, the actual town drunk him- ing the name as it appeared in the highly respectful of Donkey and self, a raconteur who, with an box score. No artistic contrivances said before his death: “Donkey obvious theatrical background, here. Simply more confusion for had plenty of guts. And he could which suggests that he spread the already besotted Costello. turn the double play too”. the story in the colourful telling of When the name U. Donough came “Why” was the show busi- it. up in early versions of the skit, ness center fielder, who was based As Chance relates, this flot- Costello exclaimed “I know I don’t on the real Wee Willie (Wild Bill) sam and jetsam of local society, know, Abbott!” To which Abbott Wye, who changed his name from creased with suppressed laugh- would have replied “What?” To Wyrostek. He was uncle to Barney ter, spread the tale far and . It which Costello, acquiescing to the Wyrostek who played 11 seasons gathered momentum as it crossed inevitable, resignedly prompted in the . state lines, much in the manner “Yeah, I know. He’s on second.” Blitz “Baby Doll” Kauz be- that folk tales do. The commercial Herman (Donkey) Farr-Darne came “Because” and was brother potential soon became obvious. at shortstop was a tragic figure. A of Kiki Kauz who never made the What transpires is not fully heavy drinker, the doomed Don- A&C script. The Kauz brothers known. That which is known can key was targeted for the major were from a town in Bavaria be- be questioned; and that which is leagues, but died before realising ginning with a ‘V’. questionable somehow makes his destiny (“unless,” as Watt had Right field was the Swede, sense. But, for all of Watt’s mad- boorishly prompted, “death was Jess Turdae, whose name was dening reticence, he was no mean his destiny”). Donkey, as the story translated to the phonetically researcher. Get this: Timmy Watt goes, downed a fifth of Kill-Devil practical “Yesterday”. Jess not was apprehended on several oc- on a bet and fell into the Ohio surprisingly insisted on the origi- casions for various unlawful in- River while attempting to cross a nal pronunciation, “out of respect cursions into the Mutual Net- trestle railroad bridge on foot. for Papa” was his repeated expla- 6 WHO EXACTLY WAS ON FIRST? (con’t) nation, hence the “J” spoken as nickname “Two”. A former supportable. The names are not “Y”. The name Turdae (Sometimes teammate had - according to Watt that strange. Certainly not as ex- “Turrhdae” or “Turrhdai”) can still - said: “You know how supersti- amples of first generation Ameri- be found in Minnesota and tious ballplayers can be. Well, one can immigrants. Not bad for what Aroostok County phone books. time ol’ ‘Two’, he come out to the is allegedly a semi-pro outfit. Fairly common around Duluth, park and darn if he didn’t forgot to A: Look It’s very simple: Minnesota and Caribou, Maine. say it, you know, ‘Let’s play two’. C: I know it’s simple. You got Tom Morrow, or “Tomorrow”, And would you believe it! He struck a Tomorrow. He throws the the ace pitcher on the squad (still out four times, not even a loud ball to Today. Today throws the kept secret by our Timmy!), was in foul ball; dropped an easy tag at ball to Who, he throws the ball to 1895 christened Custer Udo Tho- the plate, then broke his thumb What. What throws the ball to I- mas Morrow. He was known for a on a passed ball. Two Day never Don’t-Know, he’s on third... and highly sophisticated sense of the again forgot his P’s and two’s, I what’s more, I Don’t Give A Darn! absurd. “And he enjoyed a good can tell you that.” A: What’s that? joke as much as the next man. As with the Kauz family, C: I said I Don’t Give A Darn. Often he signed himself C.U. Tom (Ulysses) U. Donough, brother of A: Oh, he’s our shortstop. Morrow… He was a funny fella,” Ike Donough, had to be satisfied So where do we go from here said Watt who was obviously let- with a utility role. Nathan (Nat) to find out the rest of the facts? ting on less than he knew and was Turley, scratched totally from im- Batting averages, on base per- highly pretentious as to what he mortality, was born in Troy, Illi- centages, earned run averages, thought he knew: “Morrow threw nois, and was great uncle of former and assists; all these mat- a wicked curve taught to him by big league pitching star Bob ters are of compelling interest. I, Candy Cummings when he was Turley, a 20-game winner for the for my curiosity, am left with the six years old.” Watt spoke parrot- Yankees. last clue from Watt before he like in his recitation, ignorant of So when Costello asks “Have jumped off the Talahatchee Bridge the true exploits of the great you got a pitcher on this team? (made famous in song years ear- Cummings. “Oh how opposing hit- Abbot’s reply should read on pa- lier by Bobbie Gentry) taking with ters sucked for that sweet looking per “Tom Morrow” and Costello him the last word; this coming sugar-coated candied tossed says “You don’t want to tell me after Chance grabbed him by the to them by the brilliant now? “ “I said I‘d tell you: Tom scruff of his maroon silk foulard Candyman.” Morrow.” “What’s wrong with to- scarfed neck and wrestled him to “Today” was none other than day?” “Nothing; he [‘Two’ Day] is a the ground. He agreed to elimi- Leon Touhy (“Two”) Day, a super- pretty good .” “Who’s the nate Iowa and Indiana, for which stitious character. He came to the catcher?” “No. Hooehe’s the first he was greatly thanked. Chance ball park suggesting to all within baseman.” “All right, what’s the spoke how he had been to Iowa, earshot, “Let’s play two,” indicat- first baseman’s name?” “No, Watt's and managed to pass through In- ing and immortalising his love for the second baseman’s name.” So, diana unscathed. I personally am the game and his willingness to a far fetched joke this is not. We heading for Pocatello, Idaho next play double-headers, virtually he- fans have forever been in the dark month, my first stop in my quest roic for a backstop in the days of and down a garden path. Costello’s for verification. I got a good feeling wool flannel. The legend of Day’s contention that “players have such about Pocatello. love of the game resulted in the strange names these days” is in-

