Sports for Dummies: The History of Baseball

With baseball starting back up, many will be relieved to see the game back in play. Opening Day is right around the corner, presenting a new start after a long wait. Since it has been quite some time since we have had the MLB in play, many have forgotten about America’s favorite pastime. With the start of this season coming up, here is a brief history so you can get the whole gist.

The origins of baseball are unknown. Baseball most likely was created in England, branching off of the sport known as rounders. The first-ever mention of baseball is recorded in a 1744 book called Pretty Little Pocketbook.

Baseball has been played in America for as long as America has been around. Soldiers of the Revolutionary War enjoyed playing the game. In 1845, Alexander Cartwright made a set of rules for the sport. After, in 1846, the first recorded game took place in New Jersey. During the Civil War, Union soldiers spread it all across the country.

Small teams represented small towns while big teams represented big cities. The Major League was established in 1869. The Cincinnati Red Stockings were the first team created. In 1876, the National League was founded. Then, in 1901, the American League was founded. The two played against each other in 1903 during the first World Series, with Boston winning.

Baseball has continued to be a staple in people’s lives. Part of the reason for its longevity is that the game has not changed much over the years. Baseball is the same old game, aside from many team relocations and too many broken records to count. With this new season coming up, after a long wait, many hope to see more broken records.

 

Sources:

http://www.seanlahman.com/baseball-archive/brief-history-of-baseball/

https://youtu.be/PRVHwMHk40o

https://youtu.be/ayNanY2eaD4

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1157233-200-events-that-defined-shaped-and-changed-major-league-baseball/