Baseball has often been referred to as the Great American Pastime and it is fascinating to think that the precise history of baseball is mostly unknown. Most historians are of the opinion that it is roughly based on an English game called rounders. The game grew in popularity in the north east around the late 1700s and early 1800s. The name of the sport was changed a few times from base, to roundball to cricket throughout the beginnings of baseball history.
At that same period of the early nineteenth century quite a few cities began to form teams and leagues. The sport grew in popularity enough that the players and patrons of the game were of the opinion that they really needed to formalize the specifics of the game. Therefore in 1845 Alexander Cartwright started to formulate a list of rules that all teams were to adhere to and it is interesting to note that a number of those rules are still followed today.
Cartwright is believed to have been the original founder of the game and not Abner Doubleday according to sport historians. Cartwright was a fireman who formulated the basic premise of the sport and has been credited with organizing the first teams that used to play in New York with other firemen. He was credited with founding the Knickerbockers Baseball Club which sculpted baseball history. He then decided to follow the riches of the California Gold Rush and began spreading the game westward. His travels enabled him to continue the expansion of this new sport throughout the country.
The very first game of record actually took place a year after Cartwright created his team in 1846. In an unfortunate twist of fate his team the Knickerbockers lost to the Baseball Club in a game at the Elysian Fields in Hoboken, NJ. As word spread of this highly entertaining game it gained more popularity and began to have many more participants. As a result, in the 1850s a group of teams in the northeast organized a gathering to discuss rules and the expansion of the game and in 1858 they created the National Assoc. of Baseball Players, which is deemed to be the first baseball league ever created in the history of baseball.
The sport blossomed in the late 1850s as membership skyrocketed from 100 to over 400 teams and then the Civil War broke out in the 1860's. This decimated any interest in baseball as there was obviously no time for baseball. However, interestingly enough baseball began to travel to other areas throughout the country. Once the war ended the sport began to blossom again. Teams grew and cities around the country started to take an interest and began to play one another.
The NABP was initially supposed to only be comprised of amateur athletes but just as with any sport it became very competitive and the the most talented players were compensated for their abilities on the field.
The sport began to see changes in 1869 when the Cincinnati Red Stockings (soon to be the Cincinnati Reds) made the decision to become the first professional team and pay their players. The Wright brothers who owned the team decided to recruit the best talent from around the country and they challenged all comers. They were so successful that they went 65 and 0. With such a small amount of competition the idea of creating a completely professional league was initiated and in 1871 the National Association was formed.
In 1876 the National League was founded as the National Association was dissolved. The National League which is still in existence today had a stronghold on all the major cities of the time and maintained the best players. In the early 1900s the American and National Leagues were created which as we all know still remains. These changes in the 1900s established the two leagues, the world series and established player contracts. The history of baseball had firmly been formed and was well on its way to proving itself as the Great American Pastime. - 20767
At that same period of the early nineteenth century quite a few cities began to form teams and leagues. The sport grew in popularity enough that the players and patrons of the game were of the opinion that they really needed to formalize the specifics of the game. Therefore in 1845 Alexander Cartwright started to formulate a list of rules that all teams were to adhere to and it is interesting to note that a number of those rules are still followed today.
Cartwright is believed to have been the original founder of the game and not Abner Doubleday according to sport historians. Cartwright was a fireman who formulated the basic premise of the sport and has been credited with organizing the first teams that used to play in New York with other firemen. He was credited with founding the Knickerbockers Baseball Club which sculpted baseball history. He then decided to follow the riches of the California Gold Rush and began spreading the game westward. His travels enabled him to continue the expansion of this new sport throughout the country.
The very first game of record actually took place a year after Cartwright created his team in 1846. In an unfortunate twist of fate his team the Knickerbockers lost to the Baseball Club in a game at the Elysian Fields in Hoboken, NJ. As word spread of this highly entertaining game it gained more popularity and began to have many more participants. As a result, in the 1850s a group of teams in the northeast organized a gathering to discuss rules and the expansion of the game and in 1858 they created the National Assoc. of Baseball Players, which is deemed to be the first baseball league ever created in the history of baseball.
The sport blossomed in the late 1850s as membership skyrocketed from 100 to over 400 teams and then the Civil War broke out in the 1860's. This decimated any interest in baseball as there was obviously no time for baseball. However, interestingly enough baseball began to travel to other areas throughout the country. Once the war ended the sport began to blossom again. Teams grew and cities around the country started to take an interest and began to play one another.
The NABP was initially supposed to only be comprised of amateur athletes but just as with any sport it became very competitive and the the most talented players were compensated for their abilities on the field.
The sport began to see changes in 1869 when the Cincinnati Red Stockings (soon to be the Cincinnati Reds) made the decision to become the first professional team and pay their players. The Wright brothers who owned the team decided to recruit the best talent from around the country and they challenged all comers. They were so successful that they went 65 and 0. With such a small amount of competition the idea of creating a completely professional league was initiated and in 1871 the National Association was formed.
In 1876 the National League was founded as the National Association was dissolved. The National League which is still in existence today had a stronghold on all the major cities of the time and maintained the best players. In the early 1900s the American and National Leagues were created which as we all know still remains. These changes in the 1900s established the two leagues, the world series and established player contracts. The history of baseball had firmly been formed and was well on its way to proving itself as the Great American Pastime. - 20767
About the Author:
Archie Rees has spent many years researching the history of American Baseball teams. Check out Anaheim Angels Merchandise for information on your team!
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