Conan Doyle May 'Spiritualize' Over Baseball Pastime
Conan Doyle May 'Spiritualize' Over Baseball Pastime is an article published in the Los Angeles Evening Express on 25 april 1922.
Article
New York, April 24. — Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes and general authority on things supernatural, saw the big leaguers in action at the Polo Grounds last week.
He announced he had made the following deductions concerning the greatest American pastime:
"No. 1 — The average fan is not satisfied without the spiritual presence of Babe Ruth. The game lacks excitement unless the king of swat is there in person."
"No. 2 — Baseball didn't originate in America. It is simply a reincarnation of the old Egyptian game of rounders, considerably elevated and glorified."
"No. 3 — Sir Arthur will henceforth be a baseball fan, instead of a cricket enthusiast."
"No. 4 — The way the Giants followed the ground balls was wonderful. The way they judged the flies was remarkable. Outfielders are more impressive than infielders."
Continuing his deductions, Sir Arthur said there really was nothing to prevent him from spiritualizing in professional baseball, as he had been taught the game years age by his American author friend Hamlin Garland.
