| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | Even as late as 1960, rival leagues tried to make |
| A Short Baseball History | | | | their way into American baseball. All of them failed |
| The game of baseball is said to have begun in the | | | | to leave any significant mark, and the game is still |
| early 19th century, but that's just half the truth. | | | | ruled today by the National and American leagues. |
| The game was played much before but the first | | | | And throughout the last part of the 20th century, |
| baseball clubs were formed around that time. An | | | | baseball became both a game of strategy and |
| Englishman named Alexander Cartwright in the | | | | hitting. Pitching and home run hitting, though, are |
| year 1845 devised the first set of rules baseball. | | | | the baseball benchmarks of today. Baseball teams |
| In fact, many of the rules listed out then are still | | | | are either big winners or big losers, depending on |
| used in the game. | | | | the strength of their bullpens and their home run |
| In the year 1858, a group of amateur players | | | | hitters. And the cost of admission still continues to |
| came together to form the first baseball league - | | | | rise. |
| known as the National Association of Baseball | | | | In the early 20th century the concentration was |
| Players. Right from the first year, the National | | | | more on hitting the home runs. Babe Ruth |
| Association of Baseball Players began charging for | | | | changed the course of the game with his magical |
| admission to baseball games. | | | | abilities to achieve home runs. It was due to |
| At the turn of the century, the American League | | | | sportsmen like Babe Ruth that baseball achieved |
| of baseball came into being and began playing in | | | | the levels of popularity that it did. The popularity |
| 1901. The game of baseball was still very much a | | | | of Babe Ruth also helped in improving the money |
| game of strategy. The game depended on | | | | in the game, since people just went to watch |
| bunting, base stealing and contact hitters. With the | | | | Babe Ruth in action. |
| invention of the cork centered baseball, all that | | | | Rival leagues kept trying to break into American |
| changed. Because the new baseball allowed for | | | | baseball even as late as 1960. Of course, they all |
| more home runs baseball's popularity took | | | | failed to leave any significant mark, and could not |
| off--and so did the cost of admissions.Throughout | | | | challenge the supremacy of the National and |
| the early 20th century, the game of baseballrelied | | | | American leagues that rule the game till date. |
| more and more on the hitting of home runs, and | | | | Baseball became a game of strategy and hitting |
| lesson strategy. This was thanks to great baseball | | | | throughout the last part of the 20th century. |
| players like Babe Ruth, who completely | | | | However, pitching and home run hitting are the |
| revolutionized the game with hisprowess at hitting | | | | baseball benchmarks of today. Depending on the |
| home runs. It is largely due to the "Babe" that | | | | strength of their bullpens and their home run |
| baseball became one of the most popular sports | | | | hitters, baseball teams are either big winners or |
| in America. And it didn't hurt future baseball | | | | big losers. The one thing that is consistent is that |
| players that people were willing to pay to see | | | | the cost of admission still continues to rise. |
| Babe Ruth play. | | | | |