In Door Baseball in 1909

[Leon]

In a Sanitarium. Thought it interesting so decided to share...It is a postcard postmarked 1909.

[MyGuyTy]

What a CRAZY postcard Leon

Never seen a sanitarium baseball postcard before, thanks for sharing.

[freakhappy]

That's pretty cool, Leon...thanks for sharing.

I wonder why the infield is playing so far in...it makes you wonder if they used a regulation baseball or some sort of soft baseball that did not travel as fast or far

[ruth-gehrig]

Interesting! Appears to be windows all around that could be opened on a hot summer day. "Knocking one out of the sanitarium" doesn't quite roll off the tongue like "knocking one outta the park"!

[rjackson44]

leon look like a gymnasium wow...

[stlcardsfan]

Pop 1 of 1....

[Jason]

Originally Posted by freakhappy

That's pretty cool, Leon...thanks for sharing.

I wonder why the infield is playing so far in...it makes you wonder if they used a regulation baseball or some sort of soft baseball that did not travel as fast or far

I agree with the soft baseball theory. No way they were that close to the batter with a hardball unless the Sanitarium wanted to thin the population. Oh and very cool postcard Leon!

[Leon]

Originally Posted by freakhappy

That's pretty cool, Leon...thanks for sharing.

I wonder why the infield is playing so far in...it makes you wonder if they used a regulation baseball or some sort of soft baseball that did not travel as fast or far

I don't the answer but if they aren't using a ball that doesn't travel as fast or far as a regular one, the shortstop is going to get smashed in the face.

[MyGuyTy]

Originally Posted by Leon

I don't the answer but if they aren't using a ball that doesn't travel as fast or far as a regular one, the shortstop is going to get smashed in the face.

He's literately right on top of him, lol. Maybe he has savage reflexes, so they put him up front, haha.

[bgar3]

There are Spalding Indoor Baseball "how to" booklets with the blue covers, just like the regular baseball ones from around 1910 to 1920 time period.

[Bocabirdman]

Apparently, it was easier to escape from the Sanitarium Infirmary.

[VintageBall]

Indoor baseball was invented in 1887...and later moved outside and was dubbed softball in 1927.

Here's the history:

http://www.asasoftball.com/about/asa_history.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softball

There's a cool picture of an indoor baseball game from 1905 on this site, that you can zoom in and out of: http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohisto...ges/11534.html

Robert S

[Butch7999]

Fantastic postcard, Leon.

A couple of recent threads here concerning indoor baseball:
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=179040
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=166839
also containing a link to this page:
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrar...9/NP1989zv.pdf

[BlueSky]

Really cool postcard.

Another picture of the Sanitarium's Gymnasium.

[bwbc917]

Bases were between 27 and 35 feet apart ( depending on the size of hall). There were 5 infielders, with 2 of them flanking the pitcher and a little closer to the batter. The ball was bigger than a baseball w/raised seams. Bunting was a major weapon.Game was very popular in the Midwest. Early Cleveland Plain Dealer covered the leagues, posted stats etc.

[jcmtiger]

Great postcard Leon, I have a Ty Cobb W.B. Jarvis brand Indoor baseball bat, it is thinner and lighter than a regulation bat.

Joe