CHAPTER OFFICERS Chairman: Mike Ross, 2B Maida Avenue, London W2 1TF (Tel: 0171 723 9848 Fax: 0171 724 0929; E-mail: [email protected]) Secretary: Graham Winterbone, 14 Springfield Crescent, Harpenden, Herts AL5 4LF (Tel: 01582 622 180; E-mail:[email protected]) Treasurer: Andy Parkes, 84 Hillingdon Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 8PJ (Tel and Fax: 0161 865 2952) Chair of Historical Committee: Jim Combs, 58 Duncan Terrace, London N1 8AG (Tel: 01895 628205) Publications Editor and Webmaster: Martin Hoerchner, Madalla, Chelsfield Lane, , BR6 7RS (Tel and fax: 01689 815 595; E-Mail: [email protected]) Archivist: Barry Winetrobe, 53 Woodside Road, New Malden, KT3 3AW (Tel: 0181 949 1035; E-mail: [email protected]) Assistant Chair of Historical Committee: Harvey Sahker, 9 Byrne Road, Flat B, Balham, London SW12 9HZ (Tel: 0171 630 0271) Procedural Advisor: Hugh Robinson, 567 Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 8JQ (Tel: 0161 286 7012) Honourary President: Norman Macht Honourary Vice-President: Monte Irvin 7 MAKES WAVES AT ARSENAL THAT REACH PARLIAMENT by Mike Ross footballer for Middlesbrough (The Wilf admitted. So there was Babe Boro) Wilf Mannion was greatly Ruth at the of what turned Mike got this story from the influenced by the words and out to be a one-man insurrection. horse’s mouth - from Wilf himself. thoughts of Ruth, so much so that “I went out for nine months. No- We are currently trying to confirm he went on strike for higher wages. one would do it. Only me. Not one the exact date of the Babe’s visit to As a result he was close to being of the others came out with me.” Britain - ed. purchased by Oldham Athletic in a deal that fell through because of “[Judge] Shawcross took my A short time before his final the high price tag on Mannion. case to Parliament. I went down to illness, probably in late 1947 or London but everything got spoiled. early 1948, during a visit to Brit- Wherever the Babe visited Of all the things to happen, I had ain, Babe Ruth was responsible he was renown. “Even the kids in to go back home because my son for instigating a mini player in- the seats knew him”, soccer great was being born while I was away. surrection which may at the time Wilf Mannion recalled. “Everyone That killed it.” And so Wilf was have led to a transformation of here talked about him for years beaten, out of money and all at labour relations in British sport. and years and years.” Ruth strolled once with a child to support. He There was no doubt as to the down through the tunnel at the went back to work for the same universality of Ruth’s popularity Arsenal Grounds in Lon- £10 and was lucky to get it while and influence; as with Muhammad don to take a bow to the assem- saving Middlesbrough from im- Ali today, Ruth’s knew no bled crowd of 50,000 supporters, pending relegation. But the Babe borders or boundaries. Former star there for their Saturday soccer came close to possibly altering the treat. On the way he was intro- course of labour relations in Brit- duced to the great striker for Mid- ain. dlesbrough F.C., Wilf Mannion, who by the end of an illustrious career had earned a prodigious 26 Letters international caps for England. In baseball terms a bit like having - Actually only one to begin with. With performed in 26 World Series this issue we’re starting a “Letters” games. In those days and up until column, where we’ll print research- the 1970s such stars as Mannion related and Examiner-related letters. So were earning £8-£10 per week. get writing! In the meantime, we were Not a bad whack for a working very gratified to receive this man. Meanwhile Ruth was on acknowledgement from the SABR nearly £1000 per during his ear- Publications Editor. lier heyday, a period well before Mannion’s revolt took place. Many of Ruth’s fellow big leaguers could Dear Martin: have easily taken home ten times A very quick note (I’m being that of a top British soccer star at overawed by a gigantic stack of any time during Ruth’s career. correspondence that piled up while I was away for a few weeks) When Ruth asked and was to tell you how much I enjoyed the told what the wages were for the July issue of The SABR UK Exam- likes of such stars as Mannion, iner. I found Allan Synge’s article “He could not believe it”, recalled on baseball and cricket fascinat- Wilf, now in his early 80’s. “He Jim Combs ing, and I thought the whole pro- looked at the and saw duction was terrific. Please pass 50,000 fans at the Arsenal and Jim Combs has been named on my compliments to Mike Ross, said, ‘I don’t know any profes- the new Chair of the British Base- Graham Winterbone, Patrick sional players hanging out for that ball History Committee. Jim, who Morley and everyone else involved, kind of money. Why don’t you captained the “Federal Storage” as well as to the whole member- guys get together?’ What Babe team of the Clark Griffith League, ship for their enthusiasm and fre- meant by get together was for the is shown receiving the trophy for quently fine research. Keep up players to ‘hold out’. He couldn’t the All-American Amateur Base- the good work! understand why we didn’t fight ball Association Championship for our rights.” So the pair talked. held at Johnstown PA August Mark Alvarez “He put a bit of something in me,” 1960. Welcome aboard, Jim. 8 STOOLBALL IS ALIVE AND WELL (con’t) variety could be the ancestor of base- from Mrs. Stanbrook. It turns out she to the cold, wore a sweatshirt and/or ball. was originally from Sussex and im- sweat pants in the same colour Yet as far as I knew, stoolball ported the game. The web site also scheme, over or instead of the basic was dead as the proverbial dodo. So I offered a booklet, published by the uniform. had my mouse pointer hovering over National Stoolball Association, con- The main action of the game the “print” button on my letter to Mr. taining the rules and history of was in the middle of a large circle Sayama… stoolball. I contacted her, and eagerly drawn near the perimeter of a green, But I had other chores to deal awaited my booklet. which I later learned was 90 yards feet with. I’m the editor the SABR UK We set out from my home in in diameter. Stoolball has no foul Examiner, the research journal of the Kent about an hour before the match territory. In the middle of the circle Bobby Thomson Chapter, the UK started at 7.00. The weather was fine, were set up two , though not branch of SABR. I was working on the and it was a lovely ’s evening wickets in the cricket sense. They AGM report for the Examiner, and I as we drove through the Sussex coun- were wooden targets, about a foot had videotaped the meeting, and was tryside. This year had a generally square, set on a wooden pole about going over the tape for my meeting rainy summer, and we’d lucked out the height of the players’ heads, sup- report for the Examiner. This was an today. ported on the ground by four short excellent meeting, including Allen When we got to Wisborough legs. It was a bit like a stop sign, only Synge, a cricket writer and member of Green the match had started. It was a square and wooden. There were two of the (the gov- lovely setting, a huge open town green them, 16 yards apart. There were two erning body of cricket), who presented surrounded by brick houses of vary- batters, though they are called bats- an excellent piece entitled men in stoolball, even “Cricket and Baseball - Cross though most of them are Currents”. We all know about female. The stoolball bat the proselytising missions bore no resemblance to a that Albert Spalding sent to , or even a England in 1874 and via the . It was more like world in 1888/1889, but Allen an outsized pong pad- spoke about cricket tours dle, though reinforced and aimed at the American mar- with a lot more whack, as ket in 1859 and 1872. As an we later found out. aside he said “And then The pitcher, as we there’s stoolball. You should would call her, or the bowler watch it, if only for the comely (as called in stoolball and maidens who play it”. cricket) would pitch the ball My mouth dropped open. Allen ing age and design, most with gar- underarm in the air from a distance of was talking about stoolball in the dens bursting with summer flowers. 10 yards, towards the wicket about present tense. I was on the phone to The obligatory pub was set off on one head-high to the batsman. The bats- him immediately, first to ask if I could corner of the green, and the town man would try to hit the ball, and if publish his piece in the Examiner, to church rose up on a hill just behind she made contact, would run towards which he agreed, but then to ask him the green. A cricket was the other wicket. In the meantime the about this stoolball remark. “Oh yes”, pushed off to the side of the green, batsman at the other wicket would he said, “it’s still being played. I know and right behind it was a flag pole run towards her wicket. They would of a few matches coming up in where the Union Jack fluttered run back and forth as many times as Wisborough Green, in Sussex.” He proudly. Towards the edge of the green possible before the ball was fielded said he would check and come back to was a club house; obviously it was the and returned to the running , me with some dates. headquarters for the local cricket club. which is a line drawn from either side I was dumfounded. I asked my It had a bar on the ground floor, and of the wicket. I immediately recog- wife, who is from Yorkshire, if she ever above it was a balcony where the nised it as a very similar game to heard of a game called stoolball. She score (runs, overs, and wickets) was cricket. The primary difference was said she hadn’t. I was very perplexed. displayed. that instead of bouncing the ball off Allen got back to me with a few We parked and made our way the ground try to hit a wicket about 2 game dates, and July 1 seemed ideal. towards the clubhouse. As we walked, feet tall, as in cricket, the bowler So we organised a road trip with Allen, our attention focused on the game. threw the ball towards a wicket placed me, and Mike Ross, the Chairman of The two teams were indeed, as Allen on a pole at about the same height as SABR UK and the one who’d originally mentioned, all female, although Mrs. the batsman’s head. Indeed, articles I commissioned Allen to do the piece. Denman told us that mixed teams later read called stoolball “cricket in Allen gave me the number of the head also exist. The home team was dressed the air”. of the Wisborough Green Stoolball in yellow and green, like the Oakland We located Mrs. Denman, and Club, Mrs. Denman. I phoned her and A’s of the 70’s, with a yellow top and she made us feel welcome while she told her of our mission, and she was green skirt. The away team from explained the game to us. First she very helpful and gracious. She said Steadham was dressed in maroon, showed us the game equipment. The the match started at 7.00 and we were like that