Rounders, 1885

Fun in Peckles-Wood Shire

Long before televisions, computers, and video games, children discovered that the greatest adventures didn’t come from a store—they came from imagination, friendship, and the world around them. Join the Whitaker children on their Northumberland farm in 1885 and discover how simple games became lasting memories.

Simple Games. Lasting Memories.

The Game of Rounders

Have you ever played a game where you hit a ball, ran as fast as you could, and cheered for your teammates?

     In 1885, one of the Whitaker family’s favorite outdoor games was Rounders. Long before modern baseball became popular, children across England enjoyed this exciting game in fields, farmyards, and village greens. On warm afternoons, the Whitaker children often gathered in the meadow after their chores were finished to see which team could score the most runs.

What You Needed

Rounders was easy to play because it required only a few simple things.

• A wooden bat, often carved from ash or oak.
• A small leather ball stuffed with cork, yarn, or tightly packed cloth.
• Four bases made from flat stones, wooden pegs, or even hats.
• At least four players, although six to twelve children made the game even more fun.
• An open field or grassy pasture with plenty of room to run.
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How to Play

One team took turns batting, while the other team spread out across the field to catch and throw the ball.

A bowler gently tossed the ball underhand toward the batter.

The batter tried to hit the ball and then ran to the first base. If there was enough time, the batter could keep running around the other bases before returning home.

The fielders hurried to pick up the ball and throw it back to stop the runner.

A batter was out if:

• Three good pitches were missed.
• A fielder caught the ball before it touched the ground.
• The runner was touched with the ball while running.
• A fielder reached a base with the ball before the runner arrived. (Many families played by this rule.)

When every player on one team had a turn at bat, the teams switched places.

The team that completed the most full trips around all four bases won the game.

The Whitaker Family Rules

The Whitaker children believed that a good game was played with honest hearts and cheerful smiles.

Their family rules were simple:

• Everyone received a turn, even the youngest child.
• The bowler always tossed the ball gently underhand.
• Hard throwing was never allowed.
• If there was a disagreement, the oldest child—or Father or Mother—settled it.

A Whitaker Family Chant

As each batter stepped up to the plate, the children sometimes called out:

Bat held high and eyes so keen,
Strike it fair across the green.
Round the bases, swift and free,
Home again for all to see!

Did You Know?

    Many historians believe that Rounders helped inspire the game of baseball. While the two games have different rules today, they both grew from older bat-and-ball games that children enjoyed for hundreds of years.

     Try It Yourself!

     Find a few friends, a soft ball, and something to use as four bases. You don’t need a fancy field, just an open patch of grass and plenty of room to run. You may discover why the Whitaker children looked forward to every game of Rounders!