Baseball History: 19th Century Baseball
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_ I think there are only three things America will be known for
2,000 years from now when they study this civilization: the
Constitution, jazz music and baseball. _ Gerald Early 1952-, American
Author
BASEBALL HISTORY
oday a multi-billion dollar industry, Baseball has come a long way
from its crude and humble beginnings in the fields of 19th century
America. More than a game, Baseball remains an inseparable part of the
American heritage and an intrinsic part of our national psyche. For
many of us, notions of team, fair play, and athletic excellence first
occurred on a red clay diamond cut from a grassy field. Referred to as
"America's Pastime" since 1856, Baseball today is played by men and
women of all ages and skill levels all around the world. Despite its
recurrent scandals and woes, Baseball remains synonymous with the best
that America has to offer.
19TH CENTURY BASEBALL: THE BEGINNING
Contrary to popular belief, Baseball was not invented by a single
individual, but evolved from various European "bat and ball" games.
Russia had a version of Baseball called Lapta, which dates back to the
fourteenth century. It consisted of two teams (five to ten members)
with a pitcher and batter. The ball would be thrown to the batter who
would attempt to hit it with a short stick and then run to the
opposite side and back before being hit by the ball.
CRICKET AND ROUNDERS
England has played Cricket and Rounders for several centuries. The
first recorded cricket match took place in Sussex, England in 1697.
Cricket is played in a large open circular field and has two sides of
eleven players that attempt to "put out" a "batsman" who tries to
prevent a ball thrown by a "bowler" from knocking over "bails" placed
on "wickets," or three upright sticks. If the batsman makes contact
with the ball, he runs to the opposite side of the "pitch" and
continues running back and forth until the ball is retrieved by the
opposing team.
Rounders, which shares more technical similarities to Baseball,
dates back to Tudor times in England. This game consisted of two
teams, six to fifteen players, including a pitcher, batter, "bowling
square," "hitting square" and four posts, similar to bases used in
Baseball. Each player had to bat in each "inning" and the game lasted
two innings. The pitcher tossed the ball to the batter who attempted
to hit it. If contact was made the batter ran to the first post.
Points were awarded depending on what post was reached by the batter
and the manner in which the post was reached.
TOWN BALL
Germany played a game called Schlagball, which was similar to
Rounders. The ball was tossed by the "bowler" to the "striker," who
struck it with a club and attempted to complete the circuit of bases
without being hit by the ball. Americans played a version of Rounders
called "Town Ball," which dates back to the early 1800's. In this
game, the first team to score one hundred "talleys" won the game. In
1858 the rules were formalized as the "Rules of the Massachusetts Game
of Town Ball."
"BASE BALL"
Occasionally, early 19th century American newspapers would mention
games listed as "Bass-Ball," "Base," "Base Ball," "Base-Ball," "Goal
Ball" and "Town Ball." The first known printed record of a game that
was slightly different from Rounders and resembled a game closer to
Baseball, is from an 1829 book called The Boy's Own Book, in which the
game is referred to as "Round Ball," "Base" and "Goal Ball." A crude
field diagram was included with specific locations for four stones or
stakes (bases), that were arranged in a diamond. The article described
how to "make an out" as well as how to get "home." The word "party"
was used to describe a team, and the team at bat was called the
"in-party." Each party pitched to themselves, bases were run in a
clockwise direction and players could be put out by swinging and
missing three pitched balls or by being hit with the ball while moving
between bases.
THE OLYMPIC BASE BALL CLUB OF PHILADELPHIA
Perhaps the first town ball club to adopt a constitution was the ,
founded in 1833. It was formed by combining two associations of Town
Ball players. One of the Town Ball associations may have begun play in
the spring of 1831, in Camden, NJ on Market Street. The original group
included only four players, playing "Cat Ball," but eventually the
number of players increased and the Saturday afternoon gathering
usually included between fifteen to twenty players. With the increased
interest the game changed to Town Ball and then to Base Ball. The
other association called itself the Olympic Ball Club, favored Town
Ball and played on Wednesdays. As they did not meet as regularly as
the group in Camden, some of the members of the Olympic Ball Club
began playing in Camden. Ultimately a match was proposed and played
between the two associations. No record of this match exists, but the
two groups did eventually combine into one and played on Wednesdays
and Saturdays. The constitution was first published in 1838 and
consisted of 15 Articles. Duties of the Board of Directors, Members,
and Captains were described. Practice days and a fine structure were
also outlined.
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(c)2007 19c Base Ball. Compiled by E. Miklich. .
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