British Claim They Invented Baseball
Author Julian Norridge is claiming that contrary to popular belief, baseball was invented by the British. His proof comes from Jane Austen, who references baseball in her novel "Northanger Abbey."
This is Austen's passage: "It was not very wonderful that Catherine, who had nothing heroic about her, should prefer cricket, baseball, riding on horseback, and running about the country at the age of 14, to books."
Norridge, author of the book "Can we Have our Balls Back, Please?," says: "There's no doubt it was being played in Britain in the late 18th century, and equally no doubt that it traveled to America."
How about this, Mr. Norridge: Name a successful British player in the Major Leagues and you can have baseball back. Lance Painter, with his career ERA of 5.22, does not qualify as "successful." Also, if the British have such a passion for baseball, then why was it not reinstated for the 2012 London Olympics? Would this not have been the perfect homecoming for this supposed British game?
While we're at it, Mr. Norridge, let's name a few other things the British invented: the gibbet, child labor, slums, serial killers, concentration camps. Will you be releasing "Can we Have our Child Labor Back, Please?" in China any time soon? Beware, Mr. Norridge, you are opening a can of very dark worms.
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