1 The SABR UK Number 13

Examiner Autumn 2003

The Journal of the Bobby Thomson Chapter of the Society for American Research, Incorporating the Newsletter of the Baseball in UK/Europe Committee Baseball’s Earliest Reference? by Martin Hoerchner sons: book, personal letter, etc. Unfortu- 1. I have never seen the word nately this is a general failing of I’ve always thought that SABR ‘divine’ used as a noun. Henderson’s usually impeccable members in the U.K. were 2. I know there is a 1 in 100 research. uniquely placed to investigate chance that an event will take place 5. According to my knowledge of the origins of the game we call in a year ending in 00, but it just British history, the Puritans were a baseball, because we live in seemed to me to be an estimate, a spent force after the Restoration (1661), after twelve years of the the land that most probably theocracy of Cromwell and the nurtured the early games that Roundheads. I can’t imagine gave birth to baseball. For someone claiming to be a Puritan instance, I’ve always been in 1700, at least openly. interested in Robert W. Henderson’s account of the A further clue was discovered earliest known baseball when I was researching stoolball, reference. and was going through the papers of Major Grantham, stoolball’s twentieth-century re-inventor, in Robert W. Henderson is the Lewes in . I came across a Father of Baseball Genealogy. copy of the Sussex County Maga- In his seminal 1947 book, zine for July 1928, which con- Ball, Bat and Bishop: The tained the article “Stoolball in Origin of Ball Games, he Sussex” by M.S. Russell-Goggs. It writes: contains a series of early refer- ences to stoolball, including this “The earliest mention of a one: game called baseball so far “About 1630 a Puritan records that located was made by the ‘Maidstone was formerly a very Reverend Thomas Wilson, a profane town, where stool-ball and Puritan divine at Maidstone, other games were practised on the . He wrote Lord’s Day’.” reminiscently in the year 1700, describing events that This really got my interest, be- had taken place before that cause it seemed very similar to the time, perhaps during his Thomas Wilson comment, quoted former years as a minister. ‘I by Henderson. But it gives a much earlier date than Henderson, and have seen’, he records with baseball is not one of the games disapproval, ‘Morris-dancing, mentioned. Still, 1630 is a much cudgel-playing, baseball and more reasonable date for a Puritan cricketts, and many other ‘circa’ date. minister; in fact, that was the year on the Lord’s Day.’” 3. I wouldn’t expect such an the Puritans founded the American early reference to use the term city of Boston. This reference has been accepted “baseball”. I would expect either and repeated many times over. But “base ball” or “base-ball”. So I was more puzzled than ever, to me, something never seemed 4. There is no hint regarding the but I didn’t know exactly where to quite right about it, for a few rea- source of the quote, whether a start to track down the exact quote.

www.sabr.org.uk 2 Baseball’s Earliest Reference? (con’t) So I let it simmer for years, but entitled “Community and Disunity – search their catalogue, and I hoped then, last week, in a sudden burst and the English Civil Wars, against hope, and bingo! It was of inspiration, I vowed to try to solve 1640-1649”. It was a collection of there. The title of the book was the mystery. After all, Maidstone four different lectures, number given as “The life and death of Mr. isn’t far from me, about 20 minutes three of which was entitled “Thomas Tho. Wilson, Minister of Maidstone, by car. I pictured myself discovering Wilson and the ‘Prophane Town’ of etc.” It was indeed dated 1672, and the quote on a yellowed letter in a Maidstone”. So there was a whole ran 99 pages. The book had no dark cobwebbed corner of the Kent chapter based on the quote! And my author but there was a comment County Historical Society Head- suspicion was reinforced of an that the preface is signed G.S., i.e. quarters. earlier date. I phoned the bookshop George Swinnock. I immediately immediately to see if they had the ordered the book for my perusal in Maidstone, in fact, is the County book in stock so I could drive to two days’ time. Town of Kent (where I live), so it’s Canterbury to pick it up that day (I equivalent to a U.S. state capital. love visiting Canterbury, if you can From the moment I first got the idea It’s a busy town of 140,000 people, overcome – yes – the lack of parking to check the Internet for the quote about 20 miles southwest of Lon- spaces). But it was a Bank Holiday, till I found the British Library don. At least I think it’s a town. In and the shop was closed. So I catalogue listing for the book, took Britain cities and towns are official contacted them the next day and about a half-hour. designations; for instance, a city ordered the book, which was not in has to have a cathedral to be a city. stock, and I eagerly await its arrival. So I had two days to mull things Cityships are of high status and are over. One of the first things that handed out like prizes on the Back to the Internet, the second came to me was that the 1911 Queen’s Jubilee years. Maidstone reference that grabbed me was on a quote didn’t mention base- sits on the River Medway, which website about “the 1911 Encyclo- ball either. It was stool-ball where snakes right through the centre of paedia”, which was a really excel- Henderson had baseball. This town. Despite its proximity, I lent reference site and taken verba- tallied with the stoolball article, haven’t spent much time there, tim from the 1911 Encyclopaedia which mentioned stoolball “and probably due the lack of parking Britannica. The listing was for other sports”. I was at odds as to spaces. It’s got a jumble of bridges ‘Cricket’ and it ran into screenfuls, how to reconcile these discrepan- and roundabouts in the middle of very exhaustive and complete. The cies. Unless… there are SABR UK town, with a hundred signs whiz- section of interest was at the members, sometimes including me, zing around; the kind of traffic maze beginning, where, like the stoolball who believe, in one form or another, where you have to know what lane article, they ran a catalogue of early that there has been a certain level you want to be in about six turns in references to the . One of the of suppression of baseball in this advance. My fondest memory of earlier references was this: country, including suppression of Maidstone is driving through it once baseball’s importance in the history during a summer festival, which I In The Life of Thomas Wilson, Minis- of sport, because they wanted to later found out was an annual event ter of Maidstone, published anony- diminish its importance to give called the River Festival. The streets mously in I672, Wilson. having been precedence to British sports. It were full of people, the river was full born in 1601 and dying in or about smacks a bit of paranoia, con- of brightly-decorated party boats, 1653, occurs the following passage spiracy theories, etc, but I honestly makeshift barbecues served food all (p. 40): “Maidstone was formerly a thought that it was the most likely over, and the sound of music was very profane town, in as much as I explanation for the difference in the everywhere. And yes, it was on a have seen morrice-dancing, cudgel- quotes. Seeing the source will reveal Sunday. playing, stool-ball, , and all. many other sports openly and I was at a loss as to where to start publicly indulged in on the Lord’s I had this fantasy of coming across to find the quote, because Day.” the baseball reference on page 40, Henderson didn’t give a clue to the and running my fingers over the source of the quote. So to start, I That was really a Eureka moment! word, and proving all the conspiracy entered “Thomas Wilson” and This reference gave the source I’d theories. I would feel like Howard Maidstone in Google, and to my always wanted. If it was Carter opening Tutanhamen’s tomb surprise got quite a few hits! I felt Henderson’s baseball quote, it – I would be the first person in guilty doing research by Internet, would set the date of the earliest history ever to specifically search but salved my consciousness by baseball reference back at least 28 for an original baseball reference telling myself it was only a pointer years, and maybe even 47 years, and find it in a source that can be to finding the original document, and maybe even more. The quote definitely dated to a year in the and seeing for myself the wording. was taken from a book about 1600’s. Thomas Wilson, published in 1672. The first reference that caught my I was thrilled to discover it was in a When I got to the library, they attention was from the Canterbury book, because I could possibly see handed me the book, which was Christ Church University College it in the British Library. Now I even very small – it was 3” x 5 ½ “ - and Bookshop. To my great joy I found a knew on which page the quote was. fit in the palm of my hand. I hurried write-up of a book that they carried, to my desk and hurried to page 40, written by Jacqueline Eales, a So I immediately went to the British and this is how it read (preserving Reader in early modern history at Library website – sorry, doing the original spelling): the University. The book was research on the web again. You can 3 Baseball’s Earliest Reference? (con’t)

“Chap. XVIII presented as a quote from Rev. lederhosen, and with a string of The Reformation which was Wilson. The book glided along from small bells around their ankles. It’s wrought by his means and Minis- the start in the third person talking the kind of hobby that comedians try in Maidstone. about Rev. Wilson, and at the find tremendously humorous (read: beginning of Chapter 18, it switches geek factor), but others are gener- “Maidstone was formerly a very to the first person in enunciation of ally fascinated and appreciative prophane Town, insomuch that I the former sins of profane Maid- with the link to a much simpler have seen Morrice dancing, Cudgel stone. It looks very much like these past. When I’ve ever come across playing, Stool-ball, Crickets, and were the observations of the author, Morris dancers, I always stop and many other sports openly and not Rev. Wilson’s. Most likely they watch for as long as I can. publickly on the Lords Day; I have are George Swinnock’s. The thrust heard them jeer, and deride and of that chapter was that Rev. I needed to address the bottom line, mock at those who professed Godli- Wilson made Maidstone a less why is the Henderson quote differ- ness and went to hear a Sermon on profane place because of his minis- ent from the Wilson book? Why the Lords Day abroad, when does Henderson say baseball they had none at home.” when the book says stoolball?

It mentioned stoolball, not What is really puzzling is that baseball. King Tut’s tomb the Henderson section is wrong collapsed around me, and my on almost every level. The chance at baseball history original mentions stoolball, not immortality vanished in a puff baseball, The date is 1672, not of dust. Sic transit gloria mundi, 1700. It is not Rev. Wilson’s as I always say (actually, I’ve memoirs, it is his posthumous never said it). After the realisa- biography. And the quote about tion that life doesn’t always Maidstone was not Rev. Wil- meet your expectations sank in, son’s, but by the author of the I started to look deeper into the biography. book. How could this happen? I can It is a short book, more like a come up with three possibilities: hardcover booklet. It tells Rev. 1. Maybe the book exists in Wilson’s life story, and the another edition, dated 1700, unnamed writer of the book is which mentions baseball full of praise of the late Rever- instead of stoolball. end. He must have been a 2. Maybe there is another remarkable character, because similar quote either by Thomas the book was published about Wilson or George Swinnock 19 years after his death! Tho- which mentions baseball mas Wilson was born in instead of stoolball. Cumberland, and after he 3. Henderson got the quote started his ministry was trans- second or even third hand. I ferred a few times, finally have in mind an American coming to Maidstone. The book academic, coming across the isn’t strong on exact dates. stoolball reference, and saying to him/her-self, “Stoolball… There is a handwritten note on that’s what they called baseball th the inside cover, “by George in 17 century Britain, isn’t it?” Swinnock”. I don’t know I’d like to trace Henderson’s whether this applied to the whole original source for the quote. book or only to the preface (as the try, so Swinnock sets the scene by British Library public catalogue telling how worldly Maidstone was The third option certainly seems the listing stated). George Swinnock before Rev. Wilson’s arrival. most plausible, but we may never certainly is a likely candidate to be know. I still have a few more paths the author of the book. His name As for the sports mentioned, I can’t to tread in my search to clear up appears in the text of the biography, explain what cudgel playing is. It this mystery. I’ll see what mentioned as Rev. Wilson’s patron. must be some sort of mock fight, Jacqueline Eales’ chapter on “the I looked his name up – yes, on the because a cudgel is a weapon. For profane town of Maidstone” will Internet – and came up with many anyone living outside these fair bring. I’ll write her to see if she references, including a five-volume isles, an explanation of Morris knows anything more. If I have to, set of his writings currently in print! dancing would be in order. It still I’ll buy the five-volume Swinnock The publisher of the set said that exists and is quite popular in some set to see if I can find a variation of Swinnock was among the most rural places. It is a form of ancient the Maidstone quote, maybe one readable of the Puritan writers. folk dance, done in a group of mentioning baseball. dancers with very traditional outfits, An interesting point is that the to me a bit reminiscent of Bavarians I’d like to find an answer. I don’t “prophane Town” quote is not and Tyroleans with their like being puzzled. 4 Henderson’s Historical Method Mike had noted that the tapestry from the tapestry are consistent by Jim Combs showed a group of young persons with those of a noted scholar on playing some sort of ballgame. He tapestries. Mr. Robert W. Henderson’s work asked me to translate the inscrip- entitled Ball, Bat and Bishop: The tions. (Not unlike a modern day Henderson states on p.121 of Ball, Origin of Ball Games is rightly comic strip, each of the persons Bat and Bishop that billiards, like regarded as an important work for had their remarks set forth in a , , and “ . . . is historians of baseball, tennis and cloud shaped circle in close proxim- a direct descendant of the old indeed many other ball games. In ity to their heads.) The medieval Egyptian fertility rites, a close his introduction to Ball, Bat and french proved too difficult for myself relative of the other games.” Accord- Bishop, Mr. Will Irwin writes: and my French friends, so I wrote to ing to Henderson, the source of the Metropolitan Museum and both and billiards (through “the early critics of the Doubleday received in return a very helpful the game of jeu de ) is a game tradition base their scepticism mostly letter complete with an extract from of jeu de mail. On p.114 Henderson on observation and common sense. a work by Edith Appleton Standen describes jeu de mail as a game What they lacked was a thorough entitled European Post-Medieval which developed in southern investigation undertaken in the Tapestries and Related Hangings in during the 14th century. It was, he scientific spirit. Mr. Henderson has the Metropolitan Museum of Art continues, on p.114 a game in supplied that.” (hereinafter referred to as “Met which “...two sides strove to drive a Tapestries Work.”) Prompted by this ball to a given mark in the least Whether or not Mr. Irwin’s accolade article, I began a search of the number of strokes. ... The boxwood is deserved is not the subject of this British Library’s works on tapestries ball, about the size of a lawn tennis short piece. I have quoted Mr. Irwin, to see if I could find any similar ball, was driven with a mallet, a however, to note that Mr. stick with a wooden head.