Property:Block Notes
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E
G
<p>"Bass-ball" is another of the alternate spellings for baseball used occasionally in the 18th and 19th centuries.</p> +
J
<p>"Baste-ball" is one of several alternate spellings of baseball that are found in 18th and 19th century writings. "The Trifler" was a weekly satirical literary journal that ran for less than one year. Its authors, writing under the nom de plume Timothy Touchstone, were reputed to be two Cambridge students and two Oxford students, all under the age of 20.</p> +
E
<p>A date this late would tend to cast doubt on this being a reference to English baseball. Still, the context of the passage, and the fact that there is little evidence that American baseball was played in the west of England at the time this was written, suggest the possibility that the writer had English baseball in mind. Another possibility is that this referred to Welsh-style baseball as an exhibition match of that form of the game had been played at Teignmouth, Devonshire in 1907.</p> +
<p>A racist caricature baseball bank called "Home Town Darkies" was manufactured in the United States at about this time, but it seems unlikely that one of those would have found its way to a small, Buckinghamshire market town.</p> +
<p>A rainout. Presumably, this "base ball" would have been played on water.</p> +
<p>A regular crime wave.</p> +
<p>According to Wikipedia, "Darby and Joan" is a proverbial phrase for a married couple content to live a quiet shared life. The paired names have appeared many times in English and American literature, dating back at least to 1735.</p> +
<p>Again, this would have been a water baseball game.</p> +
<p>Almost all of the many British newspaper accounts of the 1874 tour of American baseball players stated that the game was an elaborated form of rounders. This is one of the few that recognized baseball as being originally English. "Grandmother," however, was exaggerating a bit about the game being "ancient," and it seems she was unaware that it was still being played.</p> +
G
<p>Although dated 1828, this work was published in mid-1827 and was reviewed in the October 13, 1827 issue of "The London Literary Gazette; and Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences, &c.," p. 657. The story appears to have been set in southern Durham County along the River Tees.</p> +
E
<p>Although this report does not indicate that the church school was located in Easton, it seems likely it is the same as from the above entry. </p> +
<p>Although we cannot know what type of baseball was offered at this fair, it more than likely did not resemble formal American baseball.</p> +
<p>American baseball by organized clubs of adult men were already known in London by this date, but these players were young children at my guess is that they were playing the traditional form of the game.</p> +
<p>American baseball is a possibility here, although Windsor was smack in the middle of traditional English baseball territory.</p> +
<p>American baseball is a possibility, although there is no previous evidence it being played at this type of social event in this era.</p> +
<p>Among the several newspaper notices at the time of the American players' tour claiming baseball to be English in origin, this one is unique in asserting the game to be a product of Yorkshire and other northern counties. It is also distinctive in comparing rule differences between the English and American versions of baseball, and provides additional evidence that English baseball batters struck the ball with their bare hands.</p> +
M
<p>An amusing review of this book appeared in the Sept. 30, 1826 issue of "The London Literary Gazette; and Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences, &c.": “We have heard of ladies changing their names, but never before met with a lady who had given up her name for initial letters as Miss M'Leod seems to have done. She dates her preface, however, from a place which sounds extremely matrimonial, viz. Fing-ring-ho Hall, Essex; and we dare hope that E.H.P is as happy as the late Miss M'Leod could wish her to be. So much for the author; and we have little more to say about the book. As drudging critics, we cannot be expected to know aught of Fashionable Life; and we can only guess that the Lords, Ladies, Honourable Mr.'s, Mistresses and Misses, Counts, Baronets and other great folks who figure in these pages, are drawn to the Life.”</p> +
E
<p>An example of English baseball and rounders played side by side. Interestingly, this entry and the one below comprise two strawberry-themed events held on the same day.</p> +
<p>Another example of baseball and rounders played side by side. Oakley, near Basingstoke, is less than three miles from Jane Austen's home village of Steventon.</p> +
<p>Another rare recognition that baseball was originally English. Likely the writer was wrong about English baseball dating from the 16th century—confusing it with prisoner's base as have many since—but was unusually well informed in knowing that the game was still being played in rural districts, including Suffolk. This letter is also the only known historical source to equate English baseball and tut-ball, and by locating the latter game in Cambridgeshire expands southward the territory where it was known to be played. Interestingly, the day after this letter was published, a short article appeared in a Yorkshire newspaper, the Bradford Observer, in which the writer appeared to have merged the contents of this letter with the letter in The Times from “Grandmother.” The Yorkshire article lifted whole phrases from this letter, such as the stuff about the 16th century and the Merrie Monarch, as well as the Lady Hervey quotation from The Times' letter.</p> +
