BASE-BALL MATTERS.

THE MASSACHUSETTS GAME OF BASE-BALL.

The game of base-ball, as adopted by the “Massachusetts Association of Base-Ball Players,” May, 1858, differs, in many points, from the New York game.

It is only within the last few years that match-games have become popular, and that the game of base-ball has taken the high position which it now occupies, as the leading game of out-door sports. The popularity of, and the increasing interest in, this game, is mainly to be attributed to the public journals, which have supported and encouraged its participants, by reporting their matches, and advocating their claims to public favor, as important and necessary as a branch of physical education.

The only essential materials used in playing the game, besides a ball, are a bat stick and four wooden stakes for bases, the form and size of which are described in the annexed rules and regulations of the game. The ball is composed of woolen yarn and strips of india-rubber wound tightly, forming a complete sphere and covered with buck or calf skin.

The game is commenced by staking off a square 60 feed for the bases and measuring the distance of 30 feet from the thrower's to the striker's stand.

The four corners of the square are the bases. The square, of four feed, at equal distance between the first and fourth base, is the striker's stand. Outside of this square and the line between the first and fourth base, is the catcher's stand. In the centre of the square the thrower is stationed, who delivers the ball to the striker, which, if not struck, should be caught by the catcher behind ; but, if struck by the batsman, he is obliged to run the bases, when, arriving at the home base, he is entitled to one tally. After the first player strikes the ball and runs to the base, he is immediately succeeded by the next “in” player, who takes his turn in the order in which he is chosen. The “out” party, besides the thrower and catcher, should be stationed as follows: One player on or within a few feet from each base, who should give strict attention to the game, and be prepared to receive the ball at any time, in order to “put out” an opposite player, while passing from one base to the other. One or two players should be stationed a few yards behind the catcher, to stop the ball in case the different parts of the field, to pass the ball to the thrower when it has been knocked by the striker.

The Olympic club, of Boston, established in 1854, was the first regularly organized Club in the State, and for over a year the only one in the field. Its first match-game was in the summer of 1855, with the Elm Tree Club. The “Elm-Tree” only existed for a short time, many of its branches taking part in the formation of other clubs. In 1856, the Green Mountain Club was established in Boston, and, during the season several exciting match games were played on the Common, between them and the Olympics. During the season of 1857 many clubs were organized in the vicinity of Boston, among which were the Bay State, Tri-Mountain, Bunker Hill, American, Rough-and-Ready, Massapoag, Union, and Winthrop. A large number of matches were played, and a great degree of interest manifested among ball-players ; and in course of the season, the Olympics framed a code of rules and regulations which were adopted by several other Clubs. At the opening of the season of 1858, there was a general movement in favor of calling a convention of delegates from the several Clubs, for the purpose of establishing a code of regulations to govern all matches between them ; and according to a call signed by the President of six of the senior Clubs, a convention was held held [sic] in Dedham, May 13, 1858, at which ten Clubs were represented by two delegates each. A resolution was adopted, declaring the convention a permanent organization, and a committee of five was appointed to prepare and submit a constitution and by-laws for its government ; also rules and regulations for playing base-ball. The committee reported, and the convention adopted the constitution and by-laws, and was duly organized under the name of the “Massachusetts Association of Base-Ball Players.” The rules and regulations of the game were then adopted by the association, and the chairman of the committee was appointed to superintend the publishing of the same.

rules and regulation of the game of base ball, adopted by the “massachusetts association of base ball players.”

1. The ball must weigh not less than two, nor more than two and three-quarter ounces, avoirdupois. It must measure not less than six and a half, nor more than eight and a half inches in circumference, and must be covered in leather.

2. The bat must be round and must not exceed two and a half inches in diameter in the thickest part. It must be made of wood, and may be any length to suite the striker.

3. Four bases or bounds shall constitute a round ; the distance from each base ball shall be sixty feet.

4. The bases shall be wood stakes, projecting four feet from the ground.

5. The striker shall stand inside of a space of four feet in diameter, at equal distance between the first and fourth bases.

6. The thrower shall stand inside of a space of four feet in diameter, at equal distance between the first and fourth bases.

7. The catcher shall not enter within the space occupied by the striker, and must remain upon his feet in all cases while catching the ball.

8. The ball must be thrown, not pitched or tossed to the bat, on the side preferred by the striker, and within reach of his bat.

9. The ball must be caught flying in all cases.

10. Players must take their knocks in the order in which they are numbered ; and after the first inning is played, the turn will commence with the player succeeding the one who lost on the previous inning.

11. The ball being struck at three times and missed, and caught each time by a player on the opposite side, the striker shall be considered out.

12. Should the striker stand at the bat without striking at good balls thrown repeatedly at him, for the apparent purpose of delaying the game, or of giving advantage to players, the referees, after warning him, shall call one strike, and if he persists in such action, two and three strikes ; when three strikes are called, he shall be subject to the same rules as if he struck at three fair balls.

13. A player having possession of the first base, when the ball is struck by the succeeding player, must vacate the base, even at the risk of being put out; and when two players get on one base, either by accident or otherwise, the player who arrived last is entitled to the base.

14. If a player, while running the bases, be hit with the ball thrown by one of the opposite side, before he has touched the home bound, while off a base, he shall be considered out.

15. A player, after running the four bases, on making the home bound, shall be entitled to one tally

16. In playing all match-games, when one is out, the side shall be considered out.

17. In playing all match-games, one hundred tallies shall constitute the game, the making of which by either Club, that Club shall be judged the winner.

18. Not less than ten nor more than fourteen players from each Club shall constitute a match in all games.

19. A person engaged on either side shall not withdraw during the progress of the match, unless he be disabled, or by the consent of the opposite party.

20. The referees shall be chosen as follows:—One from each club, who shall agree upon a third man from some Club belonging to this Association, if possible. Their decision shall be final, and binding upon both parties.

21. The tallymen shall be chosen in the same manner as the referees.

The National Association or “New-York game” is now almost universally adopted by the Clubs all over the country ; and the Massachusetts, and still more ancient style of playing familiar to any school-boy, called “town ball,” will soon become obsolete. No lover of the pastime can regret this, as the New-York mode is superior and more attractive in every way ; and better calculated to perpetuate and render “our national game” an “institution” with both “young and old America.”