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THE HISTORY OF BASEBALL
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The History of Baseball Thesis Statement: Babe Ruth has had a long lasting, positive affect on Baseball. Baseball has been a big influence in the world. In the early years of baseball the game, which was once a children’s game has developed into a business. The game has developed immensely from what it used to be from rules, to equipment, to different leagues. Along the way many people and teams have captured the hearts of many fans. One person that sticks out in our minds is George Herman Ruth. Many people don’t know him as George Herman Ruth. They only know him by his many nicknames given to him. Whether you know him as Babe, The Great Bambino, or the Sultan of Swat most people know his heroic story. No matter the nickname it means one thing “Baseball”. He has had great positive impact on the game of Baseball. There is a controversy over who invented the game of baseball. Some people say that Abner Doubleday invented it, and others say he didn’t. Abner Doubleday was a West point cadet. Suppose ably he invented baseball in the summer of eighteen thirty nine in Cooperstown New York. “The tale that he invented the game was on the account of Abner Graves a retired mining engineer, it is now thought of as a myth.” (Voigt 8). The first league was, started by the Knickerbocker baseball club out of New York City. They also proposed the first set of rules for the game of baseball on the second of September eighteen fourty-five. The Knickerbockers Baseball Club is thought of as the founders of modern day baseball. (Chadwick 12). They were thought of as one of the first gentleman’s clubs to propose a set of rules for the game of baseball. (Chadwick 12). The first written records of baseball games were in Egypt. It was hard to imagine cavemen passing time by hitting stones with clubs. The game of baseball reached Europe from Egypt, which was transmitted by the Muslim empire. When Islam retreated from Europe, baseball games had been played in Christian ceremonies from Austria to France. In the middle ages, during Easter celebration ball games were played where the ball was kicked or swatted with a stick. Still many ways of the game formed over time. There were still many inconsistencies. Baseball evolved from being ball a ball and stick game played in many places in the world since the beginnings of recorded history. (Voigt 8). In eighteen thirty four a book was published with illustrations, and instructions of the game of baseball. Many factors influenced the success of organized baseball. They were turning a boys game into a million dollar industry. (Chadwick 14). From the time of the first World Series in nineteen three, at Hunington Avenue baseball grounds in Boston, baseball entered a remarkable stage of growth. (Chadwick 2). The seats were jam packed with all men for the first World Series. Baseball was booming during the eighteen eighty’s but whites were still segregating blacks from baseball, and continued to do it until nineteen fourty-seven. (Chadwick 22). This era was also the era of the building of the ballparks. Previously the parks were in horrible condition. Then they started building them with concrete and steel. (Chadwick 28). Many club teams started playing up to sixty games. They formed the National Association of Baseball Players a strictly amateur league. Then the civil war caused the New York Clubs to disappear. All the attention shifted to the war. The knowledge of the game was spread around. The South picked up on it. In nineteen eight the lyrics to the anthem Take Me Out to the Ballgame, by lyricist Jack Norworth, and composer Albert Vontilizer. (Chadwick 32). This convinced ten businessmen that baseball could be a big money maker, so they created a professional league. They were the first to create a professional league. This was called National Association of Professional Baseball Players. It was created on March seventeenth in eighteen seventy-one. The year eighteen eighty-six was the year of the baseball card. They were initially intended for adults, and issued by Old Judge cigarettes. (Chadwick 18). Professional teams started to encourage women to come to the games. Women were called “krankets”. The Orioles and the Athletics were the first teams to designate Thursday night as ladies night (Berlage 4). During the eighteen eighty’s rule changes also made the game more exciting. From eighteen seventy-one to present day Major League Baseball has influenced changes in rules and style of play. (Chadwick 10). With the changes in rules came the changes to the equipment and salary.
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