“As regards the baseball team, theory also played a large part in their success, for under the guiding hand of Arthur Irwin the men have learned to play scientifically and at the same time a hit and run game that must win in the end.” Philadelphia Times, December 16, 1894, p9
Previous earliest use (Dickson Baseball Dictionary, 3rd edition, 2009):
1ST USE. 1896. “The hit-and-run game is worked to perfection” (The Sporting News, Apr. 25; Peter Morris).