<p>Apart from the oddity of the context, it was a bit unusual for an adult male Londoner to identify with baseball in that era.</p> +
<p>Apparently this letter was very persuasive, because the suggested fete was organized and held within a month's time (see entry below).</p> +
<p>Appears to have been traditional English baseball.</p> +
<p>As of writing this I have not yet located the two original documents cited by the writer of this article. However, the article has a strong ring of authenticity to it, including an explanation of how he came to be given the documents by the current governor. Charles LeBreton administered Cardiff Gaol between the years 1819 and 1821. If the facts in this article are borne out by the original documents, it would be the earliest mention of baseball in Wales, and also the earliest mention of the word rounders anywhere.</p> +
<p>At the time, Kingston-on-Thames was in Surrey; now it is part of greater London. The location of St. Ann's Hill was just five miles west of Walton-on-Thames where Prince Frederick played baseball nearly 150 years earlier.</p> +
<p>At various times located in the administrative districts of West Ham and East Ham, which at the time were incorporated into Essex, Little Ilford is now considered part of Greater London.</p> +
<p>Baseball played against a wall is unusual.</p> +
<p>Baseball was often referred to as “base” in Norfolk.</p> +
<p>Bushy Park is the second largest of London's Royal Parks, located in the borough of Richmond upon Thames. It was part of Surrey in the 19th century. Twickenham is a nearby town in the same borough.</p> +
J
<p>Cassandra Cooke's maiden name was Cassandra Leigh, the same as Jane Austen's mother (they were first cousins). The novel is set in the mid-17th century during the period of the English civil war; it is improbable that dialog from that era would include the word "base-ball," belying the claim in the novel's subtitle that it is "founded on facts."</p> +
E
<p>Chalvey was within Buckinghamshire in 1857, but was transferred to Berkshire in 1974. </p> +
<p>Cheshire was a little far afield for English baseball, but in this context and this early, American baseball was unlikely.</p> +
<p>Claydon Park comprised the grounds of Claydon House, a grand country house that was then occupied by the sister of Florence Nightengale, who often stayed there herself.</p> +
<p>Clear distinction between rounders and English baseball.</p> +
T
<p>Clearly, tut-ball was considered a separate game from rounders in this locale. The “five towns” referred to in the title are fictional stand-ins for the six towns of the Staffordshire potteries district.</p> +
E
<p>Croydon was then in Surrey but is now part of London. The article does not mention the nature of Mr. Allder's business. The game of “cocoanuts” mentioned in the article is somewhat obscure, and apparently involved players throwing objects (balls? rocks?) at cocoanuts attached to stakes from a distance of thirty feet and trying to get them to fall into small baskets underneath.</p> +
<p>Despite the unusual spelling, there is little doubt that the word “brace ball” is a reference to baseball. The same spelling showed up exactly one week later in the same newspaper, suggesting that a member of the staff was unfamiliar with the term and spelled it as he or she heard it. Given the setting, it seems likely that the game being played was English baseball, although it should be noted that Leicestershire was the only known location in England where clubs formed to play American-style baseball in the aftermath of the 1874 tour.</p> +
<p>Despite their similarities and proximity of dates, this outing was not the same as the one of Aug. 7th by the Free Methodist Sunday School. Every year, both the Band of Hope and Free Methodist Church in Framlingham held their treats within a week of each other, and seemed to have some overlap in membership and organization.</p> +
"
<p>Elsewhere in the book, on page 213, the author comments that the game of "bat and ball" is an appropriate sport for little boys and girls.</p> +
E
<p>English baseball in Scotland; or, perhaps, Scottish baseball?</p> +
<p>English baseball so far north is unusual, but still it is unlikely that this was an American-style game.</p> +
<p>Even at this very late date, describing baseball as a pastime that is a delight of every true juvenile Briton makes it evident that this is a reference to the original English form of the game.</p> +
<p>Evidently, the writer of these words was so moved by what he/she witnessed that nothing less than this incredibly long sentence could convey his/her enthusiasm.</p> +
<p>From the context of the article it is apparent that the baseball incident reported by the witness took place in the early 19th century.</p> +
<p>From the setting and location, this would appear to be traditional English baseball.</p> +
<p>Given that this is a reminiscence of some 50 years earlier, there is no doubt the reference is to English baseball.</p> +
<p>Given the context, this was more likely English baseball than American</p> +
<p>Given the early date and the location, it was almost certainly English baseball that the jokester had in mind.</p> +