Baseball History

History Of Baseball

Baseball is America’s favorite pastime and the only way to know why that is the case is to know the history of baseball. Baseball has a rich history with many curve balls that it had to overcome throughout the years. Although nobody is completely sure where baseball came from, it is said to be derived from an English game called rounders. The game rounders had two teams who took turns at bat. The team that was in the field was allowed nine-player maximum. A team scored points every time they rounded the entire circuit of four bases or posts without being put out. A player got put out if their ball was caught or if they touched a tagged base or post. This sport sounds much like the baseball that we know today, but was first documented in England as early as the seventeenth century.

Many aspects of the history of baseball remain in question, and the inventor is no exception. Abner Doubleday is said to be the inventor of baseball, but no one really knows for sure. The only evidence that Doubleday is the inventor is the account of one man that came out years and years later when there was no written evidence. And, even though Doubleday was said to be the inventor of baseball and it was widely promoted and believed, Alexander Cartwright is said to be the “father of baseball” since he finalized the rules of the game.

The History Of Baseball

The first baseball game that was recorded was played in 1846 at Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey. The teams were Alexander Cartwright and the Kinckerbocker Base Ball Club of New York City and New York Baseball Club, which was the team that won. The sport was gaining popularity and starting to collect more and more admission in order to keep their sport going. However, during the unrest of the Civil War in the 1860s, the baseball clubs started to decline. The good news was that the hobby was carried to other parts of the country with the soldiers and the interest was on the rise yet again. 25 years later, professional baseball was beginning to be formed. In 1871, the National Association held nine teams and by1875, they grew to 13. However, due to gamblers and liquor, the league began to fold. Over the next nine years, other leagues were formed but barely held up due to financial issues. Finally, in 1901, the American League became the biggest challenger.

gin History Of Baseball

Throughout the years, baseball players tried to organize several of their own leagues, but they were never able to make advances in the union and were unable to obtain the kind of money they were looking for. Up until over 10 years ago, baseball players still struggle with the income they make. The more strikes the leagues have, the more fans they lose. And, since there have been several strikes; it is hard to build up the fan base they once had. It is certainly on the upswing, but there is still some road to pave.