We could not pick eighteen such men from the
ranks of all our cricketers, and it is doubtful if we could beat them by a
draft from the foot ballers. If base ball has anything to do with building
up such physique we ought to encourage it, for it must evidently be above
and beyond all other exercises in one at least of the essentials of true
athletics."
The Melbourne _Sporteman_ in its report of the inaugural game in that
city, said: "The best evidence offered that Melbournites were pleased and
interested in the exhibition lies in the fact that the crowd of nearly ten
thousand people remained through not only nine but twelve innings of play,
and then many of them stayed to see a four inning game between the Chicago
team and a nine composed mainly of our local cricket players, who made a
very creditable show, considering the strength of the team they were
playing against, and the fact that they were almost utter strangers to
base ball. Not only did the spectators remain upon the ground but they
heartily applauded the heavy batting, the base running and base sliding
and the brilliant fielding executed by our Yankee visitors. Perhaps the
truest realization of just how difficult it is to play a finished game of
base ball was obtained by the cricketers who went in against the Chicagos.
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