Who Really Invented Baseball?

We all know that baseball has long-since been America's favorite pastime. But have you ever stopped to think about how the it all got started? This article aims to shed some light on the eventful, somewhat complicated history of baseball, starting from its debated beginnings to how it evolved into the modern MLB we know today.

The Short Answer: Contrary to general beliefs, Abner Doubleday did not invent baseball. The real story? Various forms of bat-and-ball games that existed before baseball led to the creation of the game. Alexander Joy Cartwright and The Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York City gets credit for being the first to craft their own rules, known as The Knickerbocker Rules, which was the first variation of the rules of baseball we know today.

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The Myth of Who Invented Baseball

The Abner Doubleday Myth

If you've ever researched who invented baseball before, you might've heard that Abner Doubleday was responsible for its creation. He's often referenced in baseball history, and many publications endorsed his story. But evidence has come to light that he did not invent the sport, so how did this myth arise?

To answer that, we need to go back to the end of the 19th century. During this period, a dispute was growing over whether baseball was an American invention or derived from the English game of rounders.

To settle the debate, the Mills Commission was formed in 1905 by Albert Spalding, a former baseball player and sporting goods entrepreneur. The commission was entrusted with the mission to discover baseball's roots.

Eventually, they concluded that Abner Doubleday, a Civil War hero and a symbol of American bravery and ingenuity, was the father of baseball. The primary source of this claim dwelled on the testimonies of Abner Graves, who nostalgically recalled playing a form of baseball Doubleday allegedly invented. Graves supposedly was an eyewitness to Doubleday's outlining a baseball diamond at Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Debunking the Myth

Over time, several pieces of contradictory evidence came to light. First, it was proven that Doubleday was at West Point in 1839, the year he allegedly invented baseball in Cooperstown, a fact that the Mills Commission overlooked.

Furthermore, despite being an accomplished figure, Doubleday never claimed to have invented baseball, nor did any of his acquaintances or documented correspondences indicate his association with the game. 

The Doubleday Myth was indeed that - a myth, constructed perhaps to give the deeply American sport a fittingly heroic and patriotic origin story. The tale worked for a while, but has since been debunked by baseball historians for the lack of solid evidence.

The Real Origins of Baseball

English Roots

After debunking the Doubleday myth, the question remains: where did baseball truly originate? One theory suggests that baseball evolved from games of English origin. Specifically, from a game known as "rounders." This was a bat-and-ball game involving running around bases without being tagged out which is often quoted as a predecessor of baseball.

Another English game that may have influenced the development of baseball is "stoolball." In this game, a batter defended a stool from being hit by a ball thrown by a pitcher. Elements of "stool ball" can still be seen in baseball today.

Baseball in America

The first known reference to a game labeled "base-ball" in the United States appeared in the early 18th century. It quickly became a favorite pastime of miners and migrant workers who spread the game as they moved from town to town.

By the mid-1800's, the loosely structured game of "base-ball" began undergoing standardization. Alexander Cartwright, a prominent figure of the New York Knickerbockers, laid down a set of rules for a bat-and-ball game in 1845 that was the first adaptation of the rules of baseball. These rules, referred to as the Knickerbocker Rules, integrated the necessary recipe of a fixed diamond-shaped infield, foul lines, and a three-strike rule.

The Evolution of Baseball

The Birth of Modern Baseball

The original bat-and-ball game which emerged in the 18th century was drastically different from the structured, rule-based game we know today. Various milestone changes in the game from the mid-19th century up until today have shaped baseball, leading to the game we watch, play, and love.

The Emergence of Major League Baseball

One of the key turning points in the history of baseball was the formation of Major League Baseball. The formation of the National League in 1876 and the American League in 1901 helped to standardize the game, implement professional practices, and importantly, brought a level of commercial viability by attracting spectators for their games. Historical baseball teams such as the New York Yankees, the Houston Astros, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Detroit Tigers emerged from these leagues.

The Game Today

Today, with professional leagues in and beyond the United States, baseball truly is an international affair. From a concentrated group of college campuses on the east coast to the heart of Japan, the spirit of baseball lives in every crack of the bat, every cheer of the crowd, and every home run watching child aspiring to be a big league player.

How BRUCE BOLT Can Help

While deep-diving into baseball's history, we can't help but marvel at the evolution and growth of the game. This spirit of evolution and excellence is at the core of BRUCE BOLT. Every product, every design, every stitch pays homage to the pioneers that influenced the creation of the game we love.

BRUCE BOLT is committed to serving young baseball players with our range of high-quality, performance-enhancing baseball gear. From our signature batting gloves to arm sleeves and sliding mitts, our products will change your game.