Base ball is a ball game played between two competing teams of at least 9 players who each take turns fielding and batting. The sport continues when a particular player on either the offensive or defensive team, known as the pitcher, throws a single ball that’s caught by a player on either side of the field. The player who steals the ball first, commonly known as the “picker,” is the one who gets the points. The game is divided into two halves and regulation time begins when the teams are put on opposite sides of the diamond, one team playing at a time around the diamond from base to base. The teams continue to play until an opponent makes an “out” with a caught base or an error on a field-goal attempt. Then the game is replayed the same way, with the bases loaded once more.
Major League Baseball (MLB) was the first professional sport to start baseball games, and the official name of this game was baseball but soon it was changed to “baseball.” Many countries and cultures across the world have a historic village or town ball park that features this sport. The sport has enjoyed popularity in the United States since the late 1800s, when it became the first American way to play catch. Although the game has many variations, it is generally called “base ball” in North America.
The origin of the name base ball may be linked to a series of events in American history. The 1860s Civil War produced a lot of confusion and even controversy regarding whether or not the game should be called “base” or “fect.” Most people assumed that the word “base” meant something similar to “a base line,” while “fect” was a word used for game competitions. The problem was that since the 1860s, “base ball” had connotations that were negative, so the term “civil war” was preferred. The problem was compounded when the Union and the Confederate armies began a battle in the war.
As the war progressed, the “base ball” played by both Union and Confederate troops grew in popularity. The St. Louis Redstockings became the first official Major League Baseball team, and the history of the sport can be traced back to 1875. The St. Louis baseball team wore red stockings, white gloves, and black hats. In 1876, the first black player joined the league, and the tradition of black and white baseball began. The 18 77 National Association for Professional Baseball also began a long history of black and white baseball, which some consider to be the birth of modern-day Major League Baseball. This was also the first year that the New York Yankees started black players.
Because the St. Louis Blues was among the best teams in the National League at the time, the word got out that the entire sport of baseball was on a mission to eradicate all traces of racism from the game. The St. Louis Blues used red-colored pants, white shirts, and black socks to represent the color of the Union army. The uniforms were colorful, flamboyant, and made great clothing accessories. The Blues even had their own flag, a white SUnion flag that flies on the upper left corner of the home stadium. The vintage baseball uniforms are as colorful and stylized today as they were decades ago, and the tradition continues today.
In 1875, the first black player was signed by an unknown player who was called Joe Blair. The Baseball Hall of Fame lists the first black player as John Johnson. It should be noted that in 1875, baseball was one of the whitest sports in America. The integration of race players into the baseball league, as well as the black player’s popularity made the sport more welcoming to a wider audience.
The St. Louis Blues would become the first team in the National League, and the Washington Senators would join the next year. Franchise contracts for these two teams established them as the premier franchises in the National League. The popularity of the game had reached its peak. Sports writers, coaches, and fans in the United States wanted to see their favorite team play in the World Series. The two teams played every year in the fall of 1887, and this historic match remains the only World Series game ever played between the two teams.
Two teams representing the United States would play in the first ever World Series; the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs. The series established the baseball rules we know today, and it also changed the name of the game to honor one of the greatest players of the day, John Montgomery Martine. Many people do not realize that the name of the sport that is recognized today, Major League Baseball, got its start due to the efforts and perseverance of John Montgomery Martine. As you can see, his efforts were not enough, but he did become the face of the game.