OUR BASE BALL CLUB.

"YOUR FATHER, THE JUDGE, SAYS YOU SHOULD COME TOBREAKFAST RIGHT AWAY, MISS."—Frontispiece.

OUR BASE BALL CLUB

AND

HOW IT WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP

BY

NOAH BROOKS

Author of "The Fairport Nine," "The Boy Emigrants," etc.

WITH AN INTRODUCTION

BY

AL. G. SPALDING

OF THE CHICAGO BASE BALL CLUB

New York

E.P. DUTTON AND COMPANY

39 West 23d Street

1884

Copyright, 1884,

By E.P. DUTTON & CO.

St. Johnland
Stereotype Foundry,
Suffolk Co., N.Y.

Press of
J.J. Little & Co.
10 Astor Place, N.Y.

INTRODUCTION.

When we consider how strong a hold the pastime of base ball playinghas upon our people, it is a little surprising that more frequent useof the game, as a framework, has not been made by writers of fiction.There are very few Americans, certainly very few of the youngergeneration, who are not only familiar with the nomenclature and rulesof base ball, but are enthusiastic lovers of the sport. Even among thegentler sex, who may be regarded as spectators only of the game, thereis to be found much sound information and an intelligent acquaintancewith the details of base ball playing; while every hearty andwholesomely taught boy knows everything worth knowing about the game,the famous players, the historic contests, and the notable features ofthe sport, as practiced in various sections of the republic.

To write an introduction to a story whose slender plot should bethreaded on a base ball match seems to be an almost superfluouswork. But I am glad that Mr. Brooks has undertaken to illustrate"The National Game" by a story of outdoor life, founded on fact andincidentally introducing personages which are not wholly creaturesof his imagination. The tale here told very cleverly gives the readera glimpse of the ups and downs, the trials and the triumphs of a baseball club. It is written by one who is thoroughly well informed ofthe things concerning which he gives such vivid pictures, and, whilenothing is really needed to popularize the game, I am sure the storywill commend itself to every lover of pure and wholesome literature.

A.G. SPALDING.

CONTENTS.