HISTORY142 - Baseball: America's National Pastime

I watch a lot of sports on TV, and Pat suggested that the history of one/some of those sports might make a good blog topic.  I played a lot of youth baseball growing up (Little League and Pony League), and since then have been steady a fan of the game.  I have written two previous blogs related to baseball:

1.       The Science of Baseball’s Home Run, July 1, 2025 at https://bobringreflections.blogspot.com/2025/07/science24-science-of-baseballs-home-run.html

2.       The History of MLB Bats, July 6, 2025 at https://bobringreflections.blogspot.com/search?q=History+of+MLB+Bats

I did some quick research on the history of the game of baseball, and decided that it would be a good blog topic for me - lots of interesting stuff that I didn’t know much about.

So, after a short introduction to the game, I will discuss the history of baseball from its origin and early development to the present, concentrating on professional major league baseball (MLB), including such highlight subjects as the changing rules of baseball;  the history of the baseball itself; the history of MLB bats; African Americans, foreign players, and women in baseball; international competition; the World Series; the All-Star game; the Hall of Fame; minor leagues; and spring training.  I will end with look at the possible future of baseball, and a snapshot of an annual opportunity to view vintage baseball, using the “old” rules. 

As usual, I will list my principal sources at the end.

 

Introduction

The game of baseball evolved from 18^th- century English bat-and-ball games like rounders, brought to North America by immigrants.  It developed into a formalized "New York game" in the 1840s - codified by Alexander Cartwright in 1845 - before becoming a popular Civil War-era pastime that spread nationwide, cementing it as the U.S. "national pastime" by the late 19^th century.

Note: Abner Doubleday is widely, though incorrectly, credited with inventing the game of baseball in Cooperstown, New York in 1839.  The U.S. Congress officially recognized Alexander Cartwright in 1953 for codifying the rules that form the basis of the modern game.

Baseball remains, to many, inextricably tied to America, as a number of star players - such as Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Hank Aaron - have transcended the sport to become national icons and the country is home to Major League Baseball, the top baseball league in the world.

While America popularized baseball, and retains a strong cultural connection to it, the sport has also been embraced across the globe, notably in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Japan.

 

Origins and Early Development (18^th and 19^th Centuries)

Early American Baseball: Today, it is generally agreed that the American game of baseball evolved from 18^th century English bat and ball games, principally the game of Rounders.  More specific on rounders?

Rounders is an ancient British bat-and-ball game, with roots dating back to Tudor times (1500s) and first documented as "Base-Ball" in 1744.  It is a direct ancestor of modern baseball.  Formalized in Ireland and England during the 19^th century, it remains popular in the UK, particularly in schools.

The game of Rounders was brought to the United States by Canadian immigrants of both British and Irish ancestry.  By the early 1830s, there were a variety of uncodified bat-and-ball games recognizable as early forms of baseball being played around North America. These games were often referred to locally as "town ball," though other names such as "round-ball" and "base-ball" were also used. 

In 1845, Alexander Cartwright, a member of New York City's Knickerbocker Club, a private gentlemen’s club, produced a code of baseball rules now called the Knickerbocker Rules.  The practice, common to bat-and-ball games of the day, of "soaking" or "plugging" - effecting a putout by hitting a runner with a thrown ball - was barred. This change facilitated the use of a smaller, harder ball than had been common.  Additional rules established key aspects of the modern game: diamond-shaped infield, three strikes, and foul territory.  Other common rules of the day remained unchanged: a ball caught on the first bounce was, again, an out, and only underhand pitching was allowed.  Under the original Knickerbocker Rules, baseball games ended when one team scored 21 runs.

In 1845, Alexander Cartwright produced a code of baseball rules now called the Knickerbocker Rules.

The contest long recognized as the first officially recorded baseball game in U.S. history took place on June 19, 1846, in Hoboken, New Jersey: the "New York Nine" defeated the Knickerbockers, 23-1, in four innings.  With the Knickerbocker code as the basis, the rules of modern baseball continued to evolve over the next half-century.