other team of bat was a lot more substantial than a more than welcome to attend. the late 70’s and early 80’s. The basic ping pong paddle; it was made of In the meantime I thought I’d hit uniform consisted of a pullover shirt willow (the same wood as cricket bats the internet and see if I could find any with a few buttons at the top, and a are made) and very hefty. It was com- stoolball. I did - there’s lots of it! All of pleated skirt, which was fairly short, pletely flat on one side (the hitting it seemed to be in Sussex, except a over shorts, like ladies players. side) and rounded on the other (like a reference in Alresford, , Some team members, more sensitive cricket bat). And it was heavy; you 9 STOOLBALL IS ALIVE AND WELL (con’t) could really pack a wallop with this which I later learned was 1881, I have vised “The bowler should try several thing! The handle was wedged in the no doubt that gaps or inconsistencies different deliveries to unsettle the middle with a soft wood, for in the stoolball rules were filled in by batsman”. I read about a certain de- spring. But it was the ball that really cricket rules. A subject for further livery called the “donkey drop”, which delighted us. It was like a tiny base- research. is a high and slow ball that drops just ball, white leather with red cross- We watched the game from a on or behind the wicket. The book stitching, but only about 2¼ inches in long while, taking photographs and says “This fools many bats- diameter. By contrast, a is video, and then the clouds moved in, men and they have difficulty making red with two hemispheres joined by and the late evening sun moved to- a stroke”. stitching around the equator. This wards evening twilight. Soon night The booklet also contained a simple connection to baseball, the would fall, and we felt it was the time copy of a fascinating article from “The similarity of the game , really to move on. But we had one more Sussex County Magazine” from July, intrigued us. errand to run. Allen asked if we could 1928. It gave an account of the history Mrs. Denman then explain to us stop by the church on the hill that of the game. The seminal character in the rules of the game, which are very overlooked the town green. It turned twentieth-century stoolball history similar to cricket. There are eleven out his parents were buried there; was Major W. W. Grantham of players on a team. It is organised into evidently Allen’s roots in this area Balneath Manor, Sussex, who was overs, which are six legitimate were deeper than I thought. responsible for the stoolball revival in balls in cricket and eight in stoolball. I gave him his privacy at his 1917. The article waggishly asks the The number of overs is flexible and parent’s resting places; my attention question “Did Major Grantham revive agreed before the match, usually from had been captured by a pond the Sussex round frock, or smock, as 15 to 20. There were many ways to just below the church. There was a a suitable garment in which to disport score. If the batsman hits a ball that mother duck with a long string of himself at stoolball, or did he revive isn’t fielded immediately, they have baby ducks, paddling around the stoolball in order to show off his fine the option of running back and forth pond. As I watched them I reflected smock?” The article then gives a few from wicket to wicket, a run upon the great circle of life and death, references to stoolball going back to for each time they make the traverse. with a group of baby ducks below and 1450, in which the game was forbid- A hit ball that rolls over the a churchyard above, and an ancient den to be played in churchyards. on the ground scores four runs, and game with ancestors very much alive, One reference that particularly one hit in the air that clears it scores still being played in the Sussex coun- interested me was “About 1630 a Pu- six runs. There are four ways for the tryside. ritan records that ‘ was for- batsman to be out: 1) “”, i.e. Of course I excitedly reported all merly a very profane town, where flied out; 2) “”, having the ball this back to Japan, to Mr. Sayama. stoolball and other games were prac- get to the wicket the is head- We immediately wrote back and said tised on the Lord’s Day’”. The first ing towards before she reaches it, a he would be visiting England to watch reference to baseball yet uncovered bit like the force play; 3) “bowled out”, this ancient game! He also sent me has been dated 1700 in every book in which the bowlers strikes the wicket his c.v. He had written numerous I’ve read. It was written by the Rever- with the ball, it past the books and articles on both Japanese end Thomas Wilson of Maidstone, batsman untouched, and 4) “body and American baseball, as well as Kent, who wrote in dismay “I have before wicket (BBW)”, similar to crick- Japanese translations of books such seen Morris-dancing, cudgel-playing, et’s “”, and which the as “The Boys of Summer” and Satchel baseball and cricketts, and many other decides that the batsman Paige’s “Maybe I’ll Pitch Forever”. It sports on the Lord’s Day.” If this is the would have been bowled out if she also seems he has been interested in same reference, maybe a much ear- had not been standing directly in stoolball for many years, because he lier date is possible. A subject for front of the wicket and deflected the also sent me a copy of a photograph of further research. The article goes on ball. There are no free bases for HBP’s him playing stoolball at Plimouth Plan- to say that Major Grantham was con- in stoolball. tation. Plimouth Plantation is a rec- vinced that “stoolball in some form or In studying the genealogy of ball reation of the original English colo- other was the