A Game of Rounders.

Rounders Around the World: Early References A to Z by Continent and Country; Adult players, except when stated otherwise. Assembled August 2026. Ongoing project.

Some of these entries come courtesy of Bruce Allardice of Project Protoball. With thanks.

Africa

(Angola (Elephant Bay): 1872) We landed the men under tents, and cleared the ship out, to get clear of the cockroaches which had begun to get large in size and very numerous. The men enjoyed the fun extremely. In the evening they played cricket or rounders; or else went fishing with the seine. (Hugh McNeile Dyer, The West Coast of Africa as Seen from the Deck of a Man-o-War (London: J. Griffin & Co., 1876), 119.)

(Mozambique (Mafemede Island, Nampula Province): 1849) After dinner the party left the tents to witness a game of rounders played by the boats’ crew, and then adjourned to the beach[…] (Capt. G.L. Sullivan, Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters (London: Sampson Low, Marston, Low & Searle, 1873), 41–42)

(South Africa (Transvaal): 1900) The officers several times beat the sergeants at rounders. An attempt was made to get up some polo, but it was not altogether successful. (Colonel Willoughby Verner, editor, The Rifle Brigade Chronicle for 1900 (London: John Bale, Sons and Danielsson, 1901), 215.)

(Zanzibar:1866 (children)) Mr Harry Goodwin, writing in January 1866, says[…his] attempt to teach the boys the game of cricket was a failure—they were afraid of the ball; but the game of rounders suited them better; and they soon played it capitally (Henry Rowley, Twenty years in central Africa: being the story of the Universities' Mission to Central Africa, from its commencement under Bishop Mackenzie to the present time (London: Wells Gardner, Darton & Co., 1881), 181.)

Americas and Caribbean

(Argentina (Buenos Aires): 1892 (children and adults) The children from San Martin and Belgrano came in by early trains, and were conveyed by special trams from the Central Station to Plaza Constitution, where the children from the city assembled. A special train left soon after 9 a.m. with the party[...]Cricket, football, rounders, skipping rope, swings, kiss-in-the-ring, races and other games were indulged in all day long, except during intervals for lunch and tea (“The Scotch Church Sunday School Picnic”, The Standard (Buenos Aires), 15 November 1892, 1.)

(Argentina (Entre-Rios): 1893 (secondary school)) Athletic sports in the open air, comprising Football, Cricket, Lawn-Tennis, Rounders, Swimming and Rowing, etc., have superseded the former dangerous acrobatic gymnastics and boring drawing-room calisthenics, which, however, still continue in some National Colleges.  (“National College of Conception del Uruguay”, Report upon the state of secondary and normal education in the Argentine Republic (Buenos Aires: Publicaciones del Museo, 1893), 56.)

(Argentina (Corrientes): 1893 (secondary school)) Open air sports have supplanted gymnastic and parlor calisthenics. Football, Cricket, Rounders, and Base-Ball are the boys’ favorite games.  (“National College of Corrientes”, Report upon the state of secondary and normal education in the Argentine Republic (Buenos Aires: Publicaciones del Museo, 1893), 63.)

(Bahamas (Nassau): 1870 (children)) ST MARY’S SUNDAY SCHOOL FESTIVAL[…]The children indulged in their usual sports, the boys engaging in “rounders”, jumping and racing (small prizes for the latter being given by one of the Lapwing’s officers). (“St Mary’s Sunday School Festival”, Nassau Guardian, 15 January 1870, 2.)

(Bahamas: 1891) THE SPONGE FISHERIES OF THE BAHAMAS[…]The class of men employed is on the while a fair specimen of the population of the islands in the labour category[…]The men spend their time when the sea is too rough to sponge ashore on the cays of their vicinity. They always provide themselves with bats and balls and play on the beach a game they call “rounder”. Lately they have gone a step higher and sometimes play cricket. (“The Spong Fisheries of the Bahamas”, Nassau Guardian, 28 February, 1891, 1.)