“ Henderson’s place in the (p.114) On p. 115 Henderson history of ball games – writes that in England “Just not just baseball- is as had been reduced generally regarded as to ground billiards, so pall important. Indeed, my mall (the name of jeu de mail colleagues and I in the in England) was played on a Bobby Thomson Chapter definite ’ground’ and the ball of SABR UK here in the had to be driven through an UK generally regard Ball, iron ring suspended in the air. Bat and Bishop as the The earliest rules of jeu de authoritative source as mail were published in Paris to the origins of ball and by Joseph Lauthier in 1717, bat games. I suspect that some forty years before the our view is shaped earliest rules of golf.” mainly by the expansive- ness of the work, which Returning to Henderson’s ranges from Egyptian discussion of billiards, I note times to the present replete with tapestries. Eventually, I discovered that on p. 121 of Ball, Bat and references and pictures. For exam- that the tapestry seen by Mike Ross Bishop Henderson mentions a ple, when Mr. Henderson quotes was indeed the same subject as the famous French tapestry known as Jusserand’s description of the game tapestry, which appeared in Ball, “Les Amours de Gombaut et de La Soule on p.39 of Ball, Bat and Bat and Bishop. Here at last was a Macee” which was made in about Bishop we assume that the quote is chance to analyze the accuracy of 1460 and was first inventoried at accurate and that Jusserand’s one small part of Mr. Henderson’s St. Lô in 1532. On pp.21-2 of Ball, description is based on convincing seminal work. Bat and Bishop Henderson writes evidence. None of us has to my knowledge began a painstaking GROUND BILLIARDS (BILLIARDS “This tapestry portrayed scenes analysis of Mr. Henderson’s work DE TERRE) around the country-side at St. Lô, which would, I submit, be quite a two of which show a game called jeu daunting task since he does not Opposite p.133 of Ball, Bat and de boules or de tiquet. A small footnote his quotations. Bishop is an illustration which Mr. ground is enclosed in a low wattle Henderson calls Ground Billiards, fence. Within the enclosure, at some JEU DE BOULES TAPESTRY AND France, 1460 (From St. Lô tapestry, distance from each other, appear an THE STORY OF GOMBAUT AND in J.M.J. Guiffrey, Les Amours de arch, or low hoop, later called a MACEE Gombaut et de Macee, Paris, 1882) ”port”, and a small cone-shaped This tapestry is quite similar to the marker, later called a ‘king’. Three An opportunity to verify one of the one that Mike Ross saw in the players and three balls indicate that facts in Ball, Bat and Bishop pre- Metropolitan Museum. A compari- each played his own ball, and each sented itself to me fortuitously son of Ms. Standen’s discussion of player carries a mace, or cure, which when the Chairman of our Chapter, these tapestries with that of Mr. appears to be a long wooden stick Mr. Mike Ross, gave me a picture of Henderson should afford us a with a spade-shaped, slightly curved a tapestry on display in New York chance of determining whether end.” City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Henderson’s conclusions drawn 5 “.... Jeu de boules is none other than assigns it a date of 1600. HENDERSON’S USE OF JEU DE the link between jeu de mail, as Henderson assigns the date of BOULES VINDICATED played on the ground, and the about 1460 to the version of Jeu de modern game of billiards, played on Boules hanging in St. Lô and states What do we make of Henderson’s a table. The game was also called that it was first inventoried in 1532. use of the tapestry to illustrate the billard de terre, or ground billiards, a On the otherhand, Ms Standen in development of table billiards? In name which indicates a definite footnote number 13 of her work balance, he seems to have used the relationship. One other feature of this states that “none of the existing tapestry Jeu de Boules quite legiti- fifteenth century game justifies the pieces can be assigned to so early a mately to support his conclusion claim that it was an ancestor of date (as 1532).” As authority for this that, although table billiards was billiards: the ball could be caromed proposition, Ms. Standen cites claimed by some to have been off the sides of the enclosure, which Guiffrey (Amours, p.14.) This is played in 1571, this claim has not were commonly made of planks of somewhat surprising since in fact been “too well substantiated” wood.” Henderson has also most probably (p.122 Henderson.) It would per- relied upon Guiffrey, Amours for his haps have been better to attribute Henderson concludes his case on date of 1460 although one cannot the tapestry to the second half of pp.121-2 by stating that the next be sure because Henderson does the 15th century than to refer to a step was to put this game on a not footnote. Thus, according to particular year (“about 1460”), but table. He notes that some claim Standen, Henderson’s date is this is only a quibble. He seems to that this was done by Henrique de probably about 100 years too soon. have dated the tapestry consistently Vigne in about the year 1571 for with the information contained in Henry III for his summer palace in GUIFFREY’S STORY OF THE his source, Guiffrey’s work Les Blois, but that this claim is not too LOVES OF GOMBAUT AND MACEE Amours de Gombaut et Macee. Ms. well substantiated. On p.122 Standen’s argument about the Henderson notes that as late as Somewhat surprisingly, a reading of dating, if she is indeed including 1674, in a portrait of Louis XIV Guiffrey, Amours appears to support the St. Lô tapestries in what she playing billiards, there is still a port Henderson. In referring to the St. Lô refers to as “existing tapestries,” and a king with no change in the Tapestry Guiffrey writes on page 1 would appear to put the tapestry of mace. “By 1700 the port and king of Amours: St. Lô at 1600. Even this date would had disappeared and by 1734 the not cast significant doubt on the modern cue began to displace the “Evidement, l’execution de la chronology which Henderson is spade-shaped mace. The earliest tapisserie remonte a une date advancing for the development of rules of billiards known to us today anterieure a l’inventaire de trente ou table billiards. appeared in Cotton’s Compleat quarante annees au moins. Ce Gamester which was published in document souffirait a lui seul pour This brief attempt to assess the th 1674.” faire attribuer a la fin du 15 siecle accuracy of the scholarship em- l’invention du roman qui nous ployed in the writing of Ball, Bat and Edith Standen’s work discusses the occupe.” Bishop would not seem to call into various versions of the “Jeu de question Mr. Henderson’s research Boules” tapestries and confirms as “Clearly, the execution of the tapes- methods. Indeed, if the tapestry Jeu Henderson claims that the Jeu de try goes back to a date which is at de Boule is in fact 100 years older Boules tapestry was indeed a least 30 to 40 years prior to the than he asserts, this is a mistake familiar one in France and the Low inventory. This document alone is which was made by his source, Countries. Ms. Standen also gives sufficient to attribute the invention of J.M.J. Guiffrey in his Les Amours de us more information about the the story (which is the basis for the Gombaut et de Macee, Paris, 1882. th subject. She mentions that the tapestries) to the end of the 15 Indeed, even if the 20th century fine game is being played by teenage century.” arts scholar, Edith Appleton boys and girls of presumably Standen, has discovered a 100 year humble origin and that the dialog In his work (Amours) Guiffrey is mistake in Guiffrey’s dating of the clearly indicates that the game is seeking to date the story of St. Lô tapestries, this mistake does part of the courtship rituals, since it Gombaut and Macee. He notes that no serious damage to Mr. is played between boys and girls this country tale was very popular Henderson’s analysis of the emer- th th and the language is quite sugges- in the 16 & 17 centuries. Indeed, gence of the game of Table Billiards tive. For example, the remarks in it is averred to in Moliere’s Avare. nor to Henderson’s reputation for the last scroll translate as follows scholarship. Ms. Stanton appears to according to the Met Tapestries “Harpagon veut faire accepter pour be questioning the conclusions of Work of Ms. Standen: mille ecus a son client: ....; plus une Guiffrey based upon her analysis of tenture de tapisserie des Amours de various tapestries as being of a style “Gombaut, thy hand is too free, and Gombaut et Macee.” much later than 1532, because of then it is not good manners to smack the design and style of the St. Lô the behind of a girl without promising Guiffrey also notes that the name of version of Jeu de Boules. to marry her.” Gombaut was frequently in the th th poetry of the 15 and 16 century CONCLUSION DATING THE JEU DE BOULES and that Macee (the feminine form th TAPESTRIES of Mathieu) was common in the 15 Our first attempt to assess the th and 16 centuries. (p.54 of Amours.) scholarship of Henderson’s work, Ms. Standen attributes the version Guiffrey in the end conjectures that Ball, Bat and Bishop, suggests that of Jeu de Boules which is hanging a poet named Henri Baude had in this work Henderson is faithful to in New York’s Metropolitan Museum probably popularized the story. his sources. to Bruges and on stylistic grounds 6 The Dinosaur Hunters II : league. It is in the “Little Pretty fascinated by the crowds and mix of by Martin Hoerchner Pocket Book” of 1767 (and probably sights, sounds, and smells. earlier editions), right next to the I’ve written previously about how a first illustration of a game called The first thing I saw was a huge coincidence helped me discover an “base ball”. By the time “The Boy’s bouncy castle, for the kids. There ancient bat and ball game previ- Own Book” was published in 1828, was an information desk on bat and ously thought extinct. This story it was considered to rank next to trap. There were a line of stands can be seen as an adjunct to the cricket in popularity. where you could purchase snacks, stoolball story, but it has enough hot sandwiches, or the occasional interest to stand on its own. I’ve seen bat and trap being played beer. But on the far field, in a line before, along with Mike Ross and stretching 100-200 yards, was a The stoolball story started when I Allen Synge, at the Black Lion pub series of bat and trap pitches set received a letter from a SABR in Gillingham before my life got so up, one next to the other, and all member in Japan, asking if complicated. Allen provided the lead frantic with activity and the whiz- stoolball was still being played in that the game was still being zing of balls right and left. Behind England. I was ready to send back a played, just like he’d put us onto the pitches was a row of seating for negative answer. By coincidence I the stoolball matches. the players, and behind that was a was working on a meeting report for large open area to mill about and the latest AGM, and came to Allen We learned that bat and trap was a watch the action. Synge’s report, where he stated that Kent game, and uniquely a pub stoolball definitely was I was fascinated, like a being played, particu- kid who had only read larly in Sussex. This about baseball coming led to a trail of explo- across all seven games ration through the of the World Series south of England, in happening at once, search of information foul-line to foul-line. I on stoolball as it is frantically took pic- currently played. tures while trying to Eventually my story keep my third eye on was printed in “The Jack. I bought him an National Pastime”. ice cream. At one point I couldn’t find him and If the first story panicked, until I found started with a coinci- him chatting up a girl dence, then the 6 months younger second story must than him. too. Four years ago my wife and me were I left after I found that blessed with our first they had run out of hot child, a son. After that life became game, played in the beer garden dogs, but my appetite had been too busy, and SABR seemed a bit just behind the pub. The month whetted. I felt I had to complete my irrelevant. But time passes and was May and the match started at 8 trapball story before the end of Jack has become very independent p.m., so we watched them play in season, and it was approaching and life doesn’t 100% revolve declining sunlight, until the 2 100- fast. So I hit the internet, and found around him like it used to. It’s more watt lamps mounted in the conifers a number of trapball websites – just like only 85%, but that’s a big kicked in. We mused about how enter “bat and trap” in any search difference. So lately I’ve been trap ball and stoolball might be engine. I contacted the Canterbury thinking about how to expand my linked to cricket and baseball in the & District Bat & Trap league, and I horizons, and a few weeks ago my grand scheme of things, but more was put in with Peter Guise, wife is at work on Sunday, so I’m about that later. the Press Officer for the League. He driving around with my son, and informed me that the season was only a few miles from my home I see For the longest time none of this pretty much over, but that there a sign “Bat and Trap fun day - was important, but this sign I saw a was a makeup game due to take Halstead”. few miles from my home drew me place in Whitstable in a few days. in. I knew Bat and Trap was a Kent Great, I said, we’ll be there. “Bat and trap” is the modern name game, but what was it doing on my for trapball, a very old game played doorstep? Of course I had to rush I arranged a journalistic expedition in England since the Middle Ages. It home and get my camera and rush with Chapter Chairman Mike Ross. is definitely older than cricket, and back to Halstead. We set off from my home at 4.00 to probably older than stoolball. The avoid the rush, and it took about an Canterbury & District League traced Being a small village, there was no hour to get there, down the M2 trapball back to a monastery in parking, and I had to park miles through numerous roadworks that Canterbury in the 1300’s; currently away. The event was held on a have been going on since 1066. occupying the grounds is “Ye Olde school playing field, across from a Beverlie” pub, which became one of pub where no doubt bat and trap is Whitstable is a charming seaside the founding members of the played. I was with Jack, and he was town which I’ve managed to miss in 7 Trapball Found Alive! my seventeen years in Britain. conversation, and it turned out trap, the bowler is the one who rolls Driving into the town you come most of them were there to play bat the ball towards the batsman, and down from a hill and hit a spectacu- and trap. The first thing we found tries to get an out by hitting a tiny lar panorama with the town in the out about Whitstable was that Peter target. foreground and the sea consuming Cushing lived there before he met the background. We found a car his fate in the Death Star. Kevin explained the format of the park right next to the shingle match. Each team was on offence beach. A long line of land hung on But the Force was with us, and we and defence 3 times each. I ex- the horizon – I took my wife there soon had a player volunteer to pected them to be called “innings” the next weekend and she said “Is explain the game to us. His name (like in cricket and stoolball), but that France?” to which I replied “No, was Kevin, and he took us to an instead they were called “legs”. In it’s Essex”. (Is this heaven? No, it’s adjoining room overlooking the fact, they were different games. The Iowa.) I’m not sure if it’s the game pitch. Bat and trap is played team that won 2 out of 3 legs was Thames Estuary or the North Sea, on a rectangular pitch, long and the winner, independent of the but it was pleasant and calming narrow, measuring 63 feet by 13 1/ scores of the individual legs. If leg watching the boats on a sunny day. 2 feet. What makes Bat and Trap one was 32-0, and leg two is 4-5, unique is of course the trap, which the overall score is still 1-1. “A bit We were early, so we were hungry, is a wood and metal device. The like the 1960 World Series” I said, and Mike was out for the famous batsman hits the trap with his bat but no-one paid attention. Whitstable oysters. We sauntered down numer- We mused over the ous alleys in search of implications of the the perfect meal. Many of game. The key skill of the white wooden houses the game seemed to seemed distinctly New be rolling the ball England to me. Our only along a long pitch, problem was that it was trying to hit a the 5 minutes past high trap, a very small season, and it was 5.30 target. A bit like lawn which is on the cusp . Except that between lunch and the pitch was not as dinner. You may use finely groomed, different terms for the meaning that the noon and the evening bowler should know meals, but all the restau- the hills and dales as rants we came across well as a PGA golfer. were closed for the next Mike deduced that hour. The only place we home field advantage could find that actually would be very great, served food was a pub because the local not far from the harbour. Mike and the ball pops up, fungo-style, team would know their own pitch sampled the fish and chips, and me and the batsman hits the ball much more than the visitors. being an unrepentant Californian I towards the narrow end of the had probably the only tacos avail- pitch. If the ball goes right or left The game was played by both men able in Whitstable. Not completely before then, the batsman is out. On and women, but never women-only, accurate, but tasty nonetheless. the far end of the pitch, the eight unlike stoolball. It was organised members of the opposing team into leagues within districts, and Thus refreshed, we set out for the stand, ready to field the ball. If the uniquely in the county of Kent. pub, which was named the Four ball is caught on the fly the bats- Horseshoes. It was easily found, man is out. Besides that, how they We asked Peter if there was any and I squeezed the car into a tight field the ball really doesn’t matter. connections with teams in other parking space next to the pub. As What matters is how the bowler countries, and he said they some- we parked Mike said “Let’s be low- returns the ball. The person that time played international matches. key about this; I don’t want to catches the ball isn’t neccesarily We started to get interested, and attract too much attention”, but the the one that returns the ball. Each then he explained it was between minute we got inside the pub, he team member becomes the bowler, English vs. the Welsh or the Scots started telling everyone that we had who rolls the ball towards the trap living in the Whitstable area. In just flown in from the States to and tries to hit it. If he hits the trap, other words, in the opening ceremo- watch this game! I was confused. the front part of the trap (a 5 inch nies of the international matches, Then I tried to pass myself off as a square) falls down so everyone can there was no dispute on which “Kentish Man”, but I’d only lived in see the out is registered. anthem to play. Kent for 8 years, and part of the “London Borough of Bromley” at The term bowler is used differently The game was played by a wide that. But I tried. from cricket. In cricket the bowler is range of people, from their 20’s to the one who delivers the ball to the their 70’s, sharing only two things – But after that shaky start, we batsman, the equivalent of the love of bat and trap and love of quickly engaged the locals in baseball pitcher. But in bat and beer. This being a pub sport, 8 The Dinosaur hunters II (con’t) there is little danger of the game everyone had a pint in their hand, one doing the Dirty Bird in the end dying out because of lack of inter- including the players. But it wasn’t zone. Comraderie was more impor- est. drunk too much to excess, because tant than victory. But Peter assured the players still had to roll a ball to me that in the first division, games Maybe the most important point we hit a tiny target 21 yards away. get very serious and very competi- discussed was the possibilities that tive. could have sprung from such as Peter joined us after batting, and game as bat and trap. Admittedly it explaine that a batsman can only It got late and we had a long drive is a very simple game. lose, and a bowler can only gain. home, so after the first leg Mike and We understood. The chore of the I politely excused ourselves. We We especially found more room for batsman (i.e. to hit a ball straight bounced ideas back and forth as I the development in the role of the ahead without too much deviation, drove. fielder. Balls were hardly ever hit on without defensive intervention) was the fly, and besides that, it is the so easy that it was taken as a given; For instance, which was older, role of the fielder only to retrieve the whereas the chore of the bowler (i.e. stoolball or bat and trap? Stoolball ball and give it to the bowler. Maybe to roll a ball to hit a tiny target 12 goes farther back in the historical they could make scoring dependent leagues away) was so unlikely it was record, but it would be difficult to on whether he fields the ball considered a fluke when it hap- pinpoint which features of which cleanly, or something like that. We pened. An interesting split of game were derived from which didn’t like the fact that the position responsibilites. But because they features of the other game. An had become totally relegated. Also, rotated, each player would get his interesting point, though, is that there was no running element. No hand at both roles. bat and trap has the concept of foul one ever had to move faster than a territory and foul lines, which is slow saunter. The batsman stood I supposed we could add to that the only shared with baseball. his ground until put role of the fielder, out, and that was it. which is nothing. All the person that re- We wondered why the trieves the ball does is game didn’t evolve. But pass it to the bowler then again, maybe it did whose turn it is. evolve. Maybe it became Whether he catches it cricket. in an Ozzie Smith-style catch, or dropped it six But then what struck times before shovelling us was the fact that a it up, it really doesn’t simple game made us matter. It doesn’t affect ponder who to make the the scoring. game more interesting. This is the same proc- A lot of the players ess used by children actually fielded the ball throughout the ages to with their feet. They make things more would kick it to a stop interesting as they grew before picking it up. older. Not just with Mike theorised that it their games, but with was because they were used to their lives. Children would get bored football as the dominant sport, and We discussed the skill level needed and start changing the game. Why I suggested it was because they to play the game. Being a pub wouldn’t adults? I guess it’s be- didn’t want to spill their beer. Both game, comeraderie