In the mid-1850s, New York metropolitan journals were referring to baseball as the "national pastime" or "national game.” 

Depiction of a baseball game in the 1850s.

In 1857, 16 area clubs formed the sport's first governing body, the National Association of Base Ball Players. In 1863, the organization disallowed putouts made by catching a fair ball on the first bounce, you had to catch the ball in the air.   

By 1860, the number of teams playing matches vastly increased as new clubs formed in surrounding states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, as well as Massachusetts and upstate New York.  The New York rules were preferred.

By the 1860s, uniforms and structured play were standard, setting the stage for the professional era.

Baseball continued to be played during the Civil War.  Interest and popularity of the game grew immensely during the post-war years.

As the popularity of baseball grew, clubs began to regularly charge spectators, increasing the need for the more popular clubs to attract talented players.

The game's commercial potential was developing: in 1869 the first fully professional baseball club, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, was formed, and went undefeated against a schedule of semipro and amateur teams.

The National League was established in 1876, followed by the American League in 1901. 

Early Baseball Rules: As we have seen, early baseball looked vastly different from the modern game.  Rules were constantly changing and adjusted to balance the advantage between pitchers and hitters.  Here is a summary of early baseball rules and how they evolved:

·         No. of Players/No. of Innings: In 1857, the rule establishing nine players per side on the field, along with nine-inning games, was formally adopted.

·         The Infield: Dimensions were standardized early; the 90-foot distance between bases was established in 1857.  The pitching distance was moved to the modern 60 feet, 6 inches in 1893 to give hitters more time to react.

·         Fielding: Until 1864, a fair ball caught on one bounce was considered an out.  This was largely because players did not wear gloves; catchers only began adopting them in the mid-1870s.

·         Pitching Style: Until 1883, pitchers were required to throw underhand.  Overhand pitching was not fully legalized until 1884 - 1885.  Starting in 1887, pitchers were required to start from a fixed position and pause between pitches.

·         The Strike Zone: There was no defined strike zone until 1887.  Before that, batters could actually request a "high" or "low" pitch.

·         Flat Sided Bats: Trying to increase scoring, from 1885 to 1893, one side of the bat was allowed to be flat, much like in cricket.  Runs began to increase - until everyone soon realized that flat bats had a tendency to splinter, and the rule was rescinded.

·         Balls and Walks: The number of "balls" required for a walk fluctuated wildly - from as many as nine down to the current four balls in 1889.

·         Walks Scored as Hits: For one year, in 1887, walks were scored as hits.  That caused all kind of record-keeping difficulties!

·         Fair or Foul: Until the start of the 1877 season, batted balls were considered fair or foul based on where the ball first struck the playing field or the player.

·         Foul Strikes: In 1901 (National League) and 1903 (American League), foul balls began counting as strikes for the first two strikes of an at-bat.

Other Tidbits for Early Baseball:

·         Baseball Gloves: Most players were bare handed in early baseball.  While initially considered a sign of weakness, gloves became common by the 1880s and were standard for most players by the mid-1890s. 

·         Catcher Position: Catchers were originally conceived as glorified backstops, standing a few feet behind home plate and making sure balls didn't roll past them, before gloves or masks.  With the introduction of the catcher's mask (1877) and the curveball, catchers moved closer to the plate to catch pitches before they broke too far, enabling them to "field" the pitch and reduce passed balls.  Shin guards were introduced in 1907.

·         Umpires/Positioning:  In the 1840s - 1860s, a single local volunteer umpire stood in foul territory, usually near first base or behind the catcher to oversee the game, acting as a "gentleman arbiter.”  Professional umpiring began in 1879.   Umpires began moving behind the catcher in the 1880s to call balls and strikes.  The National League pioneered using two umpires in 1890, standardizing a home plate umpire and one base umpire by 1912.

 

Modern Era (Early 1900s - Present)

The history of baseball in the modern era spans the "Dead-ball” era to the modern home run era, marked by key evolutions like Babe Ruth’s rise (1920s), Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier (1947), expansion, and the rise of data analytics.  MLB formally established its two-league structure, surviving scandals and adapting to become a global game.