(Bermuda (Hamilton): 1878) THE 19TH (PRINCESS OF WALES’ OWN) REGIMENT. On Saturday last the 19th (Princess of Wales’ Own) Regiment marched out to Paynter’s Vale for an outing, to which spot they were preceded by the women and children of the Regiment. Good care had been taken for their enjoyment of the day. Several Ladies and Gentlemen from St. Georges and Bailey’s Bay were also present and received the attentions of the gallant Officers of the Regiment, who had provided an ample lunch and refreshment for them. Music from the excellent Band of the Regiment and a Troupe of Minstrels helped to enliven the scene to say nothing of the game of Rounders which engaged the attention of both Ladies and Gentlemen who took part in it. It was indeed a day of enjoyment to all present. (“The 19th (Princess of Wales’ Own) Regiment”, Royal Gazette (Hamilton, Bermuda), 1 January 1878, 2.)

(Canada (Princess Royal Islands): 1851) Outdoor sports now commenced; and to see the heavy falls the men experienced in their thick winter clothing and cloth snow-boots, whilst playing rounders upon the ice, an observer might have wondered how they escaped fractured bones and broken heads. (Sherard Osborn, ed., The Discovery of the North-west Passage by H.M.S. Investigator, Capt. R. McClure (London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, and Roberts, 1856), 160.)

(Chile (Santiago de Chile): 1905) Juegos Atléticos por Erasmo Arellano D., Profesor de Jimnasia, La Pelota al Campo (Thèque–Rounders) (Advert, Revista chilena de historia natural, vol. IX (Valparaíso: Litografía e Impr. Industrial (F. Peters), 1905).)

(Falkland Islands: 1863) On Saturday last, February 14th, I gave an entertainment to the crew and members of the station, the day was kept as a holiday and the Allen Gardiner, decked out with flags, never sat more gracefully in the water; from our flagstaff, the English ensign was floating gaily[…]The dinner, and horse, and rounders, and prisoner’s base, have made use all pleased with one another, and I hope will inaugurate happily the new regime. (The Voice of Pity For South America, vol. 10, 1863 (London: W. MacIntosh, 1863), 141.)

(Greenland (Melville Bay/Cape York): 1850) Thus were we impeded by the mighty ice, now tracking along the edge of the floes, or pressing into narrow lanes of water, sometimes stopped altogether and nipped by two fields of ice,—playing rounders, cashing bears, shooting thousands of rotches,—with lovely weather, continual daylight, and strange fairy-like scenery (Clements Robert Markham, Franklin’s Footsteps: A Sketch of Greenland along the Shores of Which His Expedition Passed, and of the Parry Isles, Where the Last Traces of It Were Found (London: Chapman and Hall, 1853), 58.)

(Guyana (New Amersterdam): 1890) Yesterday being a public holiday in celebration of the Queen’s birthday, all the places of business in the Town were closed. Beyond a cricket match (the scores of which are given elsewhere), a few contests at rounders, and several private picnic parties, there were no amusements for the people; and the town had quite a Sunday appearance. (News item, Berbice Gazette, 29 May 1889, 2.)

(Guyana (Providence): 1890) ROUNDERS AND ROWS—A rounder match was played at Providence on the 2nd January between Captain Joe and Captain Clements. The game began at half-past one. The blue and white of Providence took the first inning, and made a total of 310. The cream and blue of Stanley Town scored 241, when 19 were scored out, and 13 remaining to bat. Then a row occurred and the game was brought to an abrupt close. (“Rounders and Rows”, Berbice Gazette, 4 January 1890, 3.)

(Guyana (Stanley Town): 1890) A correspondent sends us particulars of a rounders match played on Monday between the Silver Plant Club of Stanley Town, under Captain J. Hooper, and the Silver Green Club of Glasgow village under Captain Mitchell. The Silver Plant won, making 304 runs with three men to spare, whilst their opponents only had 236 runs. (“General News”, Berbice Gazette, 9 August 1890, 3.)

(Guyana (Liverpool): 1890) A correspondent sends us some particulars of a rounders match between the Liverpool Club and the Porcelain Blue Club of Nurney, in which the former had an easy victory. (“General News”, Berbice Gazette, 23 August 1890, 3.)

