Changes

===Equipment===

===Equipment===

[[Image:Baseball worn.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A well-used baseball]]

[[Image:Baseball worn.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A well-used baseball]]

The baseball itself is 9-9.25 inches in circumference, and weighs between 5-5.25 oz.  The core is made of rubber and cork, wound tightly with woolen yarn, and sealed with a two-piece leather casing closed off with 108 double-stitches in waxed red thread<ref>http://baseballtips.com/weblog/how-many-stitches-does-a-baseball-have-2/</ref>.  

The baseball itself is 9-9.25 inches in circumference, and weighs between 5-5.25 oz.  The core is made of rubber and cork, wound tightly with woolen yarn, and sealed with a two-piece leather casing closed off with 108 double-stitches in waxed red thread.<ref>http://baseballtips.com/weblog/how-many-stitches-does-a-baseball-have-2/</ref>   

The bat is made of wood - primarily ash - and is up to 2.75 inches thick at the striking end, and up to 42 inches long.  At one time in professional games aluminum bats were used; they have since been removed, and are sometimes used during amateur games.  In a version of baseball known as "stickball" played by kids in some inner cities, the bat consists of little more than a broom handle.

The bat is made of wood - primarily ash - and is up to 2.75 inches thick at the striking end, and up to 42 inches long.  At one time in professional games aluminum bats were used; they have since been removed, and are sometimes used during amateur games.  In a version of baseball known as "stickball" played by kids in some inner cities, the bat consists of little more than a broom handle.

==History==

==History==

In 1905 a commission was created to determine baseball's origins.  Named for a former colonel in the Civil War, the Mill's Commission ultimately centered on the testimony of a mining engineer from Denver, Colorado named Abner Graves, who claimed he was with [[Abner Doubleday]] in Cooperstown, New York in 1839, when Doubleday wrote the rules to the game; his testimony, plus the discovery of several artifacts nearby, helped to establish in the committee's - and public's - mind that the game had originated in Cooperstown<ref>http://www.catskills-house.com/images/baseball_hall_of_fame_A.pdf</ref>.  

In 1905 a commission was created to determine baseball's origins.  Named for a former colonel in the Civil War, the Mill's Commission ultimately centered on the testimony of a mining engineer from Denver, Colorado named Abner Graves, who claimed he was with [[Abner Doubleday]] in Cooperstown, New York in 1839, when Doubleday wrote the rules to the game; his testimony, plus the discovery of several artifacts nearby, helped to establish in the committee's - and public's - mind that the game had originated in Cooperstown.<ref>http://www.catskills-house.com/images/baseball_hall_of_fame_A.pdf</ref>   

This particular story of baseball's origins is completely false, despite the romance of the Doubleday tradition.  He was never involved with baseball at all, and probably never observed a game being played.  In 1839, Doubleday - rather than being at a school in Cooperstown - was a cadet at West Point, and would graduate in 1842; he would see distinguished service during the Civil War.  And even though the report was flawed, the Mill's Commission would discover that baseball had its roots in other bat-and-ball games earlier than in the nineteenth century<ref name=cooperstown>[http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/about/history.htm The Origins of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]</ref>.

This particular story of baseball's origins is completely false, despite the romance of the Doubleday tradition.  He was never involved with baseball at all, and probably never observed a game being played.  In 1839, Doubleday - rather than being at a school in Cooperstown - was a cadet at West Point, and would graduate in 1842; he would see distinguished service during the Civil War.  And even though the report was flawed, the Mill's Commission would discover that baseball had its roots in other bat-and-ball games earlier than in the nineteenth century.<ref name=cooperstown>[http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/about/history.htm The Origins of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]</ref>

Two games stand out as being the forebears of baseball, and both British in origins.  In the game of [[rounders]], a ball is tossed to a batter wielding a 12-inch bat, who must round and touch several bases in order to score.  As in baseball, rounders is played with nine players on a field, and the game is divided into innings.  Originating in Tudor times and played principally by school-age boys, rounders has the distinction of bearing the first direct reference to the title of ''"base-ball"'' in 1744, from the pages of publisher John Newbery's ''Little Pretty Pocket-Book''<ref>http://www.history.org/history/teaching/enewsletter/volume2/june04/pocketbook.cfm</ref>.