1900 - 1919: The Dead-Ball Era: The MLB Dead-Ball Era was defined by low scoring, dominant pitching, and strategic "small ball" (bunts, stolen bases).  Due to the soft, discolored balls remaining in play throughout a game, and the legality of the spitball, offenses struggled, leading to few home runs and reliance on strategy.

·         Establishment: The American League declared itself a major league in 1901, leading to the first modern World Series in 1903.

·         Scandal: The 1919 "Black Sox" scandal, where eight Chicago White Sox players allegedly threw the World Series, led to the appointment of the first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis.

·  1920-1946: The Live-Ball Era and Integration Struggles: The Live Ball Era in MLB was characterized by a massive surge in offense, home runs, and scoring.  Sparked by rule changes - including the banning of doctored pitches like the spitball and the frequent replacement of balls during a game, the era was defined by harder, cleaner baseballs and the power-hitting dominance of superstars like Babe Ruth.

·         Rise of the Homer: Rules against spitballs and new ball manufacturing led to more offense, led by Babe Ruth, who revolutionized the game with power hitting.                                                                       

Babe Ruth hitting one of his 714 home runs.

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·         Negro Leagues: While MLB maintained a color barrier, the Negro National League was founded in 1920 by Rube Foster, showcasing elite talent.

·      War Years: Many players served in WWII, and the league continued, with President Franklin D. Roosevelt encouraging play in the "Green Light Letter.”

The "Green Light Letter" was a January 15, 1942, correspondence from President FDR to MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, advising that baseball should continue during World War II to serve as crucial wartime morale-boosting recreation.  FDR wrote that it was "best for the country" to keep baseball going.

1947 - 1970s: Integration, Expansion, and Media Growth

·         Breaking the Barrier: Jackie Robinson debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, ending the racial segregation of professional baseball.

·         Expansion: Teams began moving west, starting with the Dodgers and Giants in 1958, and the league expanded, adding more teams, throughout the 1960s.

·         Media Impact: Television transformed the game, making stars national icons and increasing revenue.

1980s - Present: Money, Drugs, Analytics, Game Changes, and Internationalization

·         Free Agency & Money: Salaries exploded, and the game saw increased labor tension, leading to the 1994 - 95 strike and cancellation of the World Series.

·         Steroid Era: The late 1990s to late 2000s saw massive offensive numbers, later tainted by performance-enhancing drug scandals.

·         Analytics Era: The 2010s - present period saw a complete shift toward data analytics, focusing on home runs, walks, and strikeouts over traditional statistics.

Baseball analytics involves the empirical analysis of baseball data to evaluate player performance, predict outcomes, and guide in-game strategy.

·         Faster Pace:  The game emphasized speed and action, introducing a pitch timer in 2023 to shorten game times and promote a faster pace of play.

·         Evolution of Play: There has been a drastic decrease in single-pitcher complete games and an increase in bullpen usage over 100+ years.

·         International Reach: The World Baseball Classic (founded 2006) highlights the global popularity of the sport.

·         Number of Teams/Division Structure: There are currently 30 total MLB teams, 15 in the National League and 15 in the American League.  Each league is split into three divisions (East, Central, and West).  Each team is allowed 26 players on the active roster for most of the season; this increases to 28 in September.  

Rules Changes Since 1900:  The rules of MLB continued to change; here are some examples: 

·         Catcher’s Box: The National League required catchers to stand within 10 feet of home plate in 1901, followed by the American League in 1902.  The current rectangular, 43-inch-wide box was defined in 1955.

·         Walk-off Homer: Until 1920, hitters were only given credit for the number of bases the winning run advanced - so, for example, a walk-off home run that scored a runner from second would only be considered a double, because that runner only advanced two bases. The only way a home run could stand as a walk-off was if the batter himself was the winning run.

·         The "Dead Ball" Era Ends: In 1920, the spitball was banned (though existing practitioners were "grandfathered" in), and "clean" balls were introduced more frequently, leading to a surge in home runs.

