History of Baseball
Baseball participation is at nearly 16.7 million in the United States, notes the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) Topline Participation Report for 2023. While this reflects the highest officially recorded level since SFIA’s survey of more than 120 sports began in 2008, many may be unaware of the long and storied history behind the game that has often been described as the all-American sport. With humble beginnings in the 1800s, baseball has evolved from an informal pastime to one of the most popular sports in the country — though it didn’t happen without a lot of hard work, grit, and determination.
Baseball’s unique start
Baseball is widely believed to have been invented by Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, New York, in the year 1839. A PBS timeline of the sport’s history goes on to outline major events that have occurred throughout time, such as the development of baseball’s rules in 1845 by Alexander Joy Cartwright, and the first official game that occurred between a group of cricket players and the Knickerbockers, which took place a year later in 1846. The PBS timeline highlights additional noteworthy milestones, such as when the first womens’ baseball team was started in 1866 by a group from Vassar College, as well as Candy Cummings, who threw the first ever curveball back in 1867.
It’s crucial to note that baseball’s history isn’t without its complexities — in fact, Abner Doubleday’s status as the inventor of the sport has long since been disproven. One History article points out that a commission that was appointed to determine the origin of baseball used the claims of one man who was said to be a classmate of Doubleday in order to credit Doubleday with the invention of the sport. The History article goes on to divulge the real origin of baseball’s beginnings, in which references to games that resembled the modern day sport in the U.S. date back to the 18th century. “Its most direct ancestors appear to be two English games: rounders (a children’s game brought to New England by the earliest colonists) and cricket.” While variations of the sport were played across the country by the American Revolution, History notes that the game really took shape when Alexander Joy Cartwright developed the set of rules for the sport in 1845, the same year that a group of men in New York City founded the New York Knickerbocker Baseball Club. Among Cartwright’s rules included the hallmark diamond-shaped infield, the three-strike rule, and foul lines.
Going pro
Baseball became a professional sport in Ohio in the late 1800s, thanks to one noteworthy Cincinnati team. The National Baseball Hall of Fame explains that the Cincinnati Base Ball Club (also known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings), “fielded the first known openly professional team in 1869 and played its first game against an opposing club on May 4.” At the time, baseball was largely considered to be a primarily amateur sport across the nation — while some players were receiving compensation for playing, a team composed of professionals didn’t yet exist. That said, the Cincinnati team that started it all has a storied history of its own.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame recounts the beginnings of the Cincinnati Base Ball Club (aka the Red Stockings), which was founded in 1866. The team officially joined the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP) a year later in 1867. Cricket players were recruited to play, though it’s important to note that players were brought in from other states as well, such as catcher Dough Allison from Philadelphia, and pitcher Asa Brainard from Brooklyn, New York, which ultimately resulted in a well-rounded team. It’s further noted that the Cincinnati club would go on tour in 1868, which marked another noteworthy time in baseball’s history — when admission was charged due to the enclosure of the grounds. From there, the Red Stockings grew in popularity, and so did the game itself.
One Fox News article details the history of Major League Baseball (MLB). While there are 30 MLB stadiums in the country (and one in Canada) as of 2023, it’s noted that the very first was opened back in 1912. While the first professional game of baseball was held in 1869, the National League was established in 1876. Some years later, in 1901, the American League was formed. The MLB itself was formed in 1903, when the National League and the American League merged. 1903 also happened to be the first year that the World Series was played. On October 1st of that year, the series was played by the champions of the American League, the Boston Americans (who later became the Red Sox), as well as the Pittsburgh Pirates, the National League champions.
The popularity of baseball today
Baseball remains a largely popular sport today, though one CNN Sports article explains why it may not be as popular as it used to be. For context, it’s noted that a 2021 Washington Post poll revealed the sport as the favorite of just 11% of adults. A further examination of the poll’s results unveils the fact that just 7% of those under the age of 30 report baseball as their favorite sport. The CNN article goes on to identify several factors that may be at play in regard to the decline in popularity of the sport, from the rise of television to the nature of the game itself. For example, the average nine-inning game has evolved from two hours and 33 minutes in 1960 to three hours and 10 minutes in 2021. “Perhaps, people might be more willing to sit through long games if they cared about the players,” the article states. When compared with star players of football, for example, the followings of top MLB players pales in comparison.
One way that people can reconnect with baseball and its players is by simply learning more about the game and its players. Parents and their children, for example, can bond over the sport not just through active participation and attendance at games, but through research about today’s top players (in addition to those that have reigned supreme throughout history). Reputable online resources are a great place to learn more about prominent baseball players. For example, resources that focus on biographies of baseball’s greatest players can help enthusiasts connect with players via their stories beyond their on-field accomplishments. Through biographies about players’ personal lives, journeys, challenges and achievements, one can gain a new understanding and appreciation for the game — and those who play it.
Baseball’s origins reveal a long and storied history that many may not realize. With a humble start in the 19th century, the sport has evolved greatly into the one that is loved and recognized throughout the country. While it remains one of the most popular sports in the country, its popularity has declined, a fact that underlines the importance of engagement and appreciation of baseball and its rich history.
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