(Puerto Rico (San Juan): 1894 (children and adults)) Jugamos el rounders con los discípulos, juego que aprendimos de los profesores de la Institución Libre de Enseñanza, en Madrid, y que hemos introducido en esta Isla, llamando mucho la atención de la niñez, quien lo ha acogido con entusiasmo. Terminado el rounders reunimos a los descupulos a nuestro alrededor. (Arturo Vega Morales, “Un Excursion Escolar”, El Diario de Puerto-Rico, 23 May 1894, 2.)

(Trinidad and Tobago (Mayaro): 1895 (girls’ schools)) A game of Rounders was played on Saturday last on Beaumont Pasture, Mayaro, between members of the Eastern Humming-Bird R.C. and members of the Rose of the Valley R.C. both of Mayaro, and resulted in a victory for the latter. There were many spectators on the field. Pink and Maroon aprons and caps were the colours worn. (“Rounders”, Port of Spain Gazette, 19 September 1895, 5.)

(Trinidad and Tobago (Mayaro): 1897 (girls’ schools)) […]the girls of the[Government School and St Thomas R.C. School] wearing pink apron and cap, and blue apron and cap, respectively, met to complete in a lovely game of Rounders. (“How the Centenary Was Spent”, Port of Spain Gazette, 25 February 1897, 3.)

(Trinidad and Tobago (Mayaro): 1897 (girls’ schools)) The Easter week was so marked by a game of rounders at Beaumont pasture the “Wonderful Competitors” against “Cerise”, which was won by the former. Blue apron and cap and Cerese apron and cap were the order of the day. (“Rounders”, Port of Spain Gazette, 29 April 1897, 3.)

(Trinidad and Tobago (Port of Spain): 1897 (mixed teams)) A rounders match will also take place to-day on the Savannah between the Comet R.C. and the Starlight R.C. 15 a side. (“Sporting Matters”, Port of Spain Gazette, 3 July 1897, 4.)

(Trinidad and Tobago (Port of Spain): 1897 (mixed teams)) A very interesting and exciting Rounders Match was played on the Savannah on Saturday between teams of the Leading Comet and the Starlight Clubs. The Starlight was the first to face the flags and scored 55 for 14, highest scorers, Hunte 13, Hesket 11, average 3.10. The Leading Comet team then went in and in a short space of time put up 48 at the call of time; viz; 8 for 48 and 7 hard hits to bat, average 3, highest scorers: L/ Nelson 7 not out, L. Mazelees 6 not out. The game resulted in a draw. (“Rounders Match”, Port of Spain Gazette, 6 July 1897, 3.)

(Trinidad and Tobago (Port of Spain): 1897 (mixed teams)) A Rounders March is announced to take place within the enclosure of the Queen’s Park this afternoon, between the Blue Danube team and the Starlight team. There will be 15 players aside (12 ladies and 3 gents). The Danube will wear blue skirts with white bodices and yellow straps. The Starlights will be attired in sky blue skirts, white bodices, and sky blue straps. This appeared to use a novelty, and we accordingly made enquiries and was informed that Rounders is quite fashionable both in British Guiana and in Barbados. The secretary assured us that everything is carried out on strictly respectable lines. The parents of the young ladies are honourable members of the respective clubs and attend the meetings. (“Rounders Match”, Port of Spain Gazette, 10 July 1897, 4.)

(Trinidad and Tobago (Port of Spain): 1897 (mixed teams)) “BLUE DANUBE” VS. “WESTERN STAR”. Again the inclement weather prevented the above teams meeting before 3pm on Saturday 17th inst., Miss M Eadeau—captain of the “Western Star” appeared on the field with a full team of 12—while the “Danubes” captained by Miss E. Smith numbered 8 only. The “Danubes”, however, decided to play, won the toss and went in to bat from 3.30 to 5.15 om. And though the ground was very heavy, they scored 62 runs. Miss B Gooding (the champion players) 20—run out. Miss E Smith (Captain) 13—run out. Miss L DaCosta 11, Miss E Prince 8. At 5.20 “Western Star” commenced to bat, and at 6.17 the umpire called time. Score—20 with a loss of 6 players and six to bat. W. Armstrong 6 not out. Miss A Sheafe 4 not out. The game is considered a draw. (“Rounders Match”, Port of Spain Gazette, 21 July 1897, 4.)

