How Baseball Happened: Outrageous Lies Exposed! The True Story Revealed

The true founders of baseball were the hundreds of uncredited amateurs who played without gloves, facemasks, or performance incentives in the middle decades of the 19th century. Baseball was originally supposed to be played, not watched, but when crowds began to show up at games in Brooklyn in the late 1850s, professionalism was introduced. Professional baseball invented an organization, but not the sport itself, and the amazing amateurs had already done that.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 01 October 2020
Publisher: David R. Godine Publisher Inc

Baseball, a beloved sport with its roots in the 19th century, has a captivating and often overlooked history. Contrary to popular belief, baseball's true founders were not the legendary figures such as Abner Doubleday or Alexander Cartwright, but rather the hundreds of uncredited amateurs who played the game without gloves, facemasks, or performance incentives. These ordinary individuals, who lived full lives outside of sports, worked, built businesses, and fought in the Civil War.

However, the way baseball history has been presented has often been inaccurate. Many people believe that Doubleday or Cartwright invented baseball, when in fact, they did not. The first baseball game is often attributed to a club called the Knickerbockers, but this is not true either. The color line in baseball was not crossed and unchallenged until Jackie Robinson in 1947, a significant milestone in the sport's history.

The Cincinnati Red Stockings, often considered baseball's first professional club, were not the first professionals either. In fact, they were not even the first clean and corporate club. The true birthplace of baseball lies in Brooklyn, where the first fans, ballpark, and statistics emerged. Brooklyn was also the home of modern pitching, a crucial development in the sport's evolution.

Baseball was originally intended to be played, not watched, and it was only when crowds began to gather at games in Brooklyn in the late 1850s that the sport began to change. Fans, who were not initially invited to the games, crashed the party and brought a new level of excitement and interest to the sport. Professionalism also began to take hold, with players earning salaries and playing for teams.

The history of baseball is a fascinating tale of ordinary people, their passion for the game, and the evolution of the sport over time. It is a story that has been overlooked and misrepresented, but one that is worth exploring and celebrating. By recognizing the true origins.

Weight: 644g
Dimension: 236 x 163 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781567926774