The Origins of Baseball
No one knows for sure where baseball exacted originated. However,
most baseball buffs will concur that the sport is based on the
English game of rounders. In the United States, baseball became
popular in the early 1800's, originally known as townball.
At a later date, the sport was renamed baseball.
Throughout this period of time, smaller communities formed teams,
while larger cities formed leagues. There is some question as to
who was the original founder of the rules of baseball. Some
contend that Alexander Cartwright in 1845 published a list of
rules, which are still in place today. However, others contend
that it was Abner Doubleday who invented the game. However, most
baseball historians believe Alexander Cartwright indeed
originated baseball.
The first ever-recorded baseball duel was played in 1846 between
Alexander Cartwright's Knickerbockers who play against the New
York Baseball Club. The Knickerbockers lost the game at the
Elysian Fields, in Hoboken, New Jersey. In 1857, a meeting has
held and over 25 amateur teams from the Northeast clamored
together to hash out rules among other things.
The next year, the National Association of Base Ball Players was
formed and the teams, needing financial assistance to support the
league, intermittently charged the fans an admission fee.
The 1860's brought about the Civil War and the interest in
baseball, understandably, diminished. After the war, baseball's
popularity began to grown better than ever. The league's growth
resulted in fans being charged a regular admission fee to watch
games. The fees were needed to support the league and the ongoing
traveling. Winning became important. Although the league was
comprised of amateurs, sponsors occasionally paid the players
secretly so that the amateur players wouldn't leave the team. The
idea of paid players eventually became the norm. Today, baseball
is one of North America's favorite sports.
Catherine Kenyeres is a freelance writer and publisher for
http://www.best-4u-tickets.com
Catherine has written numerous
articles for the sports enthusiast.
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