History of Baseball

Research Paper: History of Baseball

Baseball is one of the oldest games in America; i9t can be traced back from the Civil war Era to present time. What really went on in the early years of baseball? Who was the true founder of baseball, do we even know? Today baseball is a multi-million dollar industry that has a team for almost every state. Before baseball there were like games played with their own rules and different equipment. Through that the sport baseball was inspired.

An early look at baseball in the 1800's. Americans started playing baseball with informal teams, no "true" rules. Alexander Cartwright invented the baseball field in 1845(). Him and his members of the New York Knickerbockers' invented the first rules and regulations for the modern game of baseball. The game was actually based on the English game of rounders. Rounders, after it became popular in the early 19th century, was called "townball" or "baseball"(). "The first recorded baseball game was in 1846 when Alexander Cartwright's Knickerbockers lost to the New York Baseball Club. The Game was held at the Elysian Fields, in Hoboken, New Jersey()." Later in the 1800's the first organized baseball teram was formed.

The "invention" of baseball is a big controversy even to this day. Who actually invented the great American game; Abner Doubleday or Alexander Cartwright? The actual inventor is still not known or may never be known. Abner was a gentleman that didn't get as much credit as he deserved for his inputs in the game of baseball. He was better known for his mamny important combat battles.