| The game of American Baseball has evolved | | | | techniques emerged including the spit ball and |
| from the British game of cricket, often called | | | | scuff ball along with Babe Ruth as an all star. Ever |
| "rounders," which was a favorite pastime during | | | | since 1974, cowhide replaced horsehide for the |
| the 18th century Colonial Era. The development of | | | | cover due to financial reasons. |
| baseball is attributed to Alexander Joy Cartwright | | | | The Bat: Baseball bats originally came in various |
| who founded the modern baseball field in 1845 | | | | shapes and sizes and batters even made their |
| and laid out the rules of the game. Once a leisure | | | | own bats. After experimentation, baseball players |
| activity for wealthy white males, baseball became | | | | realized that bats with rounded barrels were the |
| in ever present game in various cities after the | | | | best. In 1859, baseball bats became more |
| Civil War. Soldiers had brought back the game of | | | | standardized with bats at 2.5 inches in diameter |
| baseball into their towns where other American | | | | but at any length. 10 years later, bats were |
| citizens would watch and participate. | | | | required to be 42 inches long at the most, which |
| The appeal of baseball led to the institutionalization | | | | is the maximum length today. The Louisville |
| of the game by the National Association. At this | | | | Slugger was born in 1884 which was made of |
| point, teams developed and became rivals with | | | | wood and wooden bats continue to be used |
| the Cincinnati Red Stockings being the first | | | | today but weigh less and have thinner handles. |
| professional team in 1869. The first World Series | | | | The first metal bat emerged in 1924 and was |
| took place in 1903 with the two rival leagues, the | | | | officially used in a game in 1970. |
| National and the American playing each other. It | | | | Catcher's Glove: Catchers' gloves started off as |
| wasn't until 1947 that Jackie Robinson, the first | | | | leather work gloves without full fingers and later |
| African American to play baseball, joined the | | | | on evolved into more padded gloves to avoid |
| Brooklyn Dodgers and allowed other African | | | | injuries. It is believed that the catcher was the |
| Americans to play. This evolution of baseball is | | | | first person to wear a glove as they had to catch |
| inseparable from the evolution of baseball | | | | pitches. The National League and American |
| equipment. | | | | Association of Base Ball Clubs issues a rule saying |
| The Ball: The first baseball was sized between a | | | | that the Catcher and First Baseman must wear |
| golf ball and softball and was made of horsehide | | | | gloves of any size and weight and other players |
| with a rubber core. In 1872, ball standards | | | | could not wear gloves over ten ounces and |
| changed and the Dead Era was no longer | | | | fourteen inches in circumference. |
| prevalent. The National League granted rights to | | | | The changes that have taken place in the |
| the Spalding Sporting Goods Company to supply a | | | | evolution of baseball equipment have been partly |
| new, larger ball that weighed about 5 ounces. With | | | | responsible for the refinement of the actual game |
| this ball, however, came few home runs and low | | | | of baseball. Over the course of its history, |
| scores until the Reach Sporting Goods company | | | | baseball has remained an important American |
| invented the new cork center ball that was much | | | | sport and has been part of popular culture. |
| livelier. Offense increased and new pitching | | | | |