BASE BALL ON ICE
A Grand Match at Washington Park
The First Base Ball Contest on Skates of the Season-
How the Game is Played.
Brooklyn Eagle, January 13, 1884
Playing base ball on skates on a sheet of glittering ice on a cold Winter's day is a rare
sport alike for those participating in the game as well as for the spectators. It requires
an expert in skating to play the game, to begin with, as well as a knowledge of the game
itself. The game on skates differs materially from that on the field in many respects,
several of the rules governing the Summer game being greatly modified. The difficulty of
securing a good foothold while on skates makes both pitching and batting a rather hard task.
No swift pitching nor throwing is allowed, the ball being pitched or tossed in. The base
running is covered by different rules.
In running the bases in a game on ice on skates, all that is necessary for the base runner to
do is to cross the line of the position, after which he cannot be put out until he has returned
to the base and again leaves it. In order, too, to make the succeeding base he must cross the
line in starting from the base he leaves as well as the line of the base he runs for. The
bases are marked on the ice in the form of lines three feet in length, each line being marked
at right angles from the base lines from base to base, and three feet each side thereof. This
line forms the base and across this line the base player must stand when he holds the ball,
in order to put the player out. The base runner makes his base if he crosses the line on the
base before being touched or before the ball is held on the base. After hitting a ball on which
the batsman can only make one base, he should start from the home base so as to turn to the
right in crossing the lines of the base; but in cases where his hit entitles him to more than
to two or more bases, then he should start so as to turn to the left. Were the regular bases
on the ice and the rules of the field game observed, the effort of players to stop suddenly
would lead to severe falls, and, therefore, the extended lines for bases are used and the rules
changed to conform to the new arrangement. The essentials for a successful game of ball on the
ice include a large space of good clear ice; a non elastic and soft ball; a fair day, not
windy or too cool; a field cleared of spectators, and two parties of good, plucky skaters.
Under these favorable circumstances, a really exciting display would be the result. The ball
requires to be non elastic and soft, because a light blow will send it a good distance, and a
hard ball sent swiftly to the hands on a cold day is excessively painful and likely to result
in severe injuries.
The ice on the Washington Park skating lake yesterday was in better condition than it has yet
been any where in this vicinity this season, and the sport was greatly enjoyed by a large
crowd. The event on the lake of the afternoon was the base ball match on skates, the first
contest of the kind of the season. The contestants were a team selected by Manager Taylor,
of the Brooklyn Club, and a field team chosen by Mr. Chadwick, the latter having the best
skaters. The batteries were Kimber and Morgan for the Brooklyn Club side, and Corcoran, of
Chicago, and Sweeney for the field. It being the first match, the rules were not so strictly
adhered to as they will be in the succeeding games. The rules governing the calling of balls
and strikes gives a ball for every thrown ball to the bat, as also for every ball out of the
striker's reach; while the batsman has strikes called him every time he fails to bat a ball
within reach of the bat. The full score is appended. Another game is to be played Wednesday
afternoon, if the ice permits:
FIELD. BROOKLYN.
R. 1B. P.O. A. R. 1B. P.O. A.
Corcoran, p........5 5 0 0 Kimber, p..........1 2 1 1
Sweeney, c.........5 5 6 2 Morgan, c..........2 2 5 1
Farrell, 1b........5 6 4 1 Cassidy, 3b........3 2 2 1
Denham, 2b.........5 2 3 1 Taylor, 2b.........2 1 2 2
Carman, 3b.........5 3 0 1 Farrell, 1b........1 1 4 1
Jones, s.s.........4 1 1 2 Schenck, s.s.......1 0 0 1
Clarke, l.f........2 3 0 0 Doyle, l.f.........2 2 1 0
Albert, c.f........4 4 1 0 Tully, c.f.........0 1 0 0
H. Plummer, r.f....2 2 0 0 White, r.f.........0 1 0 0
Cuffey, r.s........4 3 0 0 Conway, r.s........0 0 0 0
- - - - - - - -
Total.............41 34 15 7 Total.............12 12 15 7
SCORE BY INNINGS
1 2 3 4 5
---------------------------------------
Field 0 1 6 7 27 -- 41
Brooklyn 4 0 3 0 5 -- 12
---------------------------------------
First base by errors- Field, 12; Brooklyn, 3.
Struck out- Field, 0; Brooklyn, 3.
Time of game, 1:45.
The above article, while fun to read, sacrifices detail about the match itself for a
detailed description of the rules of the game. In order that readers may better appreciate the
match as played, we append a second report, which gives an extra clue as to the reason
for the surprising fifth inning:
BASE-BALL ON SKATES.
New York Times, January 13, 1884
Some of the base-ball players in this vicinity donned their skates yesterday, and gave an
exhibition of the national game on ice, at Washington Park, Brooklyn. Sides were chosen by Henry
Chadwick and George Taylor. The latter had some well-seasoned professionals in his team, but in
spite of this fact his opponent defeated him in fine style. There were 10 men on each side, the
tenth man covering the right short field. In the first inning the Brooklyn players took the lead
by placing 4 runs to their credit, after safely disposing of their opponents. The game progressed
very smoothly, being characterized by both good and bad playing until the end of the third inning,
when the score was even, each side having scored 7 runs. In the following inning Chadwick's
players spurted, and took the lead. This had the effect of demoralizing the professionals, and
in the fifth, and last, inning, by a streak of heavy batting, assisted by errors, the opponents
of the Brooklyn team increased their score to the extent of 27 runs, and won, as follows:
CHADWICK'S. BROOKLYN.
R. 1B. P.O. A. R. 1B. P.O. A.
Corcoran, p........5 5 0 0 Kimber, p..........1 2 1 1
Sweeney, c.........5 5 6 2 Morgan, c..........2 2 5 1
Farrell, 1b........5 6 4 1 Cassidy, 3b........3 2 2 1
Denham, 2b.........5 2 3 1 Taylor, 2b.........2 1 2 2
Carman, 3b.........5 3 0 1 Farrell, 1b........1 1 4 1
Jones, s.s.........4 1 1 2 Schenck, s.s.......1 0 0 1
Clarke, l.f........2 3 0 0 Doyle, l.f.........2 2 1 0
Albert, c.f........4 4 1 0 Tully, c.f.........0 1 0 0
H. Plummer, r.f....2 2 0 0 White, r.f.........0 1 0 0
Cuffey, r.s........4 3 0 0 Conway, r.s........0 0 0 0
- - - - - - - -
Total.............41 34 15 7 Total.............12 12 15 7
RUNS SCORED EACH INNING
1 2 3 4 5
--------------------------------------------
Chadwick's Side 0 1 6 7 27 -- 41
Brooklyn 4 0 3 0 5 -- 12
--------------------------------------------
First base by errors- Chadwick's Side, 12; Brooklyn, 3.
Struck out- Chadwick's Side, 0; Brooklyn, 3.
Umpire, H. Chadwick.
Time of game- One hour and forty-five minutes.
A return game is to be played Wednesday next at the same place.
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