The comparatively new American game of baseball presented itself to the world stage during the summer of 1874. A team of stars from the National Association's Boston and Philadelphia clubs traveled to England in mid-season for exhibitions arranged by the game's three leading names, pitcher Albert Spalding, manager Harry Wright and baseball writer Henry Chadwick.

The British weren't exactly overwhelmed, although they agreed to stage the exhibitions after Spalding allowed as how the Association stars might engage in a few cricket matches on the side. This codocil came as a surprise to the Yanks, only four of whom had ever played a game of cricket before.

"Your men don't know the rudiments of the game," admonished one Brit, after watching the all stars try their hand at it. "We are not much in practice, but we are great in matches," Spalding brashly responded.

The team opened with baseball games in Liverpool and Manchester, arriving in London Aug. 3 for a cricket match against the Marleybone Club. In a concession to their opponents' obvious lack of experience, Marleybone allowed the Americans to field 18 players against their standard 11, batted first, held the plate all morning, and at the end of one-half inning led 105-0. So much, for the time being, for cricket.

The afternoon baseball exhibition between Boston and Philadelphia was at least a more competent show, Boston winning 24-7. The writer for the Times of London, unimpressed, however, described it as "somewhat disappointing." When the baseball gameended, the cricket match resumed and the Americans scored 107 runs. At that point, rain intervened, allowing the U.S., in a sense, to actually claim victory.

The tour continued for the better part of a week, a British reporter offering this assessment: "The verdict of the spectators is almost universally against base ball as a competitor with our national game...it has so many inherent defects." Cheerio.

ELSEWHERE IN BASEBALL

Philadelphia's John Radcliff is expelled Nov. 18 for attempting to bribe umpire William McLean.

The Chicago White Stockings commit 36 errors in a game against the Mutuals June 18.

IN THE WORLD

The Women's Christian Temperance Union is formed Nov. 18 at Cleveland's Second Presbyterian Church.