 Rounders – an English 
       Rounders – an English 
       game – 1826??.
       game – 1826??.
     Some contention…
       Some contention…
       perhaps from cricket.
       perhaps from cricket.
     First printed rules: 1796 – 
       First printed rules: 1796 – 
       Guts Muth
       Guts Muth
     Knickerbocher rules: 
       Knickerbocher rules: 
       1845
       1845
         http://www.sabr.org/sabr.cf
          http://www.sabr.org/sabr.cf
          m?a=cms,c,1017,34,0
          m?a=cms,c,1017,34,0
     What baseball began as???
     What baseball began as???
   First recorded baseball contest took place in 
    First recorded baseball contest took place in 
    1846, Elysian Fields, in Hoboken, New Jersey 
    1846, Elysian Fields, in Hoboken, New Jersey 
   In 1857, a convention of amateur teams was 
    In 1857, a convention of amateur teams was 
    called to discuss rules and other issues. Twenty 
    called to discuss rules and other issues. Twenty 
    five teams from the northeast sent delegates. 
    five teams from the northeast sent delegates. 
    The following year, they formed the National 
    The following year, they formed the National 
    Association of Base Ball Players, the first 
    Association of Base Ball Players, the first 
    organized baseball league. In its first year of 
    organized baseball league. In its first year of 
    operation, the league supported itself by 
    operation, the league supported itself by 
    occasionally charging fans for admission.
    occasionally charging fans for admission.
          Ball and bat games…
           Ball and bat games…
    1085 Stool ball, a primitive stick and ball game and a forerunner of 
     1085 Stool ball, a primitive stick and ball game and a forerunner of 
     rounders and cricket, is mentioned in the Domesday Book. 
     rounders and cricket, is mentioned in the Domesday Book. 
    1200s "The scholars of every school have their ball, or baton, in 
     1200s "The scholars of every school have their ball, or baton, in 
     their hands; the ancient and wealthy men of the city come forth on 
     their hands; the ancient and wealthy men of the city come forth on 
     horseback to see the sport of the young men... " From Sports and 
     horseback to see the sport of the young men... " From Sports and 
     Pastimes Of Old Time Used In This City, Fitzstephen. 
     Pastimes Of Old Time Used In This City, Fitzstephen. 
    1200s-1300s Primitive bat and ball games are used in religious 
     1200s-1300s Primitive bat and ball games are used in religious 
     observances in Eastern France. 
     observances in Eastern France. 
    1621 Christmas Day: Governor Bradford finds the men of Plymouth 
     1621 Christmas Day: Governor Bradford finds the men of Plymouth 
     Plantation, "frolicking in ye street, at play openly; some at Virginia 
     Plantation, "frolicking in ye street, at play openly; some at Virginia 
     pitching ye ball, some at stoole ball and shuch-like sport." 
     pitching ye ball, some at stoole ball and shuch-like sport." 
    1700 In his memoirs, the Rev Thomas Wilson, a Puritan divine in 
     1700 In his memoirs, the Rev Thomas Wilson, a Puritan divine in 
     Maidstone, England, states: "I have seen Morris-dancing, cudgel-
     Maidstone, England, states: "I have seen Morris-dancing, cudgel-
     playing, stool ball and cricketts, and many other sports on the Lord's 
     playing, stool ball and cricketts, and many other sports on the Lord's 
     Day." 
         
     Day."
    1744 John Newbery's A Little Pretty Pocket-Book contains a wood-
     1744 John Newbery's A Little Pretty Pocket-Book contains a wood-
     cut illustration showing boys playing "baseball" and a rhymed 
     cut illustration showing boys playing "baseball" and a rhymed 
     description of the game. 
     description of the game. 
    1748 Lady Hervey describes in a letter the activities of the family of 
     1748 Lady Hervey describes in a letter the activities of the family of 
     Frederick, Prince of Wales: "... diverting themselves with baseball, a 
     Frederick, Prince of Wales: "... diverting themselves with baseball, a 
     play all who are or have been schoolboys are well acquainted with."
     play all who are or have been schoolboys are well acquainted with."
    1778 George Ewing, a Revolutionary War soldier, tells of playing a 
     1778 George Ewing, a Revolutionary War soldier, tells of playing a 
     game of "Base" at Valley Forge: "Exercised in the afternoon in the 
     game of "Base" at Valley Forge: "Exercised in the afternoon in the 
     intervals playd at base." 
     intervals playd at base." 
