| Baseball is an international sport. It is played | | | | Passion for baseball at club level and spectators |
| between two teams of nine players having nine | | | | was the cause of formation of several new clubs |
| innings. However it is mostly played in US and | | | | during the coming years. In 1858, 25 clubs came |
| Canada. Baseball is similar to other bat and ball | | | | together and created the National Association of |
| sports like cricket. One team is on the field with | | | | Base Ball Players. The NABPP and its successor |
| one player designated pitcher while the remainder | | | | the National Association were not very successful |
| fields. The other team rotates a player to bat. It | | | | in encouraging growth in teams. This led to the |
| has four bases and the hitter needs to negotiate | | | | formation of National League which continues till |
| until a home run is hit. | | | | today. |
| As the US dominates the game of Baseball, it is | | | | The National League originally consisted of 12 |
| not an invention of North America. Its origin goes | | | | teams but declining ticket sales in 1900 forced the |
| back to the medieval games from where cricket | | | | league to downsize to 8 teams. This decision was |
| also developed. Bat and ball games of medieval | | | | exploited by the minor Western League and they |
| times is most likely the father of modern baseball. | | | | expanded to other cities dropped by National |
| Similar variants were played in the 14th century | | | | League. The Western League later renamed itself |
| may have originated collectively earlier in history. | | | | to American League. |
| Bat and ball games played in England during the | | | | There is not too much difference between the |
| medieval times were dog and cat, rounders, | | | | two leagues as they both essentially operate the |
| Stoolball and perhaps cricket. Many historians | | | | same rules with the exception of designated hitter |
| suggest that stoolball was adopted by men in | | | | rule adopted by American League in 1973. |
| medieval villages which became an ancestor of | | | | From the birth of baseball, some great players |
| cricket since by the 1500s. The game of | | | | inspired fans and players becoming celebrities |
| Rounders which is played in Ireland today was | | | | from their humble beginnings. The integration of |
| also invented by England. It is very much similar | | | | baseball started in 1945. Most of the club owners |
| to Stoolball and modern baseball. | | | | and major league executives were not in good |
| A game called Town Ball played in US appeared to | | | | principles regarding black players chance in the |
| be brought by Irish and English immigrants. It was | | | | majors. A movement began in the late 1960s to |
| similar to Rounders. Town Ball was played in the | | | | have these players recognized by the Baseball Hall |
| 1740s and it was known as base, ball or round ball | | | | of Fame. |
| in some parts of the US. The name base ball was | | | | There have been successful changes to the |
| long considered to be coined in the US. | | | | structure of major league baseball. Club finances |
| The early reference to baseball comes from 1791. | | | | have been credited with several minor clubs in the |
| The first recorded rules of Baseball came from | | | | MLB winning the World Series in recent years |
| 1845 when Alexander Cartwright, a New York | | | | including the Chicago White Sox (2005) and) and |
| firefighter. | | | | Florida Marlins (2003). |