Changes

===First professional leagues===

===First professional leagues===

A year later the National Association of Base Ball Players was created as the first organized league, comprised of amateur teams; despite this several players were paid on occasion.  One team not a member, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, became in 1869 the first professional team, and their success in their first season (91 of 92 games won) helped to spread professionalism, leading to the creation of the National Association of Professional Base-Ball Players (1871-75).  In 1876, owners of the various teams came together to form the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, in part because the previous association was rather loosely held together, and more important they had recognized baseball as a business.

A year later the National Association of Base Ball Players was created as the first organized league, comprised of amateur teams; despite this several players were paid on occasion.  One team not a member, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, became in 1869 the first professional team, and their success in their first season (91 of 92 games won) helped to spread professionalism, leading to the creation of the National Association of Professional Base-Ball Players (1871-75).  In 1876, owners of several strong independent teams came together at the behest of William Hulbert.  The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs was his creation, in part because the previous association was rather loosely held together, and more important they had recognized baseball as a business. These first teams of the new National League were the New York Mutuals, Boston Red Stockings (the previous Cincinnati Red Stockings), Philadelphia Athletics, Hartford Dark Blues, St. Louis Brown Stockings, Louisville Grays and Cincinnati Reds.  Hulbert's own team, the Chicago White Stockings, would several years later change names to the Chicago Cubs, the oldest currently-active team in baseball. 

Several other leagues had also formed during this period.  The American Association operated for nine years (1882-91), a serious rival to the National League when it allowed Sunday games and the sale of beer within the stands.  A Players League was created by athletes, pressing the National League in finances but ending up driving the American Association out of business.  One league, the International Association of Professional Base Ball Players, operated twice: 1877-1880, and 1888-1890, fielding teams in both the United States and Canada.  The International Association was also the last league to include black Americans within their teams, something that would not be corrected for nearly sixty years.

Several other leagues had also formed during this period.  The American Association operated for nine years (1882-91), a serious rival to the National League when it allowed Sunday games and the sale of beer within the stands.  A Players League was created by athletes, pressing the National League in finances but ending up driving the American Association out of business.  One league, the International Association of Professional Base Ball Players, operated twice: 1877-1880, and 1888-1890, fielding teams in both the United States and Canada.  The International Association was also the last league to include black Americans within their teams, something that would not be corrected for nearly sixty years.

===First stars===

===First stars===

The simplicity of baseball caused the game to be spread far and wide.  Four bags placed on an otherwise empty field allowed it to be played almost immediately; adults played it as readily as children, and even a period as horrendous as the [[American Civil War]] had the game played often on both sides when battles were not being waged.  The creation of the professional leagues afterwards also led to statistical record keeping; fans wanted to know who was the best ball player on any given team, whether it was pitching, fielding, or batting.  Newspapers kept up with the teams from their cities, familiarizing the players to the fans, and baseball cards were created, added to packs of cigarettes before they became a staple of bubble gum wraps.

The simplicity of baseball caused the game to be spread far and wide.  Four bags placed on an otherwise empty field allowed it to be played almost immediately; adults played it as readily as children, and even a period as horrendous as the [[American Civil War]] had the game played often on both sides when battles were not being waged.  The creation of the professional leagues afterwards also led to statistical record keeping; fans wanted to know who was the best ball player on any given team, whether it was pitching, fielding, or batting.  Newspapers kept up with the teams from their cities, familiarizing the players to the fans, and baseball cards were created, added to packs of cigarettes before they became a staple of bubble gum wraps.

==Modern Baseball==

==Modern Baseball==