progenitor of cricket, games, one quickly learns that it is nial settlement of Plymouth, Massa- rounders, and baseball”. This was easy to find similarities, e.g. stoolball chusetts, complete with actors in pe- long before Henderson wrote his words with cricket, or baseball with round- riod costume. The photo shows Kazuo in agreement. ers, but proving ancestry is completely toward a batsman stationed Stoolball never completely died different. Stoolball has a lot of rules in in front of a stool, with everyone but out. Indeed, Major Grantham played common with cricket, for instance the him dressed as the original Pilgrim the game as a youth. There exists a 4-run and 6-run rules. But whether settlers. Stoolball was the first game beautiful illustration of a stoolball cricket got them from stoolball or reported to have been played in the match in Horsham Park in Sussex, stoolball got them from cricket is open Americas, by the Massachusetts colo- between Horsham Park and the For- to debate. It was my gut feeling on first nists in 1621. esters, two female teams, in 1878. viewing the game, and I can’t prove About that time the National This match was played by cricket this, that there was a lot of back- Stoolball Association booklet arrived. rules, except that the batsman had to influence from cricket to the game of The rules were pretty much what I tap the wicket after every ball, and stoolball. In other words, cricket may had learned so far, in addition to such was out if the wicket keeper touched have, and probably did, spring from facts as the names of the the face of the wicket with the ball stoolball, but cricket was codified positions, e.g. the bowler, wicket first. It was noted that “the match was much earlier, while stoolball remained keeper, mid wicket on, on, slip off, spoiled by one incident. Miss Florrie a pastoral pastime with rules that mid wicket off, deep mid wicket off, Lucas, of Horsham Park, managed to varied from county to county, indeed deep over off, deep mid on/off, deep edge the ball so that it curled round village to village. When it was time to mid cover on/square leg area, and and lodged in her hair, of which she set down the official rules of stoolball, deep mid wicket on. The booklet ad- had quite a lot. She asked the wicket 10 STOOLBALL IS ALIVE AND WELL (con’t) keeper to take it out, which was done, Plus there are lots of non-league bathroom”. Almost immediately a gen- but the Rev. C. Hodgson, one of the teams. In Sussex every village has a ial-looking man in his 60’s walked up , gave her out ‘caught’, with- team. I talked for quite a while to Kay and said to me “Are you Martin out having been appealed to. This and her husband John, the Vice- Hoerchner?”, even pronouncing my broke their hearts and led to ‘remarks’, President of the N.S.A. They were surname correctly, which you nor- which nearly ended in play being both very aware of stoolball’s long mally wouldn’t do from the spelling. I stopped for good.” history, and very keen to make sure was flummoxed; had my fame pre- Major Grantham revived the that the history would continue. John ceded me? It turned out to be John sport in July 1917. At the time the mentioned to me some upcoming tour- Price of the N.S.A. He welcomed us First World War was raging, and Ma- naments, including the Sussex heartily and introduced us to his wife jor Grantham was serving on the Mili- in Seaford on Kay, who I had talked to on the phone. tary Tribunal. His eldest son had been August 9, which pitted the top five John was acting as officiator of badly wounded in , and the teams from each league against each the tournament - I don’t know his Major was moved to provide some other. The “Rest of League Tourna- exact title, but he basically ran it. He sport for the “battered heroes of the ment” was the weekend after in had a desk set up where the scores war in our military hospitals”. Cricket Plumpton Green, in which the next were kept and results tabulated, and and tennis were deemed to strenuous five teams from each league would the area around him was a beehive of for those who had lost limbs or other- square off against each other. In ad- activity. Players would come up to wise handicapped; him at regular intervals stoolball seemed to be reported scores - Burwash the ideal game. A semi- beat Graffham 119-79; nal match was played Ringmer beat Maresfield that year on the Sussex 100-64. He would mark County Cricket Ground, them on a chart and the between soldiers from winner would proceed to the Hospital the next round. He would “damaged by wounds” get on the P.A. and sum- and a team of ancient mon Geebro and Adastra lawyers, including Ma- to pitch three in five min- jor Grantham, “dam- utes. Kay seemed to be aged by age”. The sol- disappearing and reap- diers won. pearing with lightning Major Grantham, speed, going here and besides being a tireless there on varying errands. of stoolball, They worked together like was also an excellent chronicler of the dition, there would be the “Day of a well-oiled machine. sport. He wrote two books on the sport Stoolball”, at Wivelsfield Green on Despite his duties John was very and his copious scrapbooks, notes, September 9, an informal event where gracious and helpful in supplying and artefacts still reside in the Sus- stoollballers from all over would meet, stoolball knowledge. He explained the sex County Archives in . The be arranged in pickup teams, and layout of the tournament, and pointed game grew and thrived, and started play their sport all day long. out some of the teams. They seemed being played in Japan, France, August 9 dawned semi-overcast, to be generally not from larger towns, Canada, Africa, Australia, and other but as we got nearer