Baseball has been one of the United State’s favourite pastimes for the last century or so, and it has only become more popular in recent years. It’s a similar game in some ways to cricket, and some of the mechanics involved in cricket can be found in baseball.
This is because both games came from the same country (The United Kingdom) and they both had a similar ancestor sport. While it’s mostly enjoyed in North America, baseball has seen more growth worldwide, and may became much more widespread in the future.
It’s a simple game that’s easy to learn and fun to play, and it’s unique elements means that it fits well into both the traditional and new age themes of modern sports.
On top of this, athletes in baseball are some of the highest paid professionals in the world, meaning that there is a big demand for those that have a solid grasp on the game.
While the game may not have as big a reach as some other sports, like rugby or football, and hasn’t given rise to other industries, such as sports betting NZ, baseball remains a classic. It also has a long and fascinating history that dates back to a time when the British were colonising the planet.
The Origins of Baseball
Baseball itself can be traced back to an earlier game called rounders. Rounders was a cousin of cricket, and used many of the same rules. Two teams that alternate between offence and defence, with the use of specialised tools, such as the ball and the bat.
The very first documented game of modern baseball dates back to as early as 1838, but there have been some references to a type of baseball going back as far as the late 1700s.
While some have speculated that Abner Doubleday, a Union Civil War hero, was the original inventor of the game, that theory has been debunked.
The rules for the game that is played today were first written in 1845 by the New York baseball club, which was known as the Knickerbockers. Alexander Joy Cartwright, often called the father of baseball, was the author of most of these rules.
The Next Few Decades
The first official, professional baseball team was put together in 1869, and were called the Cincinnati Red Stockings. The team quickly gained popularity around the United States, and it was dubbed a “national pastime.” Some years later, two major leagues were formed, firstly the National League, and then secondly the American League.
The first World Series was put together, which had the two leagues battling it out.
It proved to be a massive success, and the game became a favourite for the general public over the next few decades. Known as the Golden Age of baseball, this was a time during the 1920s where the game truly took off. Some of the greatest players in history were part of this era.
The game continued on, and is now an international sensation.
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