by rathbone » 26 Jun 2008, 06:44
On 29 June 1935, over 5000 people witnessed, in delightful weather conditions, an American baseball game at the Marine Gardens.
It was the real thing, direct from the U.S.A. for the contending teams, the Arkansas Giants and the Wyoming Senators, were representative of the summer Practice Squadron of the United States navy.
While the two American warships, Arkansas and Wyoming, lay in the Firth of Forth the opportunity was taken to field two teams with excellent records in the national sport and at the same time to show the interest of the visitors in Edinburgh youth movements by assisting the funds of the local battalion of the Boys Brigade. Probably interest in the popular American sailors was as much responsible for attracting the large crowds of spectators as interest in the game.
No doubt to the great majority of those who attended at the Marine Gardens baseball was little more than a name. Those who came, however, expecting nothing more than the attraction of a novelty soon found that baseball, even to the uninitiated has its thrills. It provides remarkable batting performances and amazing exhibitions by the fielders in catching balls high and low.
Among the spectators on Saturday were many of the American navy men and they and the commentator who described the game, gave to the occasion a real American flavour. The American Consul in Edinburgh, Mr. R.D. Longyear set the game agoing by pitching the first ball in great style and he ws greeted with many shouts of “Attaboy”.
Wyoming Senators, apparently the fancied team, made a promising start, securing two runs in the first innings and in this game a run is scored only when each individual batsman has made a complete circuit of the course, touching each base in regular order before three men are out. The players showed great keeness but there seemed to be even greater enthusiasm among the American section of the spectators who all the time shouted advice and encouragement.
Before long the Scots onlookers began to appreciate at least some of the more notable features of the game and joined in cheering the batsmen who sent balls, delivered at great speed, away to the boundary, some being driven across the adjacent crowded beach.
The Wyoming Senators did not realise their early promise and gradually the Arkansas Giants drew ahead until, after two hours play, the latter were leading by 5 runs to 2. In the last innings, however, Wyoming added another to their runs. The match, therefore, ended 5-3 in favour of Arkansas.
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