is obviously cause children are moved keyed to valid viewpoints. more important than winning growth and having a constantly- (except in the higher echelons as changing world. Bat and trap has Of course, this mirrors the long Peter explained). Or to paraphrase been played for so long, the rules association between baseball and him, batting is easy and bowling is seem to be set in stone. The fact is, beer. A new league was formed in hard. I suspect bowling is very the minute you codify a game, you 1882 when the National League hard. It combines a steady hand start to stifle it. banned beer in ballparks. Breweries and an eagle eye with the ability to have a long history of owning read the hills and dales of a hun- It may sound corny, but the growth ballclubs, and a hot dog and beer is dred or so yards of possibly unfa- in bat and ball games from informal what really tops off the baseball miliar turf. and/or amateur games to finely experience. In fact, when San codified professional sports mirrors Francisco starting serving wine, it We talked about comparisons with the human growth from childhood just didn’t seem right. What year is stoolball. Stoolball recruits children, to adulthood. the best vintage? 1985? No, they is taught in schools in Sussex and lost 100 games that year. maybe surrounding areas. Bat and Perhaps we were over-analysing. trap is a pub game, and thus has a Besides, the night air was clear and Being a pub game, it was amicably completely different player base. the night blossoms were fragrant. low-key, with no high-fives and no- Yet, as we observed the age range, 9 Buena Vista Baseball Club players, dated 1942. Whether this by Mike Ross On the ride back to the airport I counts as serious conclusive SABR CUBA MISSION asked my driver to go via the Buena research I wonder; however my Vista district. With its newly ac- hope is that the findings open up In case there is some doubt, quired fame it was worth a look, other avenues and assist another baseball and antique American maybe to find The Buena Vista researcher in perhaps turning a autos are doing just fine in Social Club, though it turned out to double play. Cuba. The Cubans generally be terribly poor and run down. A appear to love Americans and it game was going on, , flat STREET BALL is quite certain that baseball pitch, tricky pitching, played long- has been our charm, despite the ways because the streets were wider Ill equipped with sticks and paper fact that Cuban politics has and there was less street activity in cups, the children somehow man- this suburb. Four kids, all with been prickly toward us, and vice aged, reinventing foul and fair gloves, were at it; the batter looked versa. territory depending on the lay of the good choking up on a big wooden land, just like it was in America bat. He had his glove down for My first adventure was in the main with stick ball when few inner city home plate. A vital detail was that square situated between the old city playing fields were available. Walk- there was an adult man umpiring and central Havana, within view of ing through the main parts of and calling pitches. The driver the National Capitol. There I came Havana, you will come across all stopped to let me take a quick across a heated baseball discussion sizes of children playing with sticks snapshot. I was unable to commu- by a large ruckus of Cuban men, a and a paper cup ball, and in some nicate my desire to find out how the majority of whom acted as Lou locales one or two will have a glove game worked with the added com- Piniella taking plexity of balls and up a rules strikes… And so complaint with another research an umpire. To a chore lingers. stranger, with the apparent rage and gesticu- lations, there BALLPARK was cause for alarm – but not really. I learned Politicos and propa- that this was ganda go hand in talking baseball glove with sporting Cuban Style and events in Cuba: “Our an alarming style freedom is non of debate for a negotiable” is the most simpatico motto boldly written of people. A few on the front of baseball cards Havana’s modern did not go amiss stadium, built for the with these good most recent Pan- folk either. American Games. Unfortunately, the big league games and a real wooden bat or a rubber are staged in a ballpark of a much Going to Cuba as a baseball envoy baseball. Each had his particular more modest calibre. I had wanted and handing out baseball cards as stance, that of Julio Franco being to witness Cuban baseball since seeds of friendship helped make the most obvious but clearly those kids reading a Roger Angell article many trip purposeful and honourable; the knew what they were doing and who years earlier; he reported his kids were overjoyed with their they wanted to be. It was interesting pleasure when the baseball stadium Palmeiro’s and Canseco’s. Although to observe that nowhere in Havana was shipshape. On this occasion I went to the island blind, not Central did they play lengthwise in things were not as good: and the knowing what and where to find the the street, rather across ways. Or in state of the structure was dilapi- baseball genie, four events tied up alley spaces between streets, mostly dated, peeling paint, poor lighting, my short visit nicely: 1. Walking the with scrub rules with a first base and the facilities were rough and city and seeing the kids invent ways only; make it to first and back and dirty. There were no programs. As of playing baseball was a treat. you stay at bat. Countless times for the ballpark food: if Cubans can Action on every block. 2. Got to a passers-by will be obliged to retrieve afford it, you do not want it. They big league ballgame at the Havana the ball and toss it back. Of course are on an average wage of about ballpark. 3. Discovered the exact trying to look cool. My wearing a $20 a month, and for them tickets room in Havana which housed Babe White Sox cap for protection from are virtually free. For us $3. Ruth on his 1921 tour of the island, the sun was a sure-fire way of and later, in an antiquarian book- winning friends and unsolicited I was partly distracted but amused shop, found an English/Spanish exchanges of conversation, the first as my newly acquired companion, a booklet commemorating the tour. 4. question always being “Are you Canadian who made arrangements, Lastly, visiting the main cemetery I American?” The Cuban people love spent the middle innings of a found a pantheon for baseball Americans. 10 Buena Vista Baseball Club, con’t thrilling contest negotiating with an cance until a few days later. While NECROPOLIS CRISTOBAL COLON usher for a signed jersey by the preparing to leave for the airport I home team, as well as a ball and strolled into Chinatown for lunch Again by chance, on the outskirts of whatever else 20 dollars could buy, (where else?). Afterwards just down Havana, I found yet another base- which was a great deal for him and the street I spied a street stall ball shrine described in Spanish as for the players who would have selling antiquarian books. This is a “pantheon” situated outside the joyfully received probably a buck where research does the work for up-market central placements of and a half each. The game was the you: As I was searching through a this grandest of graveyards. It is most exciting one could devise if pile of old baseball cards (hoping to laid out as a little ‘city of the dead’ inclined to invent it. Angell had find the Honus Wagner big ticket), with a grid of streets. In fact to get mentioned the fervour of the fans. the vendor handed me a yellow to the placement indicated in the So, it was bad luck when the booklet which was of course was guide map, which I spotted simply visiting team scored four runs in nothing less than English/Spanish by the word baseball, I was obliged the first and took the fans out of the account of Babe Ruth’s 1921 tour of to take a taxi from the entrance. It game, aided by the Havana first the Island conducted and promoted was an astonishing edifice, perhaps baseman dropping a routine by none other than John McGraw. 