In Door Baseball in 1909

[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