    1786 Games of "Baste Ball" are played by students on the campus 
     1786 Games of "Baste Ball" are played by students on the campus 
     of Princeton University. (A year later, the faculty prohibits ball "on 
     of Princeton University. (A year later, the faculty prohibits ball "on 
     account of its being dangerous as well as beneath the propriety of a 
     account of its being dangerous as well as beneath the propriety of a 
     gentleman".) 
     gentleman".) 
    1797 Daniel Webster, in private correspondence, writes of "playing 
     1797 Daniel Webster, in private correspondence, writes of "playing 
     ball" while a student at Dartmouth College. 
     ball" while a student at Dartmouth College. 
    1798 Jane Austen mentions "base-ball" in her novel Northanger 
     1798 Jane Austen mentions "base-ball" in her novel Northanger 
     Abbey. 
     Abbey. 
    1803 An informal group called the "New York Cricket Club" is 
     1803 An informal group called the "New York Cricket Club" is 
     headquartered in New York City at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern, 
     headquartered in New York City at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern, 
     No.11 Nassau Street. The club flourishes for a year, then dies. 
     No.11 Nassau Street. The club flourishes for a year, then dies. 
    1806 Louisiana Purchase explorers Meriwether Lewis and William 
     1806 Louisiana Purchase explorers Meriwether Lewis and William 
     Clark attempt to teach the Nez Perce Indians to play the "game 
     Clark attempt to teach the Nez Perce Indians to play the "game 
     of base."
     of base."
     1809 The first formally organized cricket club is established in Boston, 
      1809 The first formally organized cricket club is established in Boston, 
      Massachusetts. 
      Massachusetts. 
     1810 The rules for "Poisoned Ball" are described in a French book of boys' 
      1810 The rules for "Poisoned Ball" are described in a French book of boys' 
      games. "In a court, or in a large square space, four points are marked: one 
      games. "In a court, or in a large square space, four points are marked: one 
      for the home base, the others for bases which must be touched by the 
      for the home base, the others for bases which must be touched by the 
      runners in succession, etc." 
      runners in succession, etc." 
     1812 Peter Van Smoot, an Army private present at the Battle of New 
      1812 Peter Van Smoot, an Army private present at the Battle of New 
      Orleans, writes in his diary: "I found a soft ball in my knapsack, that I forgot I 
      Orleans, writes in his diary: "I found a soft ball in my knapsack, that I forgot I 
      had put there and started playing catch with it."
      had put there and started playing catch with it."
     1816 June 6: Trustees of the Village of Cooperstown, NY enact an 
      1816 June 6: Trustees of the Village of Cooperstown, NY enact an 
      ordinance: "That no person shall play at Ball in Second or West Street [now 
      ordinance: "That no person shall play at Ball in Second or West Street [now 
      Pioneer and Main Streets], under a penalty of one dollar, for each and every 
      Pioneer and Main Streets], under a penalty of one dollar, for each and every 
      offense." 
      offense." 
     1824 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a student at Bowdoin College in 
      1824 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a student at Bowdoin College in 
      Brunswick, Maine, writes: "... there is nothing now heard of, in our leisure 
      Brunswick, Maine, writes: "... there is nothing now heard of, in our leisure 
      hours, but ball, ball, ball." 
      hours, but ball, ball, ball." 
     1825 The following notice appears in the July 13, 1825 Hamden, NY edition 
      1825 The following notice appears in the July 13, 1825 Hamden, NY edition 
      of the Delhi Gazette: "The undersigned, all residents of the new town of 
      of the Delhi Gazette: "The undersigned, all residents of the new town of 
      Hamden, with the exception of Asa Howland, who has recently removed to 
      Hamden, with the exception of Asa Howland, who has recently removed to 
      Delhi, challenge an equal number of persons of any town in the County of 
      Delhi, challenge an equal number of persons of any town in the County of 
      Delaware, to meet them at any time at the house of Edward B Chace, in 
      Delaware, to meet them at any time at the house of Edward B Chace, in 
      said town, to play the game of Bass-Ball, for the sum of one dollar each per 
      said town, to play the game of Bass-Ball, for the sum of one dollar each per 
      game." 
      game."