to the English but from small villages with exotic countries. The 1917 revival led to the Channel, the clouds broke and it names like Sidley, Ditching, institution, in 1923, of the Stoolball turned into a gloriously sunny Sun- Mountfield, Newick, and Angmering. Association for Great Britain. day. The quaint antique-print scene He also explained how the rules var- The Stoolball Association ceased in Wisborough Green did nothing to ied from regular stoolball, in that there to exist in 1946, after the Second prepare me for the spectacle at were only eight players on a team World War and the death of Major Seaford. The playing field was mon- instead of eleven and the number of Grantham dampened enthusiasm. strous, and it seemed like multitudes overs is reduced. He said tournament But the game still continued to be of stoolballers stretched to the hori- stoolball is a lot faster than town played, and in 1979 the present Na- zon. At Wisborough Green I saw two stoolball, and many runs are scored. tional Stoolball Association was teams; here were 25 teams, and this In fact, he offered so much informa- formed, and has been going strong was only the cream of the crop. I tion I couldn’t keep up with him, being ever since. finally started to get an inkling of the without notebook or tape recorder. The N.S.A. booklet had a note game’s popularity. I stood, open- Duty called him back to the “For further information contact: Mrs. mouthed, at the perimeter for a few desk, so we took off and walked around K.R. Price, Secretary”. I was inter- moments, and then we made our way the pitches, taking photos and shoot- ested in finding out how widely played toward the action. There was a total of ing video. Here a tall blonde in the game was, so I gave her a call. She four stoolball pitches (playing circles) and yellow a wicked underarm was a gold mine of information. laid out in close proximity, staggered ball to a cowering girl in green and Stoolball is very popular not only in like the Olympic rings, with four con- white. There a confident batsman Sussex, but also in nearby counties. current matches taking place. In ad- holds her place as the ball comes in, For instance, Surrey has 25 teams in dition there were throngs of relatives, waiting a final moment, and giving a league and Kent has 12-15 teams. friends and interested parties watch- the ball an affirmative whack! On a far Sussex, however, has 60 teams that ing the play from the edges. We ap- pitch fielders scramble after a ball hit are part of a league. In the East- proached the small clubhouse and far, retrieving it just before it reaches bourne area alone are 10 leagues. my wife said “Martin, I’m going to the the perimeter and returning it as run- 11 STOOLBALL IS ALIVE AND WELL (con’t) ners chase each other back and forth and a baseball. From stoolball to I expect to report on a live from wicket to wicket. It was like a rounders to baseball, the ball grows brontosaurus lumbering around the three-ring circus, only there were four larger as the game progresses. Though southern English countryside. rings. It was an incredible spectacle, I would say that the rounders ball September 9, the Day of under a very uncharacteristic Eng- seemed to be the softest, with the Stoolball, dawned wet and blustery. lish bright sunny summer’s day. And stoolball next and the baseball the The Seaford weather couldn’t be du- in the background, if you walked to hardest. plicated. I took off in a driving rain, the far end of the playing field, rose In talking to John and Kay, it and once it became so intense I huge chalk cliffs, which the south turned out that they had a keen knowl- couldn’t drive and had to pull over coast of England is famous for. Pic- edge and appreciation of the long while it abated. It stopped raining by ture postcard stuff - it’s on the cover history of stoolball, which I found the time I got to Wivelsfield Green, but of the Examiner. gratifying. I asked if they had ever the sky was still angry and the wind The spectators clustered around held a match in old style costumes, was still strong. the edges of the four circular pitches. and John said they had, in 1997, to The signs lead me to town, but Some had chairs, some had commemorate the 200th anniversary before I got there this playing field deck chairs, some were spread out on of the first Sussex vs. Kent match, on appeared. This must be the place! It blankets, and many brought ice chests Rusthall Common. [Photo on page was just on the outskirts. I pulled into full of food and drinks for picnicking. 10.] In fact, the National Stoolball the parking lot on the edge of the field; Some were engaged in mortal combat Association is planning to recreate just to the left were some brick build- with beach umbrellas in the wind. I the 1878 Horsham Park match previ- ings, including a meeting hall and a saw a small boy swinging a cricket bat ously described for the Millenium cel- small club house. The scene before on the as his father bowled ebrations, in the original location and me was very different from either him a ball. He hit it with authority and in full costume. John and Kay are Wisborough Green or Seaford. There it went rolling down the well-mani- actually from Horsham, and they said were three pitches. And the atmos- cured lawn. The father shouted “That’s the setting exists pretty much as it did phere was very subdued, most likely a real daisy cutter!”