·         Ground Rule Doubles: Until 1930, balls that bounced over the fence were credited as home runs rather than doubles.

·         No. of Umpires:  In 1952, mandatory four-man crews were introduced for all regular-season games, with positions at home, first, second, and third base.  Six-man crews are used in the postseason.

·         Designated Hitter: One of the most significant splits in baseball history occurred in 1973, when the American League adopted the Designated Hitter rule to boost offense.  In 2022, the National League finally adopted the Designated Hitter, ending nearly 50 years of pitcher-batting in the NL.

·         Tiebreaker Rules: Starting in 2020, extra innings began with a runner on second base - the "Ghost Runner" - to conclude games faster.

·         The "Ohtani Rule:" Introduced in 2022, this allows a starting pitcher who also bats to remain in the game as a Designated Hitter even after he is removed from the mound.

·         Pitch Clock & Shift Restrictions: In 2023, MLB introduced a pitch clock to shorten game times and banned extreme defensive shifts to encourage more base hits.

The official rules of Major League Baseball are codified in the Official Baseball Rules book, which is published annually and governs all professional play, with detailed, searchable rules available directly on the MLB.com Rules Glossary page.

Highlight Subjects

The Ball: Early baseballs were inconsistent, handmade using melted rubber from shoes, yarn, and leather. These were often "lemon peel" style - a single piece of leather with four lines of stitching.

The Knickerbocker Club and subsequent conventions set early rules for size (8-11 inches circumference) and weight (5.5-6 oz) to curb inconsistency.  The "figure-eight" stitch pattern (invented ~1850s) replaced the lemon peel.

A.G. Spalding began mass-producing balls for the National League.  These balls were generally softer and favored pitchers, leading to a low-scoring, "dead ball" era.  Early baseballs were so expensive ($3 in 1901) that one ball was often used for an entire game, becoming dark and misshapen.

Following 1920, manufacturers introduced higher-quality Australian wool yarn and machine winding.  By 1934, the standard became a cushioned cork center.

In 1974, Rawlings changed the covering from horsehide to cowhide due to supply shortages.   Rawlings officially took over as the exclusive manufacturer for MLB in 1977.  It takes approximately 13 minutes to hand-stitch the 108 red, waxed stitches on a modern MLB baseball.

Evolution of the baseball.

Today, according to official MLB rules, a regulation baseball is a sphere with a circumference of 9 to 9.25 inches and a diameter of 2.86 to 2.94 inches. They must weigh between 5 and 5.25 ounces.

The Bat: MLB bats evolved from heavy, custom-made 19^th-century timber to highly engineered, standardized wood, moving from ash to maple as the dominant material by the 2000s.  While early bats were often heavy and flat-sided, regulations in 1859 - 1895 standardized them to round, max 42-inch long, and 2.61-inch diameter sticks.   Key innovations include "cupped" bats for balance and the shift toward harder woods, with about 70% of players now using maple.  The most recent innovation, introduced in 2025, is the “torpedo bat,” featuring a thicker barrel nearer to handle, where players said they more often hit the ball, and a thinner barrel end.  This design shifts the bat’s "sweet spot" closer to the hitter's hands, potentially increasing contact and power. 

African Americans: While often overlooked, Black players played in the 1870s and 1880s.  By 1889, white professional teams enforced segregation, pushing Black players out of the majors and into all-Black teams.

The National League’s Brooklyn Dodgers GM Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson in 1945; he debuted in on April 15, 1947, ending the modern-era color barrier.  Larry Doby became the first Black player in the American League with the Cleveland Indians shortly after in 1947. 

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in MLB in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

As of the 2026 Opening Day, the percentage of Black players on MLB rosters was 6.8%, down from 16% - 19% between the early 1970s and 1996.

Foreign Players: Foreign-born players have shaped baseball since its inception, with early representation from Canada, Europe, and Cuba in the 1870s - 80s.  Latin American influence grew significantly by the 1940s, and by 2025, over 26% of MLB players were internationally born, with major talent pipelines from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Japan.

