The History of Baseball
17 Jan
Baseball dates back as far as the 18th century. Men got together with whatever equipment they could find to perform this game. Baseball clubs started in the 1860′s and baseball betting lines came along soon after, as is the way. The first team to play baseball was the New York Knickerbockers. This club was considered a social club in the upper middle classes of New York. Soon baseball surpassed the love for the game called cricket. Also in the 1860′s New York baseball became a national game and formed a true national organization. In the late 1860′s clubs were formed in San Francisco as well as Louisiana.
In the 1870′s the Chicago White Stockings won a championship. But the diseaster of the Great Chicago Fire destroyed their field as well as all of their equipment. They had to drop out of any club games until the city recovered from the fire. Today this team is still in full force and known as the Chicago Cubs. They are the oldest organized team in America today. The Cinncinati Red Stockings were the first team to announce they were professionals. 1875 became the year of having the first major league. Starting out as all white team members, it was not until Jacket Robinson became the first African American to be on a team and this paved the way for other African Americans to play baseball.
Not until 1902 did the National teams come into play, before this time they were considered minor leagues. Thew National Agreement being created made a great stand for baseball players. It allowed contracts to be governed and not controlled, it created the World Series and more importantly it establised a system of control throughout the major leagues.
From 1900-1919 baseball was called the dead ball era. Baseballs were priced high and had to last through the whole game. At the end of a game the ball was almost totally useless. Having to replace these balls were more money than some wanted to spend. There were even security guards who would get balls from the stands so help save on the expense. This created a disadvantage for the great hitters as home runs were discouraged against. Most started calling this an inside game.
In the 1920′s this changed. Fences were brought closer to the field. Construction of the baseball was changed causing it to go farther when hit. Popularity for baseball ran high in the 20th century. Large stadiums were built. Ending the dead ball era was done simply by a rule change and one player and that was Babe Ruth. Babe Ruth took baseball to a whole new era. For more odds and lines on baseball checkout allpro sportsbook