. I was amazed to in the illustration. due to the perilous nature of the hear that term, which describes a fast John and Kay were once more weather. The stoolballers were not ground ball, because the only time I called to duty, and we thanked them dressed in uniform, like I’d seen be- had ever came across it was in an and moved on, as we had a long drive fore. explanation of baseball terms from home to make. Before we left we took I’d come on my own, so I parked the 1880’s. What goes around comes a short stroll along the shingle beach, the car and set out to find Mr. Sayama, around, as they say. The great circle and I walked along the pebbles still in John and Kay Price, Mike Ross, Allen once again. awe of the scale of the support for Synge, or any combination of the We walked the whole circuit of stoolball in Sussex. above. When I made it to the club the playing field and came back to Of course I reported all this back house I came across both Prices and John and Kay. Noting the incredibly to Mr. Sayama. He wrote back that he Mr. Sayama. It turned out that he had fine weather, I asked him if the tour- was coming over to England with his made contract with the Prices on his nament had ever been cancelled due wife, but couldn’t make it until Sep- arrival in Britain; they were already to poor weather. He said no; in 27 tember. He was concerned about com- on a first-name basis. Mr. Sayama, I years, it had always been completed. ing too late for the stoolball season, learned, was referred to as “Kaz”, and He said once in a while it had started but he was in luck. September 9 would his wife Sedtz was referred to as in a drizzle, and with the enthusiasm be the “Day of Stoolball”, an informal “Setts”. We exchanged hearty greet- of the players been completed in a tournament which originally cel- ings after having had such a lively driving rain, but had never been can- ebrated the 25th anniversary of the correspondence. Almost as soon as celled. Queen’s accession, which would be we made contact, Mike and Allen John then gave me the chance held at Wivelsfield Green in Sussex. showed up, and we soon were en- to hit a stoolball ball with a stoolball So we made plans to meet there. gaged in lively conversation. Kaz, who bat. He went into a duffle bag and dug In the flurry of letters exchanged is in his 60’s, talked about watching out a few stoolball bats, of varying between Japan and England, Mr. Satchel Paige pitch in San Francisco. weights. I chose one of the heavier Sayama once enclosed a photocopy He told how he would load the bases ones, and my wife pitched the ball, from a book entitled “The Man Who and then strike out the side, confirm- and I whacked it with the bat, which Invented Baseball” by Harold ing a story that had been only legend now felt a lot more substantial than a Petersen. It mentioned the ancient to me. I asked Kaz if Satchel would ping pong paddle, and the ball soared game of trap ball, stating “Trap ball is also call in the outfield and then into the air. I not only felt the thrill of still played, usually by men and par- either strike out the side or make Barry Bonds hitting one over the ticularly in Kent”. I live in Kent and them ground out, and he said he saw fences, I also felt the thrill of a 15th Mr. Sayama wondered if I knew any- that too. It was baseball history com- century milk maid hitting one into the thing about trap ball being played ing alive to me. next cow pasture! He gave me a currently. To make a long story short, I had my own bombshell that set stoolball ball, which I’d come to ad- it was John Price who discovered the the baseball people buzzing. I checked mire as a miniature baseball. John game had been played as a pub game the internet that morning, which was also gave me a ball used in indoor in the south of England fairly re- September 9, and the previous night stoolball, a derivation of the game cently, and discovered at least one in the States, which would have been invented for those long rainy English pub (in Gillingham, Kent) where the early morning U.K. time, Mark winters. It’s also white with red game is still being played. The season McGwire hit his 62rd home run of the stitches. This ball was actually an starts on May 18 this year and they season, breaking one of baseball’s official rounders ball; it’s about half- play on Wednesday nights, on the most cherished records. Kaz was way the size between a stoolball ball grass behind the pub. Someday soon dumbfounded, and drew a circle in 12 STOOLBALL IS ALIVE AND WELL (con’t) the air. We all knew what he meant. It recent memory, and has anyone heard The fielders were hurrying a ball to- was the great circle again. On a day of “tansy cakes”? Tansy cakes were wards a wicket to get there in front of that we viewed a game at least half a mentioned by Joseph Strutt and later a runner; it was a close contest. They millennium old, a milestone was Robert Henderson as being the prize threw the ball at the wicket, the square reached in a game that was the child, offering to victorious ball teams in wooden bit, before the runner touched or grandchild, or great-grandchild of Easter festivities, and traced back to her bat to it, and she was out. I asked that same game. The past and present Biblical times. This question later why the fielder didn’t hold the ball in came together in one moment. It was brought forth a response - a recipe in her hand when she touched and an auspicious day indeed to watch an old English book “The Compleat wicket, and John said it was for two stoolball. Housewife (or Accomplished Gentle- reasons: 1), if the fingers got between The tournament consisted of women’s Companion)” by Eliza Smith, the bat and the wicket it could get stoolballers organised into six pickup first published in 1758. After Mike’s quite painful, and 2), if the fielder was teams. In previous years they were speech Setts Sayama was presented holding the ball you couldn’t tell if the given the letters “A” through “F”, but with a lovely basket of flowers, and ball