(Trinidad and Tobago (Port of Spain): 1901 (mixed teams)) The “United Rounders Club” is practising for their forthcoming contest with Mr Meadley’s team. Miss E Williams is the Captain. The annual ball of the club is fixed for the 9th of April next, Easter Tuesday. (“Rounders”, Port of Spain Gazette, 5 March 1901, 4.)

Asia and Pacific

(Afghanistan (Kandahar): 1879) With the officers doing duty with the detachment of British troops and several departmental officers who were also stationed in the Citadel we formed a very pleasant coterie of our own, and managed to pass the time playing most vigorous games of rounders, hockey, etc., with the men in the square by day and “poker” in the evenings. (Norman Robert Stewart, My Service Days, Indian, Afghanistan, Suakim, ’85, and China (London: J. Ouseley, 1908), 66.)

(Australia [Tasmania] (New Norfolk): 1847 (children)) December 27, 1847[..]A rope, hung between two trees, served as a swing; but the great delight was when we gave them a ball and set them to play at rounders, a game which they are accustomed to play, and in which they certainly excel. (William Denison Varieties of Vice Regal Life, vol. 1 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1870), 70.)

(Australia [New South Wales] (Sydney): 1858) Sixty or seventy persons, varying in age from twenty to fifty, took part in athletic sports, and for the time, at least, thought themselves boys again. On this occasion “quoits, cricket, and rounders” enlisted without exception the sympathies of the assembly. (“The Herald’s “Wayze-Goose” to Manly Beach”, Australian and New Zealand Gazette, 9 October 1858, 4)

(Australia (Norfolk Island): 1872 (adults and children?)) “On Saturday, work and school are suspended, and the whole party goes fishing, bathing, playing rounders, or otherwise diverting itself.” (H. W. Tucker, Under His Banner: Papers on the Missionary Work of Modern Times (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1872), chap. XXIX, “Melanesia,” 267–268.)

(China (Hong Kong): 1891) Beautiful boulevards, wide streets, great cafes, where pale-faced Frenchmen sip absinthe and petits verres. It is Paris. Bravo, La France! But it would be much better for these gay causeurs, to play lawn-tennis, and football, cricket, rackets and rounders, as do the English at Hong Kong, Singapore, and Colombo[…] (Mrs. Howard Vincent, Newfoundland to Cochin China (London: S. Low, Marston & Company, 1891), 313.)

(China (Kowloon): 1885—adults and children?) On the 17th January, the Perseverance Lodge, gave a picnic at the grounds of Kowloon, of R.W. Bro. C.P. Chater, D,G.M., which he had kindly lent for the occasion. Tennis, rounders, croquet, and quoits were indulged in as amusements, and a photograph of the whole company, and another of the members of the Lodge only, were taken. (“Craft Tidings: China”, Masonic Review vol. 62 (Cincinnati: Wrightson & Co, 1885), 192.)

(China (Shanghai/Wusong): 1881) It was very cold in the morning watch, and there was ice on the deck; the thermometer was down to 37. Employed refitting aloft, each ship acting independently of the flagship. In the afternoon went on shore and played rounders and got nice and warm. Mr. Hughes, the consul, came to call from Shanghai. (The Cruise of Her Majesty’s Ship Bacchante, 1879–1882, vol 2 (London: Macmillan & Co., 1856), 139.)

(India (Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh): 1869) We have had a very exciting week of cricket and other games. The first match, which I mentioned to you as coming off in my last, was after all not a very contested game, won by the “World” as was another later in the week. On both days, the cricket being over early, and there being a couple of hours till dark, a game of rounders was instituted, and great fun it was. (“Indian News-Letters: Neemuch, 26th January”, The Bombay Gazette, 2 February 1869, 3)

(India (Rajkot, Gujarat): 1874) After the speeches, the meeting adjourned to the playground, the European officers and gentlemen present joining the boys in a game of rounders, which and foot-ball seem to be their favourite amusements. (“The Keatinge Rajkumar College, Kathia’wa’r”, Calcutta Review vol. 60, issue 119, 1875, 65.)

