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Many of us have played or watched some form of baseball, whether it be tee-ball, softball, or the actual game itself, but how many of us have actually taken the time to learn the history behind “America’s favorite pastime?” Or, “Who invented baseball?” I have studied the game for years, and find it to be very interesting. If you search closely, you, too can find that the root of the game has been around for several years. In the 1700s when the British settled North America they brought along the game of cricket, and the children's game of rounders. Rounders had been adapted from cricket and already resembled baseball. Although there were many variations to the game, the most popular form involved a pitcher throwing to a batter who would then hit the ball and run from base to base while the ball was being fielded. In order to get him out, the fielders would try to hit the runner with the ball while he was off base. The rules for rounders were occasionally published in books during the 1700s and early 1800s and the game had many local variations. The number of players on a team, number of bases and the layout of the bases were all subject to local preference. Bases were rocks, stakes, or anything else that was available. Bats would be ax handles, wagon spokes or any other piece of wood that was available. Balls were usually constructed of a piece of cork or rubber wrapped in string and covered in leather. By the 1830's the game had developed a variation called Town Ball, or The Massachusetts game, that was played by adults.
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