14 feet at its highest point, with pop-up. The fielding looked an effigy of a ballplayer in uni- sloppy until suddenly the form towering over. The bigger- quality transformed and Ha- than-life figure is truncated a vana started playing big league foot below the crotch, with his ball. The crowd came alive as left hand resting on the knob of a gradually the home team bat. Before him, just where the clawed back to tie in the three-quarter length statue ends, seventh, take a one run lead in is a ball in a catcher’s glove the eighth, and win in the top laying flat, above eye level. It is of the ninth on a play from fronted on its pedestal by an deep left for the final out on a unidentifiable round moustached close call at the plate. You root head carved as part of the overall for the home team and when piece. Below on a granite sup- they win you share in the joy of porting pedestal, about 8 feet the crowd. high, are two bronze crossed bats with a catcher’s mitt and ball in the middle, surrounded by a THE RITZ laurel with a large round bronze portrait beneath, engraved “Emilio Sabourin – annos 1878- I was in the market for a room 1895”. It is not clear as to change in case my current whether this inscription relates reservation could not be to the main figure, however it is extended. I walked across the clear that a representation of a square to the Ritz, now in catcher is intended as a featured decay since its days of glory. detail. The one available room was enormous. I saw there were two On the main supporting base of foldout cot beds which nixed the edifice, probably 200 square the place for me. I turned to feet, upon which all the sections leave and found the reason the stand, are several raised stone baseball gods had placed me in that Muggsy’s picture along with a shot graves, and beneath centred at the particular room; upon examination I of the Ritz Hotel was a main spread. bottom is the main inscription: was faced with what I would de- “ASSOCIATION CRISTIANA DE scribe as a shrine to Babe Ruth. It The text was confusing and shab- PLAYERS UMPIRES y MANAGERS was set up on one wall just inside bily edited. Nonetheless I tel- DE BASE-BALL PROFESSIONAL, the main entrance, explaining why I ephoned the author Yuyo Ruiz in 1942” Without an acute grasp of did not see it on entering. Four Puerto Rico when I got back to Spanish it is still clear the grave large framed photos of the Babe in London. I told him about the Ritz honours an Association of Chris- action hung on the wall in front of a shrine. He said, surprised if not tians, and the various names listed raised glassed enclosed display case shocked, “I didn’t know about are of those who sponsored and holding a bat, various articles and a that”. He had credited Cuban financed the site. Above, on the ball with indications that Babe Ruth baseball sources in his book and front of one of the raised stone had indeed slept there. I was not at they too were obviously unaware of graves off to one side is a promi- once aware of the significance until the shrine. Yuyo was not forthcom- nently displayed white stone plaque a few days later. I have reason to ing or of a generous nature, and I carved in black letters the heading: believe that Cuban baseball fans suppose the shrine is still our “SECUNDARON EFICAZMENTE LA are not aware of this shrine to the secret. CONSTRUCCION DE ESTE Babe. In fact my first reaction was PANTEON”, followed by 14 names. “These Cubans really are baseball Loose translation: Pantheon built by crazy”. I did not realize the signifi- for these gentlemen: “Los Senores: 11

View from the Chair by Mike Ross Horacio Alonso, Jose Sosa, Antonio Mosa, Antonio Ma de Cardenas, I shall ramble and get a few and let’s leave it at that. Alfredo Suarez, Paul J. Miller, Pedro isolated Hail Mary observations M. Bauza, Rafael Inclan, Miguel ready for the brutal Hoerchner Softball has succeed for the same Angel Gonzalez, Euslaquio Gutierrez, deadline: reasons that all bat and ball games Alfredo Menendoz, Manuel Alonso, throughout history grew up, that Tomas Miguillon, Jose Ma being the mating game so much Regarding the UK Europe com- Fernandez.” On the end of the main encouraged by the church here. platform is another white and black mittee and its chores, I feel we Hardly surprising that Oliver plaque with a list of men inscribed: here differ from other commit- Cromwell’s Roundheads took aim “ESTE PANTEON SE CONSTRUYO tees inasmuch as we have and smashed a stained glass POR INICIATIVA DE” (and below in literary and intellectual in- window at Gloucester cathedral smaller letters): Los senores: Alberto trigues surrounding the game, depicting a man with bat and ball. Azoy, Manuel Alonso, Gonzalo which would make for a good Of course those Puritan rowdies Sanchez, Antonio Chavez, Emilio story if anyone here cared about and their inspired ethos were adverse to all fun and games, Hernandez, Jose Castener, Manuel it. Unlike the other SABR com- Padron especially on Sundays. That bat . This would represent and mittees, the sources for making earlier sponsorship. What is obvi- and ball made it to the stained- ously a much later addition is a their discoveries, while often glass window indicates a compari- plaque with a bust carved in relief, deeply buried, are seemingly son today with the cover of Vogue beneath which is the name “Dr. endless; with us the sources are magazine. That was real publicity Antonio Mesa, 1959”. This plaque is endless and buried so endlessly for bat and ball. positioned on a raised pedestal deep, with hardly a clue to set portion of the grave, level with the us out with pick and shovel. I will leave you with one poignant crossed bats of the centrepiece. On Little has happened here in the tale which recently sent my head reeling. Having a few short years the plaque itself inscribed beside past century that does not lead “Dr. ago entered the stately home of the bust is the inscription: to endless dead ends; hence we Antonio Mesa Valdes”. With the cricket under the auspices of its inscription: “FUE GRAN have little opportunity to cel- librarian curator, the learned CUIDADANO Y DE BUEN DE ebrate any meaningful discover- Stephen Green, with privileges far DEPORTISTA. GRAN ABOGADO Y ies. beyond my station to take a place in HONORABLE PRESIDENTE DE LA the sacred Long Room at Lords ASS. C. DE U. Y M. DEL BASE BALL However, in this issue, we feast on Cricket Ground. You have to be a PROFESSIONAL” translates as: “A Jim Comb’s astute assessment of member to sit there and becoming a good citizen and sportsman... a Henderson’s book Ball, Bat and member has much to do with who lawyer and honorable president of Bishop to a point where in a truly your great-grandparents were. All the Association [C.de U. y M ] of cooperative - yet separate effort - members have one thing in com- professional baseball.” On the raised Martin Hoerchner raises the bar mon, land wealth and influential portion on the other side of the even further to open up the forebears. When a player comes to crossed bat centrepiece is a round Henderson story to new heights, bat, a turn that can last for three bronze plaque with a portrait albeit with a different result. I feel days or three seconds, he must inscribed “ANTONIO MARIA DE we have achieved a step in a for- pass through the long room and this CARDENAS”. ward direction that suggests our player, after having struck out for a work is not all in vain here. There duck (out on the first ball), he is This amazing site sadly has been are so few places to dig, we are rather hangdog coming back vandalized and it appears that at often found to be digging in similar through the long room to the chang- least two plaques have been re- ground. ing