(India (Almora/Ranikhet): 1888) Even the energetic paperchasers have been stopped by the rain from taking their Saturday run, and Mr. Lloyd is deeply disappointed at being deprived of his only opportunity of playing that instrument of torture of his in public without bringing down upon himself the malediction of the community. The last paperchase was turned into a game of “rounders” in which Captain Hughes showed a fine turn of speed and grand falling powers. One lady qualified as a “point” in any first-class lady’s cricketing eleven by the magnificent way in which she held a sharp catch. (“Station Notes”, The Dragon. East Kent Chronicle. A paper for the men of the Buffs, 31 July 1888, 6)

(Japan (Tokyo): 1879) EDUCATION IN JAPAN. Since writing on the above subject last week, our attention has been directed to the following clause in the Calendar of the Engineering College, Tokyo. “As it has hitherto been found that the students of the College in common with all Japanese students, have neglected to take sufficient physical exercise, to the great detriment of their health[…]the following is a list of the exercises and games with which it is proposed to begin with, but others will be added from time to time:—GAMES 1. Football. 2. Shinty. 3. Rounders. 4. Quoits. 5. Smugglers. 6. Leap Frog. 7. Bonnety. 8. Prison Base. 9. Baseball.[…]The following will be taken up later:—1. Cricket. 2 Lawn Tennis. 3. Bowls. 4. Fives. 5. Golf.” (“Education in Japan”, Japan Weekly Mail, vol 3, 29 March 1879, 382.)

(Japan (Ikegami): 1887—children and adults(?)) The Union Church Sunday School picnic held on Thursday last, at Ikegami, was a success in every way[…]Arrived at Ikegami, swings were put up, and independent parties started rounders, cricket, and other games. (News item, Japan Weekly Mail, vol 7, 28 May 1887, 511.)

(Malaysia (Selangor/Kuala Lumpur): 1895) Early on Wednesday morning some of the officers went out with a few members of the Hunt Club, and had very good sport, Mr W.D. Scott bringing down a couple of deer with a right and a left, Mr. Youel, R.N., killing a pig; while some of the men went to Sungei Besi and others were “strolling round the town”. A game of rounders occupied the early afternoon, and late on came the game at “Socker”. (“H.M.S. Mercury at the Kuala,” The Selangor Journal, vol. 3 (Kuala Lumpur: Selangor Government Printing Office, 1895), 335)

(New Zealand (Waipa, North Island): 1864) The detachment of blue-jackets from the Pioneer, who are stationed here, appear to enjoy a regular holiday; every evening a game at cricket or rounders is entered into with true sailor-like enjoyment, and, if we may judge from the loud bursts of laughter and uproarious mirth which these pastimes give rise to, give unbounded pleasure both to the players and the spectators. (“Waipa”, New Zealander, 9 February 1864, 5.)

([Modern] Pakistan (Jandola, Khyber Pass): 1894) This afternoon a match at rounders (for two goats a side) between the detachment 1st Sikhs, headed by Mr. Barratt, and the 38th Dogras is to take place on the parade ground, and will no doubt command a numerous presence from all ranks. This little amusement tends no little to keep the general health and spirits of the force up to a high level. (“The Delimination of Waziristan”, Calcutta Review, 2 November 1894, 5.)

(Singapore: 1891) Beautiful boulevards, wide streets, great cafes, where pale-faced Frenchmen sip absinthe and petits verres. It is Paris. Bravo, La France! But it would be much better for these gay causeurs, to play lawn-tennis, and football, cricket, rackets and rounders, as do the English at Hong Kong, Singapore, and Colombo[…] (Mrs. Howard Vincent, Newfoundland to Cochin China (London: S. Low, Marston & Company, 1891), 313.)