had actually touched the wicket this year they thought to make things Kaz was presented with, as if bringing ahead of the bat. Fair enough, I a bit more human by giving the teams “coals to Newcastle”, John Price said, thought, if it was crucial that the ball names, conveniently starting with the a bottle of sake. Both gifts were heart- and not just the hand holding the ball letters from A to F - the Amazons, ily appreciated. touches the wicket first. Braves, Cobras, Dragons, Elks and Afterwards the food was served The final match was played be- Falcons. John made me laugh when and the cooks were thanked with a tween the Elks and the Falcons. The he said the “E” was at first going to be round of applause. Play resumed af- sun broke through as they took the the Elephants, but then someone ter the meal; unfortunately the field, and that lovely late afternoon mentioned the fact that very few weather hadn’t improved in the least. light broke through the clouds to bathe woman would want to be known as an At one point players and spectators the players. In the end the Elks tri- “elephant”. Good point, but I can’t were scattered by a particularly fierce umphed, and almost immediately fol- image many women wanting to be a shower, but it was short and the lowed a presentation, in which the dragon, either. They would play a stoolballers were back to their game victorious stoolballers queued up while knockout tournament and the final in no time. As we watched the game, John Price presented them with prizes. two teams would play for the champi- John had time to explain to me some The queue stretched as the other onship. of the finer points of the game. Earlier players joined in, and it seemed that Soon after we arrived there was he showed me coloured practice cones everyone got something. This event a break for lunch. The players and that were used to help batsmen place was about fellowship, not competi- friends to the meeting hall, their hits between fielders. He pointed tion. Towards the end of the presenta- where a light meal was presented. out that bowling is always underarm, tions I moved further back to take in John Price made a brief speech, where with no allowed wrist snap, but it still the scene of lines of stoolballers queu- he described the meaning of the “Day can get very fast. The game has the fly ing up to received recognition for their of Stoolball”. Besides the official rea- rule, and balls have to be caught on efforts in keeping an ancient son, he said that this day was one the fly for the batsman/runner to be alive. I finally realised I was watching where stoolballers from all over could out. In fact batsmen are encouraged the last hurrah of maybe the 549th play and meet each other, and come to hit the ball down, so it won’t be season that stoolball has been played in contact with stoolball legends as caught and they at least have a chance in England. The National League at Barbie Jenner or Barbie Weir. The of making it to the other wicket. As in 123 years is a mere child in compari- stoolball community seems to be very all bat and ball games, the fielders get son. tightknit, and successful players over to know the batters and where they I finally found myself at the edge the years attain legendary status with- hit and position themselves accord- of the parking lot, and thought I’d out recourse to mass media, but only ingly. Also, the bowlers know how the make a discreet exit. But before I got through their reputations spread by batsman hits and they try to cross into my car, I turned around once word of mouth. them up. We watched one woman more to take in the scene. The dark John then introduced us, Kaz who had a very unorthodox stroke - clouds were turning day into dusk as and Allen and Mike and myself, as the she hit the ball directly behind her! the stoolball crowd started breaking “International Sporting Press”. Kaz John said such a tactic would be very up; the great circle was once again in spoke and told us that after the war effective, usually making a definite force. I turned for one last look and had ended in 1945 - he was 9 - that four runs, until the fielders got wind of saw summer turning into , three things came together: peace, it, and positioned themselves corre- and another stoolball season going democracy, and baseball, and he spondingly. He used two terms that into the record books and into his- would always associate those them had always confused me in cricket, tory. together. Baseball had been popular hitting toward the “on” or the “off”. I That’s okay, because spring in Japan since 1874, but had been asked and the answer was simple - comes soon, and within months on suppressed during World War II as a the “on” was what in baseball would village greens all over Sussex and foreign influence. But after the war be called “pull hitting”, and the “off” Kent and Surrey we’ll hear the thwack baseball was allowed to blossom again, would be called “hitting to the oppo- of bat against ball and the activity of and Japan soon became only the sec- site side”. Actually, the cricket/ fielders scurrying to return a ball to ond country to support professional stoolball terms seemed to make more the next wicket. So will another sea- baseball. sense! That explains terms like “mid- son start in the sixth or seventh cen- Chapter Chairman Mike Ross off”, but I’ll never understand why tury that stoolball has been played in then spoke a few words of greeting, cricket has a fielding position called this fair isle. and posed two research questions to “silly mid-off”. Later on I saw an ex- As for me, I can hardly wait for the crowd: has anyone heard of the ample of a runner being “run out”. opening day. game of trap ball being played in