rooms to an awful silence. So in moved. Various pieces of salvaged my wandering around the Lords stone have been assembled infor- At the very centre of all our fun and Pavilion, bars, eateries, lounges, mally on or beside the graves. With games, we are always obliged to terraces and picnic areas, I chanced only token searching, I have indica- play the cricket card if we are to get to spot a large painting in one of the tion that many of these names are anywhere with an understanding of member’s rooms which I pointed typical of northern Spain, where baseball, its origins and the Eng- out to Allen Synge, our Bobby many emigrated to Cuba in the 19th lish. Cricket is a English upper Thomson cricket attaché, that this century. The name of Rafael Inclan, class game and that is that, and painting was, on careful investiga- perhaps by coincidence perhaps that is where baseball stops. It is tion, not of a cricket player but of a relates to a well known Spanish the preserve of the landed gentry, boy with a trap and ball and bat. writer, Suarez Inclan (could he be a not one of whom have I ever known When same was pointed out to Cuban Roger Angell?). The conclu- to speak a complimentary word on Green, the painting was suddenly sion is: There is much to be discov- baseball. Baseball is a biter enemy, removed for cleaning. However I ered with to baseball in Cuba. a taboo word that can clear a room was subsequently informed that the in minutes. So on we search to same painting was ‘in storage south figure it out and wonder if the of the river’. I doubt if this revision- American Revolution had anything ist notion on canvas will ever again to do with the right to play baseball. grace the glorious light of Lords Baseball is a symbol of freedom, cricket ground. That painting was indeed not cricket; it was signifying the start of hardball… 12

THIS SABR’D ISLE by Martin Hoerchner A while back I saw something on TV Yankees vs. New York Giants 1962”. after him with the ball comically that made my mouth drop down in I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! extended in his outstretched fin- disbelief and my blood pressure rise Especially in a production associ- gers. in horror. No, it wasn’t the sixth ated with Mr. Spielberg, who is game of the World Series. More synonymous with quality in film. So Game 7 of the 1924 World Series about that later. It was an episode didn’t he know that in 1962 the was won by the Washington Sena- of the Steven Spielberg mini-series Giants were spending their fifth tors (their first and only), after an “Taken”, which is about alien year in San Francisco? easy ground out hit a pebble and abduction. bounced over the head of the So I got this idea that I should write Giants shortstop (future Hall of This episode took place in 1962, my Senator and propose a new law, Famer), not once but twice, and the and in the background of a very that any copyrightable work (book, Giants catcher, fielding an easy dramatic scene, was a radio playing radio program, TV show, film, etc.) – popup, tripped over his mask that Game 7 of the World Series. It was if they have a reference to baseball he had thrown down earlier and let the bottom of the ninth, two out, more than 40 years in the past – the ball roll away harmlessly. One the Giants were trailing by a run, should have a SABR member on of the Senators later suggested that Willie Mays was on second, Matty staff as technical advisor. I think we God had played a hand, to let a fine Alou was on third, and Willie can get this law passed and it might fellow like Walter Johnson finally McCovey was at bat. Ralph Terry mean work for some of us! win a World Series ring. was pitching for the Yankees – the same pitcher that had given up the When I talked about the bad memo- Those of you who know me, know series-ending home run by Bill ries that came flooding back, of that everything I’ve written so far is Mazeroski two years earlier. 1962 course I was talking about the about the 2002 World Series. After was a year that the Giants had to 1912, 1917, and 1924 World Series, the eighth inning of Game 6, I knew defeat the Dodgers in a three-game which share with 1962 as being the the Giants would fulfil their destiny post-season series, just like 1951, closest MLB championships ever. and lose another World Series. The except they were both on the west All were lost by the Giants in Giants have won a few – five in coast now. sudden death in the seventh game total, not counting 1888 and 1889 – due to incredibly fluky circum- but have lost 12, which ties the The Spielberg series on TV was in stances. Yankees and Dodgers as being the the middle of a very dramatic scene, most of any franchise, but with life and death type of thing, but I Game 7 (actually 8, because of an fewer wins. It was an exciting World didn’t hear a word they were saying. earlier tie) of the 1912 World Series Series, with the momentum shifting My ears were glued on the radio took place in Fenway Park, in its three times. After Game 5, the commentary. This was maybe the first year, with Giants legend greatest single game World Series closest World Series ever, and it Christy Matthewson pitching in victory, I was on such a high, up would end in Yankee victory and relief in the bottom of the tenth until the eighth inning of Game 6. Giants defeat. If McCovey had hit a inning. A series of really strange Then when things started unravel- single he would have won the game. happenings, including Snodgrass’ ling, it all came into focus. I was But he lined out to shortstop Bobby muff and an easy popup that went horribly disappointed, but not Richardson. If the ball had been hit unfielded, gave the Red Sox final horribly surprised. I knew the a few feet to one side, the Giants victory in the bottom of the 10th Giants were merely fulfilling their win. But it was not to be. That inning. destiny. small radio clip brought a whole wave of sad memories and disap- Game 7 of the 1917 World Series is Someday the hurt will ease, and I’ll pointment back to me – thanks a known for “Heinie’s dash”. The be able to watch the videos. It was a lot, Steve! White Sox won their last Series in a great Series, with lots of great fluky play in Game 7 in which they moments. I have to be proud that However, that was not the heart- had a runner at third and the the Giants did as well as they did. stopper. What really shocked me catcher had gone off to cover was the attribution in the end another play. With the plate un- Still, you have to ask yourself who credits, stating something like guarded, the runner bolted for they traded in 1920 that cursed “World Series radio compliments of home, with Heinie Zimmerman, the them so much. , New York Giants third baseman, running OFFICERS

Chairman of SABR UK and co-chairman of Baseball in UK/Europe Committee: Mike Ross, 2B Maida Avenue, London W2 1TF (Tel: 020 7723 9848, Fax: 020 7724 0929, E-mail: [email protected]); Secretary: Michael Olenick, 21 Silvercliffe Gardens, New Barnet, Herts EN4 9QT (Tel: 020 8449 1806, E-mail: [email protected]); Treasurer: Andy Parkes, 29 The Hawthorns, 114 Edge Lane, Manchester M32 8QA (Tel and Fax: 0161 865 5859); Co-chair of Baseball in UK/Europe Committee: Jim Combs, The Old Bakehouse, High Street, Seend, Melksham, Wilts SN12 6NU (E-mail: [email protected]); History: Patrick Carroll, 53 Wendron Street, Helston, Cornwall, TR13 8PT (Tel: 01326 573 781, E-mail: [email protected]); Publications Editor: Martin Hoerchner, Madalla, Chelsfield Lane, Orpington, Kent BR6 7RS (Tel: 01689 815 595, E-mail: [email protected]); Webmaster: Will Fulford-Jones, 8 Gateway Mews, Shacklewell Lane, London E8 2DF (Tel: 020 7275 0058, E-mail: [email protected]); Procedural Advisor: Hugh Robinson, 567 Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 8JQ (Tel: 0161 286 7012); Honourary President: Norman Macht; Honourary Vice-Presi- dent: Monte Irvin