(Singapore: 1901) A gallant officer commanding a company of Royal Engineers at Singapore has found a new remedy for the shortcomings of the British Army. Like many other epoch-making ideas, it is sublimely simple. It is, in fact, comprised in the game of rounders. (News item, Truth, 17 January 1901, 10.)

(Sri Lanka (Colombo): 1891) Beautiful boulevards, wide streets, great cafes, where pale-faced Frenchmen sip absinthe and petits verres. It is Paris. Bravo, La France! But it would be much better for these gay causeurs, to play lawn-tennis, and football, cricket, rackets and rounders, as do the English at Hong Kong, Singapore, and Colombo[…] (Mrs. Howard Vincent, Newfoundland to Cochin China (London: S. Low, Marston & Company, 1891), 313.)

Europe

(England (Bristol): 1819) "The Brandon Hill Meeting.[...]"the greater part with hobble-dee-hoy boys, who were amusing themselves by throwing tufts or grass at each other, to the greater danger of lookers-on; and females of the lowest description"; and "that even close to the scaffold there were fellows forming parties for rounders, girls making assignations &c." (“The Brandon Hill Meeting”, Felix Farley's Bristol Journal, 16 October 1819, 3 (Quoting the Bristol Observer).)

(France (Boulogne): 1854) My Dear Collins,—Bobbing up, corkwise, from a sea of “Hard Times”, I beg to report this tenement—AMAZING!!! Range of view and air, most free and delightful; hill-side garden, delicious; field, stupendous; speculations in haycocks already effected by the undersigned, with the view to the keeping up of a “home” at rounders. Charles Dickens to Wilkie Collins, in The Letters of Charles Dickens, vol. 1, 1833–1856 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1879), 419.)

(Germany (Bonn): 1892) Bonn, 9. Oct. Gestern ist hier der zweite„Lehrgang zur Ausbildung von Lehrern der Jugendspiele“ zu Ende gegangen, der die ganze Woche hindurch unter der Oberaufsicht des Vorsitzenden des hiesigen Turnvereins Dr. med. F. A. Schmidt und unter der Leitung des Oberturnlehrers Fritz Schröder stattgefunden hat. Auf dem Platze des hiesigen Eisclubs wurden von morgens 8 bis abends 6 Uhr, mit Unterbrechung von 2 Mittagsstunden, die Übungen eifrig betrieben[…]An zwei Tagen wurden zu Übungen Schüler aus den Volksschulen und der Oberrealschule hinzugezogen, und namentlich die Zöglinge der letztern führten Spiele wie „Fußball“,„Thorball“ (Cricket) und „Feldball“ (Rounders) in ganz vollendeter Weise aus. Vom Provincialschulcollegium in Coblenz waren Provincialschulrat Henning und Schulrat Breuer erschienen; ersterer sprach sich bei dem Besuch, den die 23 Teilnehmer an dem Lehrgange dem hiesigen Turnverein abstatteten, in anerkennendster Weise über das in den Gesamt- wie in den Einzelleistungen Gebotene aus. (“Dermischte Nachrichten”, Kölnische Zeitung, 11 October 1892, 5–6.)

([Northern] Ireland (Downpatrick): 1862 (children)) The manly sports of "ingenuous youth” we have not the slightest wish to see checked; and cricket, especially, we think game to be encouraged—in the cricket-field. But we decidedly object to cricket in the public streets as a nuisance, and a dangerous nuisance too. For some time past, cricket matches and games of "rounders” have become quite common in most of the streets of Downpatrick, to the great annoyance of the residents (some of whom have had their windows broken), as well as of passers-by, and to the great peril of persons on horseback or driving. (“Street Nuisance”, Downpatrick Observer, 13 September 1862, 2.)

([Republic of] Ireland (Carrigisland): 1875) On one occasion, after having played at a game of rounders, he came up to me and told me [to] put my hand on his heart; I did so, and found it beating very much; this was about three weeks before his death. (“Death Under Suspicious Circumstances”, Tralee Chronicle, 21 May 1875, 3.)

(Italy (Rome): 1886) Occasionally at Rome you see some ecclesiastical students, generally Irish, playing a game like rounders in the grounds of the Villa Borghese. (W. Butler, Pompeii (Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons, 1886), 56.)