Women: No woman has ever played in an official MLB regular-season game.  However, women have played in affiliated minor leagues, barnstormed against MLB players, and played in professional women's leagues.

World Series: The World Series is the annual MLB championship, contested since 1903 between the American League and National League winners. 

While mostly a best-of-seven, the series was best-of-nine in 1903, 1919, 1920, and 1921.  A seven-game format has been standard since 1922.  In 1955, a players' strike forced the cancellation of the World Series for the only time in the modern era.  In 1992, the Toronto Blue Jays became the first team from outside the United States to win.  The Chicago Cubs ended the longest drought in history, winning in 2016 after a 108-year wait.  The New York Yankees hold the record with 27 titles.

The Dodgers after winning the World Series in 2025.

All-Star Game: The MLB All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic," began as a one-time exhibition in 1933 and has since evolved into an annual tradition.  Through 2025, the American League holds a slight lead in the all-time series with 48 wins, 45 losses, and 2 ties.

While mostly annual, the game's format and purpose have shifted over decades.  From 1959 - 1962, two games were held each season to increase revenue for the players' pension fund.

Fans originally selected the starting lineups.  From 1935 to 1946, team managers made the picks.  Fan voting for starters was permanently restored in 1970.

The game was canceled only twice: in 1945 due to World War II travel restrictions, and in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The history of the All-Star game is marked by long periods of dominance by one league:  From 1950 - 1989, the National League went 33–8–1, including an 11-game winning streak from 1972 to 1982.  From 1988 to the present, the American League has dominated, winning 28 of the last 37 games, including a 13-game unbeaten streak from 1997 to 2009.

International Competition: MLB's international competition evolved from early 20^th-century barnstorming to the 2006 creation of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), where, 20 international teams, with top MLB players representing their countries, are divided into pools, moving to a single-elimination knockout stage.  The WBC generally occurs every four years.  While the pandemic caused a break between the 2017 and 2023 tournaments, the event returned to its regular with the game in 2026.

Japan has dominated the tournament, winning three titles, while the United States has been a top contender, winning one title and finishing second twice.

Major regular-season games now occur globally in countries like Mexico, Japan, Korea, and the UK, following an internationalization push that began in 1996.

Hall of Fame:  The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, was established in 1936 to honor the game's greats and preserve its history.  The first class, inducted in 1939, included Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson.  Founded to boost local tourism, it operates as an independent non-profit.

The museum holds roughly 40,000 artifacts and 3 million documents, including uniforms, balls, and bats, though only a small percentage is on display at once.  It operates as a library, archive, and museum.

MLB’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

The Baseball Writers' Association of America selects new inductees annually, requiring 75% of votes, with additional veterans committees for older candidates.

Minor Leagues: Minor League Baseball originated in the late 19^th century as independent professional leagues.  Minor League Baseball evolved into a structured player development system for Major League Baseball in the 1920s and 30s through Branch Rickey’s "farm system" concept, moving away from independent operation.  Today, all 30 MLB teams have affiliated farm systems in the minor leagues, generally consisting of four main levels: Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, and Low-A.  These teams develop prospects, provide rehabilitation for major league players, and act as a crucial pipeline for talent acquisition.

Spring Training: MLB spring training originated in the late 19^th century as a way for players to get into shape and "detox" after the off-season.  It evolved from early Arkansas, Louisiana, and California camps into a formal, two-league system in Florida (Grapefruit League) and Arizona (Cactus League) by the 1940s, now serving as a major commercial and preparation ritual.

Future

The future of MLB baseball is currently defined by a major international surge, looming expansion to 32 teams, and a pivotal labor negotiation set for 2026.  While the sport has faced criticism for being "slow," recent rule changes and a wave of global talent - headlined by Shohei Ohtani - have pushed attendance to its highest levels in seven years.

Expansion and Realignment: Commissioner Rob Manfred, who plans to retire in early 2029, has made adding two expansion teams a key part of his legacy.

·        Target Cities: Nashville, Salt Lake City, and Portland are frequently cited as top contenders for new franchises.

