Evolution of American Baseball
Discuss the evolution of American Baseball. What has stayed the same and what has changed? Baseball has been the prominent sport in American culture since the early 1800's. The Evolution of baseball as a sport occurred through three main stages. These three stages are the bat and ball game, club based/ fraternal game, and finally the emergence into a commercial spectator sport. The first stage of baseball was the bat and ball game, initiated in the 1830's. While most sports during this time were for the sole purpose of entertaining the wealthy, the commoners decided to construct a sport to play in their spare time. With the growing support of the bat and ball game, baseball fraternities were created. Baseball fraternities were the outcome of voluntary association in an attempt to make baseball a national sport. In 1845 the movement was lead by Alexander Cartwright, a bank clerk, gathered New York area ball players and formed a club called the New York Knickerbockers Base Ball Club. The New York baseball fraternity was created for the sole purpose of an athletic and social organization. The club elected officers, held regular meeting, and made bylaws that involved uniforms and regular playing rules. While ba
While the National and American leagues fought for dominance in baseball there was another strong battle brewing, the battle between the management and the players. As the sport progressed through the years many things both changed and stayed the same. One can imagine what will happen to this sport during the next century. The idea of a Players Association was constructed within the last century to help players and management with labor disputes. This new league instituted rules completely different than their counterparts, allowing alcohol and Sunday ball games. During the original game players wore no gloves and the pitcher tossed the ball to the liking of the hitter. With the growing amount of clubs, including the likes of the Young American, Columbia, Union, Eagle, American, and National, baseball soon became America's "national game". In today's game there is still a predominate league, but now called the Major League with separate leagues under it to divide teams in certain divisions. Any club that paid the ten-dollar entrance fee was allowed to partake in the battle for the league championship. Majority of baseball players were descendants of middle class Irish and German families that took part in heavy drinking and brawling. Many general ideas including the field, admission, "three strikes", and the pitcher stayed throughout the years but changed slightly. The Players League overran National League cities and stole away their players whom were unhappy with their contracts. Management sought after a well respected and disciplined behavior in the players, which obstructed the way of most ball players. Baseball has evolved from a spare time game to the nations pastime in a little more than a century. Seeing baseball as a source of income, William Cammeyer embarked on a method to make baseball profitable.
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