(Portugal (Madeira): 1888) The word Camacha brings back to me many pleasant memories—memories of constant kindness received from those English residents—“their names it is not lawful to mention”—who helped us in sickness, and made rough places smooth is smaller ways, even to playing “rounders” with us on the Achada—the village common of Camacha[…] (“A Neglected Paradise”, Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, vol. CXLIII, March 1888, 411.)

(Scotland (Glasgow): 1830s (children)) Our games at that time were "hide and seek", "robbers and rangers", and "high spy". These were all games with running and hiding. "Prisoner's base" came in, introduced, I think, from England. Other games were "rounders" and "housie", which was rounders played without a bat. We threw the ball with the hand, and then ran around the "dulls" as we called the stones forming the stations. At the place where we struck the ball at rounders or threw it at housie there was a hole about a foot wide---this was the "mug". Three stones placed some fifty yards apart, forming a shape like a lozenge, were the "dulls". (William Simpson, Appendix: Glasgow Seventy Years Ago, The Autobiography of William Simpson (London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1903), 328.)

(Scotland (Glasgow) (Youths? Adults?): 1856) At the same time, there has been “ample scope and verge enough” left for all kinds of recreative amusements. Cricket, rounder, and football, the sports most popular here, are now practised as extensively as at any former period. On Saturday afternoon, when the mills and public works are stopped, King’s Park presents a most cheerful and animating spectacle, with its numerous groups of youthful operatives, after the toils of the week, all earnestly engaged in these healthy and exciting games. (Hugh Macdonald, Rambles Round Glasgow (Glasgow: John Cameron, 1856), 28)

(Spain: 1887) Para ello tiene que atender, tanto por lo menos como a la inteligencia de sus discípulos, a sus sentimientos, a su moralidad, hábitos, maneras y desarrollo físico, apartándose en esto último del espíritu de la educación alemana, para acercarse al de la inglesa, que tiende a formar al hombre vigoroso de cuerpo y alma, culto y varonil. De aquí las frecuentes y largas expediciones por el campo y las montañas, y los juegos de gran movimiento y esfuerzo al aire libre (desde el marro y la pelota al rounders y al paper chase), dirigidos por los mismos maestros, que siempre toman parte con ellos con los discípulos. (“Prospecto para el Curso de 1885–6”, Boletín de la Institución Libre de Enseñanza (Madrid), 30 September 1885, 279–280.)

(Spain: 1893) Y no son sólo éstas el medio que la Escuela Normal pone en práctica para la educación física de sus alumnos. Casi todos los domingos, algunos de aquéllos, acampana-dos por su infatigable profesor Sr. Sarda, concurren juegos al aire libre (foot-ball, rounders y otros) que un grupo de amigos de esta clase de saludables ejercicios tiene establecido, desde hace muchos anos, en la orilla izquierda del Manzanares, entre la Puerta de Hierro y el Puente de San Fernando. (“La Escuela Normal Central de Maestros”, El Ideal, 27 July 1894.)

(Switzerland (Hofwyl): 1842—adults and children) When looking on, during a general game, in which some of the masters join (rounders I think the English boys call it), I have observed that while there is perfect freedom, there is none of the licence which would characterise the sport of boys happy to escape unjust or injudicious restraint; (Letters from Hofwyl (London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1842), 90.)

(Ukraine (Crimea): 1855) FROM A SOLDIER IN THE 21ST TO HIS BROTHER IN GLASGOW. Camp before Sebastopol, 9th May, 1855[...]We have all kinds of games here, such as cricket, foot-ball, rounders, horse and foot racing, &c.; and amongst all our troubles we get an extra drink occasionally (“From a Soldier of the 21st to His Brother in Glasgow”, Glasgow Herald, 1 June 1855, 5.)

(Wales (Newport): 1847) Frederick Williams and Daniel Sullivan were summoned for playing at “rounders” in Friars’ Field.—They were reprimanded and discharged. (“Police Intelligence: Newport Town Hall.—Monday, April 5”, Monmouthshire Merlin, 17 May, 1847, 2.)