Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1896 — That Indoor Base Ball. [ARTICLE]

That Indoor Base Ball.

The game of _ indoor .base, ball, played at the opera house, Christmas night, was a novelty in this neighborhood, and very pleasant and enjoyable novelty too. The game was played ou the main floor of the hall, while the spectators took to the stage and the galleries. The stage took the place of the grand stand, while the galleries might be said to ■Eaptaaantthe^bieachers.” The game is played by two full nines, and by the same rules, as regular Base, ball. But of course, the diamond is on a much smaller scale, and flie ball is very Targe and soft, while the bats are short and small. The two clubs that have been organized here, and by which the game was played, are the Stars, Joe Reynolds pitcher and Geo. Collins catcher; and the Crescents. Bert Rhoades pitcher and Bert Marshall, catcher. The Crescents won by a score of 21 for them to 18 for the Stars. Nine innings were played and at the end of every third inning the Citizens band gave -the audience some tine music. The spectators on the stage were protected by wire netting, from being banged by the ball, those in the galleries were supposed to be tough and could stand it well enough. O The j-oom was lighted by iucandescents especially put in for the purpose, the large chandeliers being taken out, to save them from accidents. Geo. Collins and Vern Robinson, “swatted” the ball into the galleries and made home runs.