Two games stand out as being the forebears of baseball, and both British in origins.  In the game of [[rounders]], a ball is tossed to a batter wielding a 12-inch bat, who must round and touch several bases in order to score.  As in baseball, rounders is played with nine players on a field, and the game is divided into innings.  Originating in Tudor times and played principally by school-age boys, rounders has the distinction of bearing the first direct reference to the title of ''"base-ball"'' in 1744, from the pages of publisher John Newbery's ''Little Pretty Pocket-Book''.<ref>http://www.history.org/history/teaching/enewsletter/volume2/june04/pocketbook.cfm</ref>  

The other, somewhat older game is [[cricket]], a game played on a short field in which the pitcher (called a "bowler" in this game) attempts to dismiss a batter ("batsman"); unlike baseball the game involves the bowler attempting to knock over a set of wooden pegs ("wicket") behind the batsman.  Like baseball, cricket play involves runs and outs.

The other, somewhat older game is [[cricket]], a game played on a short field in which the pitcher (called a "bowler" in this game) attempts to dismiss a batter ("batsman"); unlike baseball the game involves the bowler attempting to knock over a set of wooden pegs ("wicket") behind the batsman.  Like baseball, cricket play involves runs and outs.

===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 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.   

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.

In 1901 the American League was established from the minor Western League, and their president (Ban Johnson) ensured that teams would play in rival National League cities as well as raid the other league for talented ball players, offering better pay.  A key difference between the two was also established: the designated hitter rule, in which a player not on the field would be in the batting lineup to replace the pitcher.  The popularity of the American League was serious enough for a truce to be called, culminating in a championship "World Series" between the two leagues since 1903.

In 1901 the American League was established from the minor Western League, and their president (Ban Johnson) ensured that teams would play in rival National League cities as well as raid the other league for talented ball players, offering better pay.  A key difference between the two was also established: the designated hitter rule, in which a player not on the field would be in the batting lineup to replace the pitcher.  The popularity of the American League was serious enough for a truce to be called, culminating in a championship "World Series" between the two leagues since 1903.

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.

Among the first stars of baseball in the late 19th century were Paul Hines (1852-1935) was recognized for being the first player to win Major League's Triple Crown, as well as being a two-time batting champion.  Charles “Old Hoss’ Radbourn (1854–1897) was among the first "endurance" men; as pitcher for four teams during his career he compiled a 309-195 career record, winning in 1884 the National League's pitching Triple Crown with a 1.38 ERA, 441 strikeouts, and a 60-win season which still has not been broken. Cy Young (1867-1955) would amass five hundred wins as a pitcher during his career as well as pitching the first perfect game in American League history<ref>http://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/may-5-1904-cy-young-pitches-perfect-game</ref>.

Among the first stars of baseball in the late 19th century were Paul Hines (1852-1935) was recognized for being the first player to win Major League's Triple Crown, as well as being a two-time batting champion.  Charles “Old Hoss’ Radbourn (1854–1897) was among the first "endurance" men; as pitcher for four teams during his career he compiled a 309-195 career record, winning in 1884 the National League's pitching Triple Crown with a 1.38 ERA, 441 strikeouts, and a 60-win season which still has not been broken. Cy Young (1867-1955) would amass five hundred wins as a pitcher during his career as well as pitching the first perfect game in American League history.<ref>http://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/may-5-1904-cy-young-pitches-perfect-game</ref>

But this was also an era in which games were played with the intention of getting on base, advancing on base, and batting runs in; swinging for the fences in a home run was extremely rare.  It was the pitcher who dominated the field, throwing emery balls (a baseball dented first by hitting it on concrete) and spitballs (a baseball coated with saliva or other liquid substance) as readily as curve and fast balls.  The ball itself was the only one used throughout the entire game, becoming dark and misshapen before the game was over.  The batter had to use strategy to get on base; records for triples (batter getting safely to third base) between 1900-1920 were high, while batting averages (.239 to .283 in both leagues) in the same time period were low.  The exceptions were from those who took a more careful approach to hitting the ball; Ty Cobb (1886-1961) batted .420 with 248 hits in 1911, and he would have a lifetime average of .367.  "Shoeless" Joe Jackson (1888-1951) hit .408 in the same year, never going below that number during the remainder of his shortened career.

But this was also an era in which games were played with the intention of getting on base, advancing on base, and batting runs in; swinging for the fences in a home run was extremely rare.  It was the pitcher who dominated the field, throwing emery balls (a baseball dented first by hitting it on concrete) and spitballs (a baseball coated with saliva or other liquid substance) as readily as curve and fast balls.  The ball itself was the only one used throughout the entire game, becoming dark and misshapen before the game was over.  The batter had to use strategy to get on base; records for triples (batter getting safely to third base) between 1900-1920 were high, while batting averages (.239 to .283 in both leagues) in the same time period were low.  The exceptions were from those who took a more careful approach to hitting the ball; Ty Cobb (1886-1961) batted .420 with 248 hits in 1911, and he would have a lifetime average of .367.  "Shoeless" Joe Jackson (1888-1951) hit .408 in the same year, never going below that number during the remainder of his shortened career.