A growing source of silent era film information.
This listing is from The Progressive Silent Film List by Carl Bennett.
Copyright © 2000-2010 by Carl Bennett. All Rights Reserved.

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The Ball Game
(1898) American
B&W : 50 feet
Directed by (unknown)

Cast: (unknown)

Edison Manufacturing Company production; distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company. / © 20 May 1898 by Thomas A. Edison [31442]. Released 20 May 1898. / [?] Kinetoscope 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format or Standard 35mm spherical 1.37:1 format? / The film features two baseball teams from Reading, Pennsylvania, and Newark, New Jersey.

Documentary: Sports.

Synopsis: [From Edison promotional materials] The Reading’s pitcher has just let a Newark batsman walk to first. Our camera is stationed about twenty feet from the bag, and the satisfied grin of the runner is great as he touches first and gets up on his toes for second. Next man cracks first ball pitched for a two-bagger, and races for the base with a wonderful burst of speed. First baseman just misses a put out. Very exciting. Man on the coaching line yells, and umpire runs up and makes decision. Small boy runs past the catcher close to the grand stand, where there is great commotion. A most excellent subject, treated brilliantly.

Survival Status: Print exists in the Library of Congress film archive (paper print collection) [35mm paper positive].

Keywords: Athletes: Baseball players - Sports: Baseball: Games

Listing updated: 6 August 2008.

References: Edelman-Baseball p. 19; Niver-Early p. 21 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.