United Order of Base Ball Rooters of the U.S. and Canada
Initiation Ritual

1902

Play Ball

Rooter Captain: Brother Rooters, after duly disposing of our regular order of business, the … Diamond No. … of the United Order of Base Ball Rooters will now proceed with the initiation of any fan who desires to become a Rooter, provided he has paid the admission fee at the gate and has been successfully balloted on to entitle him to get in the game.
I will now preside over the diamond.
Rooter Pitcher, Rooter Catcher, Rooter First Base, Rooter Second Base, Rooter Third Base, Rooter Short-Stop, Rooter Coacher, Rooter Umpire, each of you will please take your base and be prepared for the duties of assisting the new rooter to score a run. Rooter Short-Stop, guard the field and allow no one to enter the diamond while the work of initiation is in progress unless duly qualified and wearing the official button of the order entitling him to be admitted. Rooter Pitcher, what is your play?
Rooter Pitcher: Rooter Captain, to pilot the fan through the game and give him a fair ball for his white-allie.
Rooter Captain: Rooter Catcher, what is your Play?
Rooter Catcher: Rooter Captain, to assist our Rooter Pitcher in the game and catch the fan out if too slow too run or too old to root.
Rooter Captain: Rooter Pitcher and Rooter Catcher, you will proceed to the bleachers and prepare the fan to enter the game. Rooter First Base, what is your play?
Rooter First Base: Rooter Captain, to protect first base.
Rooter Captain: Rooter Second Base, what is your play?
Rooter Second Base: Rooter Captain, to protect second base.
Rooter Captain: Rooter Third Base, what is your play?
Rooter Third Base: Rooter Captain, to protect third base.
Rooter Captain: Rooter Short-Stop, what is your play?
Rooter Short-Stop: Rooter Captain, to admit the fans, assist our Rooter Pitcher, if called upon, and also encourage a good game.
Rooter Captain: Rooter Coacher, what is your play?
Rooter Coacher: Rooter Captain, encourage the fans, keep up the interest and maintain a hot game during each inning.
Rooter Captain: Rooter Umpire, what is your play?
Rooter Umpire: Rooter Captain, to watch the game, call time and see that each fan gets a fair show.
Rooter Pitcher outside with fan, raps or grunts nine times for admission.
Rooter Captain: Rooter Short-Stop, open the gate.
The fan being prepared, they enter and the three proceed to the home plate standing before the Chief Rooter.
Rooter Captain: Rooters, the game’s called: we’ll now proceed to play ball.
Well, what is it? What have we got here? Where did you get it? I must confess that we certainly have the making of a good rooter before us. What is the fan’s name?
Rooter Pitcher: This is a boar-fan who demands to become a rooter. His name is …, and he says he has always been a fan, and has always managed to attend a game.
Rooter Captain: A boar-fan eh? Well, I must say he looks it. Have you propounded the usual questions, and has he answered them satisfactorily?
Rooter Pitcher: He has, Rooter Captain.
Rooter Captain: Has he answered fully questions nos. 7 and 14?
Rooter Pitcher: He has.
Rooter Captain: What did he reply to question 9?
Rooter Pitcher: Well, when I asked the question whether he ever did much rooting, he replied that he had some experience along that rum and thought that if given a fair show he could become as enthusiastic a rooter as any rooter in the sty. He said he would like to challenge any rooter member to beat him "rootin’."
Here’s the rooters opportunity to even up on any old scores.
Rooter Captain, he says he thinks he can make a home run.
Rooter Captain: Very good. My brother fan, before you can accomplish a home run, there are several plays in which you must become proficient before you can make the home plate, and I desire to caution you right now, to be careful that you are not put out on a foul which will forever score against you from becoming a rooter. With the understanding that you agree to regards the game in which you are about to be the chief player, a secret, we will proceed to play ball. Rooter Pitcher, test the fan’s ability to hit the ball. Remember, no bunting goes. Unless the ball is hit once you can hardly ever expect to become a rooter.
Place a ball in his hand and with the bat convince him that they are genuine; they are then taken from him and laid aside; a stuffed club with a bat handle is substituted. Rooter Catcher holds out a long pole with a punching bag tied to a string suspended from the end. Rooter Pitcher encourages the fan to strike it.
Rooter Pitcher: Rooter Captain, our new fan made a pretty good score, having hit the ball twice, and I think he is entitled to get away to first base.
The fan is taken to first base.
Rooter Pitcher: Rooter First Base, I have here a fan who insists that he can make second.
Rooter First Base: Rooter Pitcher, have you confidence in his ability to do so?
Rooter Pitcher: I have.
Rooter First Base: Rooter Coacher, it is your play now, to coach the fan to second.
Shackles are placed around both ankles; he is coached to run, jump and sprint, landing on second.
Rooter Coacher: Now, then, wait! Look out! Be careful! They're off!
Rooter Pitcher: Chief Rooter, the fan has made second.
Rooter Captain: Rooter Pitcheer, very good. Rooter Second Base will give further instructions.
Rooter Pitcher: Rooter Second Base, by order of our Rooter Captain I have here a new fan who awaits your instructions into the feat of making third base.
ROOTER SECOND BASE: Brother fan, as you must make third base before you can reach the home plate, your play is to get away from second. You can accomplish this by sliding. Rooter Pitcher, you will prepare the run to third.
The fan is strapped to a board with wheels (or wagon) placed upright and then laid flat on the floor. The Rooter Pitcher and Catcher handle the tongue, and with a short run forward, a swift push and a hard pull, the fan slides into third.
Rooter Pitcher: Rooter Captain, our brother has successfully made third and feels confident that he can make home. Shall we proceed?
Rooter Captain: Rooter Pitcher, when you are satisfied that the run home is clear, proceed.
The treadmill is placed between third base and home, the fan walks up on the slats, the Rooter Pitcher turns the crank attached to the wheel on the side and the fan is given a good run for his money.
Rooter Pitcher: Rooter Captain, our new fan is quite a sprinter and has succeeded in making the home plate.
Rooter Captain: Rooter Pitcher, conduct the new fan before me for further instructions that we may imprint the stamp of a rooter upon him and impart to him the signs of our order by which he will be entitled to root under our banner which bears the motto:
"We never knock;
We always root."
Brother fan, you can recognize a rooter of this order by the official button of a rooter, one of which our Rooter Pitcher will affix to the lapel of your coat. Retain and wear it. It is the evidence that you are a rooter of our National Game and have been duly initiated a member of Jack Grim Diamond No. 1 of the United Order of Base Ball Rooters of the State of ….
The recognition sign of a rooter is indicated by three grunts, which are made in a stooping position. Rooter Pitcher, instruct the new rooter in his final instructions and give him the seal.
Rooter Pitcher: Brother Rooter, the recognition grunts of a rooter are given like this three grunts bending low each time. Instruct the rooter to bend low and grunt. As he bends over the second time, the Rooter Catcher uses the Spanker, the paper-mache head is immediately removed and the Rooter Pitcher explains to the new Rooter that the grip is a handshake and one grunt. Thus: … each shake hands and give one grunt.
Rooter Captain: Rooters. salute our new Rooter. All give one grunt.
Rooter Captain: Now, Rooter …! Get out and root for new players.