·        32-Team Structure: Reaching 32 teams would likely trigger a massive geographic realignment, potentially moving to eight divisions of four teams each to reduce travel and foster regional rivalries.

·        New Ballparks: Major stadium projects are underway or planned, including the Athletics' upcoming move to Las Vegas in 2028, and a new stadium for the Rays in St. Petersburg.

Labor and Economics: The current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on December 1, 2026. This negotiation will likely be a defining moment for the sport's next decade.

·        Spending Disparity: A major point of contention is the widening "haves and have-nots" gap, exemplified by the Los Angeles Dodgers' $300M+ payroll compared to the Athletics' minimal spending.

·        Salary Cap vs. Luxury Tax: Owners may push for a stricter salary cap or luxury tax to ensure parity, which could lead to a lockout if players resist.

Technological and Global Shifts:

·        Olympic Return: Baseball is scheduled to return to the Olympics for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, which may feature active MLB players for the first time.

·        Innovation on the Field: Expect more technology-driven shifts, such as expanded use of wearable pitch-calling systems and Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality solutions to enhance the fan experience both in-stadium and online.

·        Player Pipeline: A new Spring Breakout Tournament, launched in 2027, will showcase top prospects in a single-elimination format during Spring Training to better market future stars.

 

Vintage Baseball Opportunity

For the regular readers of this blog who live in Arizona, I wanted you to be aware of an opportunity to see a baseball tournament in Bisbee, that is played with 1860s rules, i.e., vintage baseball.  Called the Copper City Classic Vintage Baseball Tournament, the annual event typically is held on in April.  (Vintage baseball is active across America, with high concentrations in the Midwest and historic sites nationwide.)

Teams from Bisbee, Tucson, Phoenix, and around the country take to the field at Bisbee’s 116-year-old Warren Ballpark, one of the oldest active ballparks in the U.S.  These vintage baseball clubs, dressed in uniforms dating back a century or more, play by rules in effect when Abraham Lincoln first ran for president in 1860.  You’ve been reading about these old rules in this blog.

Key Rules for Bisbee Vintage Baseball (1860s Style):

·         Equipment: No gloves are worn by most players (barehanded), with balls often being softer or slightly larger than modern baseballs.

·         Pitching: The "hurler" must throw underhand.

·         Outs: A ball caught on one bounce is considered an out (fair or foul).

·         Strikes/Balls: Typically, 3 strikes to strike out, 7 balls for a walk.  Fouls are not usually counted as strikes.

·         Stealing/Leading: Generally, leading off is restricted (up to 6 feet in some league iterations) and no stealing is allowed.

·         "Soaking:" While 1860s rules sometimes allowed "soaking" (throwing the ball at the runner), most modern vintage leagues, including those in Arizona, prohibit this, requiring tagging the runner or stepping on the bag.

·         Terminology: Umpires are "arbitrators," runs are "aces," and players are "ballists."

·         Uniforms: Players wear vintage-style uniforms (often knickers and suspenders) and, in some cases, use nicknames.

Tickets are available for purchase directly at the gate.  Play gets underway at 10 a.m.  Currently, admission is $10 for one day or $15 for both days.  Children 12 and under are free with an adult ticket.  With gratitude, active military are admitted free with ID.  Donations are gratefully accepted.  Beer and concessions are sold.  All proceeds from the event are used to pay for renovations and improvements at Warren Ballpark.

Pat and I attended the tournament a few years ago and had a ball (pun intended).  We enjoyed the games and got to kibitz with some of the players.  My Mother grew up in Bisbee, lived in Warren, and later, during visits, I attended ball games at the old Warren Ballpark 70 - 75 years ago.

 

Sources

My principal sources include: “History of Baseball,” “Rules of Baseball,” Wikipedia.com; “History of Baseball,” Britannica.com; “History of Baseball - A Brief History of Base Ball Rules,” vbba.org; “10 bizarre baseball rules you won’t believe actually existed,” mlb.com; “Copper City Classic Vintage Baseball Tournament,” discoverbisbee.com; plus, numerous other online sources, including answers to many queries using Google in AI-Mode.