1. 1840’s Baseball American Baseball History

2. I. Early Baseball 1840’s Before 1846 baseball was a folk game Cricket clubs existed before baseball clubs Only six games in a season Irregularity is what marks the game: Not a set schedule Made up rules as they went along

3. I. Early Baseball 1840’s cont… 1830’s Baseball evolves into two groups: Massachusetts Game - Town Ball New York Game

4. II. Massachusetts Game Massachusetts Game (i.e., Town Ball):

5. II. Massachusetts Game cont… Ball = smaller than a tennis ball: 2 ½ inch diameter wood

6. II. Massachusetts Game cont… Bases = wood stake Score a “round” 4 ft. batter’s box: Catcher’s interference common

7. II. Massachusetts Game cont… 35 ft. distance from pitcher to home Put a player out with a one bounce catch One out = switch inning Tallies, aces, rounds = runs “100 Tallies” = game over Player cannot quit unless disabled: No substitutes

8. III. New York Game Open to anyone - particularly the middle class 1846 became more formal game Social value – middle class players Rules written down Nine players on a side “Gentlemen’s Game” Teams composed of players with the same occupation

9. III. New York Game Offense important “21 aces” = game over NY and Mass. Game compete with each other NY is successful compared to Mass.: More commercial activity in NY Larger population

10. III. New York Game Field dimensions: