Baseball The Greatest Past Times - 1079 Words

Baseball, known as one of America’s greatest past times, has such an iconic and diverse history. From the founding of the game, to the struggles and historic events, and even the many great players, baseball is filled with so much history that has made professional baseball what it is today. The 19th century was an integral time in the evolution of baseball. The game of baseball saw a great amount of growth, exciting ballplayers, and the creation of professional teams that would eventually soon become known as Major League Baseball, MLB. The game of baseball had been around for quite some time with several different rules and regulations determined by those playing. In enters Alexander Joy Cartwright, who would develop major rules in†¦show more content†¦Due to the nature of baseball, it could be played on virtually any surface. And although most clubs were perceivably owned by the upper class, during the mid 19th century, baseball grew among the working class who bec ame players and was the most popular among fans of the game. The surges in playing also saw the expansion of clubs and teams towards the north, and eventually move westward towards Oregon and California. In 1869, after many more clubs formed, the first publicly announced all-professional baseball team was formed. The Cincinnati Red Stockings, formed under the leadership of captain Harry Wright, was the first team to put players under contract and pay them a salary. The team was financed by a group of Ohio investors and Wright recruited players from all over the country and had them undergo rigorous training and practice. The training was merited as the team traveled from coast to coast winning all of their games and recorded the only undefeated season in baseball history. Shortly after, the team would suffer financially and the team folded after only two years (Legend of the Cincinnati Red Stockings). Nevertheless, although the Cincinnati team folded, the popularity of baseball had grown so big that the team set a precedent for future professional teams to follow. These teams would join the professional ranks and create The National Association of