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Where and how did baseball as we know it today begin?

Interestingly the official rules for the game are not all that ancient although the game itself has been around for some time!

Baseball is one of the most popular games ever with star players, well maintained fields, media attention, numerous shouting fans, and million dollar contracts. But this All-Star game came from humble beginnings and has come a long way from its roots to become the game we know now.

The Evolution of a Sport

Imagine not one but several diverse scenario’s, each with a ground country side, a field or a dirt street, a handful of kids, a bat and a ball. They may speak different languages and have their own general rules for playing the game but the common idea to throw a ball, and get a hit to either score a run or declare an out remains the same throughout them all.

Such games have been recorded since 1300; in Russia it was called Lapta, for the Germans it was Schlagball, Romanians preferred to call the game Oina, in Ireland and Britannia the game was widely played but on a very general basis with no specific rules, it was just another game that children played on the field to pass time. Ignorant that it was to become a Nations pass time and gain such international glory.

The earliest documented proof of similar games to Baseball being played comes from the 14th century, in poems, letters and other articles, but these games were called Stoolball, Rounders, Townball, Poisonball (there are even some written rules for this game similar to the present baseball game), Goal ball or simply Base; mostly played in parts of England and America.

The true origins of the official game of baseball is still hotly debated among patriots on both sides of the Pacific, though it is safe to say that the game was quite commonly played in the most parts of both, but it modified itself over the years.

It was in the early 1700’s when the game became officially known as “Baseball” and some common rules were adopted to become the unique game we now know and love today.

The Early Years

Initially the game was played exclusively by the elite classes but over the years, as it’s popularity grew, this changed and baseball became popular with every class of society. As its popularity grew it became the sport of all classes and it evolved into the game of Baseball, but it still needed a well defined rule book.

Alexander Joy Cartwright and the Knickerbockers Club are given credit for the first published Baseball rule book in 1845 and Alexander Cartwright is said to be the “father of modern baseball” for his work and commitment to the game.

There are no disputes to the fact that the game already existed before this time but it was Cartwright who documented the first proper rules for playing the game on the diamond and shaped the game as we know it now.

However there is another popular version to this story that credits Abner Doubleday, a Civil War hero, for solely inventing the present day game of Baseball (read the alternative history here). According to a sports goods entrepreneur of the time and a commission set up to establish the origins of the game, called the Mills Commission, in 1907 it was established that Doubleday invented baseball in Cooperstown, New York. It is said that he came up with the game, all the rules and the field layout but this remains highly arguable because of a lack of proof and witnesses supporting the theory.

Many call it the Doubleday Myth as the game was already established, but in many diverse forms and with different names. There is also no proof that Doubleday had any rule book or even described any set of rules for the game.

The Knickerbockers Club became very popular after the publication of Cartwright’s rule book, and more and more people started playing and learning about Baseball.

The First Game

In 1846 arguably the first official baseball game was played on Elysian Field between the New York Baseball Club and the Knickerbockers Club; the Knickerbockers Club was defeated by the New York Baseball Club.

This was the true beginnings of Baseball as a recognized sport and there was no looking back. Over time the bats and balls have improved with their shape and sizes evolving. In the year 1875 Bill Mc Gunnigle wore bricklayer?s gloves to a Baseball game and was pleased to find that wearing gloves made it easy to catch the ball, hence came in the gloves. Other apparel also came in gradually as the game continued to evolve into the game in its present form.

The early 1900’s added awards and honors to the game; the first World Series game was played in 1903 between Boston and Pittsburgh; Boston defeated Pittsburgh by 5-3. In the year 1931 the Baseball Writers Association Of America began the Most Valued Player tradition. The first Major League All-Star Baseball game was played in 1933. The baseball Hall Of fame came into existence in the year 1939 honoring several Baseball players for their outstanding performance on the diamond.

And so what started out as a country-sides bat and ball game to pass time for bored kids, on dusty, dry summers day has became a million dollar game and a Nations favorite pass time.

Collectors Editions and Exclusives

McFarlane's 2008 MLB Action Figure Releases

Cooperstown 5 (due in stores February 2008)

This lineup features the Sports Picks debuts of four baseball greats: Hank Aaron, Ryne Sandberg, Dennis Eckersley, and Ty Cobb, as well as a new sculpt for Mickey Mantle and a pinstriped uniform update for Mike Schmidt.

• Hank Aaron, Atlanta Braves
• Mickey Mantle 2, New York Yankees
• Dennis Eckersley, Oakland Athletics
• Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs
• Ty Cobb, Detroit Tigers
• Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies

3-INCH Series 6 (due in stores February 2008)

McFarlanes latest 3-inch MLB lineup includes 3-inch debuts for Ryan Howard and Jonathan Papelbon, and includes uniform updates for Barry Zito and David Wright.

• Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox
• Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
• Mariano Rivera 2, New York Yankees
• Albert Pujols 3, St. Louis Cardinals
• Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants
• David Wright, New York Mets

MLB 20 (Toys R Us Exclusive Lineup)

Toys R Us is your exclusive home for the MLB 20 lineup, which offers Sports Picks debuts for four players and updated uniforms for Barry Zito and Gary Sheffield.

• Chien-Ming Wang - New York Yankees
• Chase Utley - Philadelphia Phillies
• Barry Zito - San Francisco Giants
• Paul Konerko - Chicago White Sox
• Kevin Youkilis - Boston Red Sox
• Gary Sheffield - Detroit Tigers

MLB Series 21 (due in stores April 2008)

MLB 21 features the Sports Picks debuts for Joe Mauer, Michael Young and Daisuke Matsuzaka, as well as different poses for Sports Picks veterans Jorge Posada, Alfonso Soriano and Nomar Garciaparra.

• Jorge Posada 2, New York Yankees
• Michael Young, Texas Rangers
• Nomar Garciaparra 4, Los Angeles Dodgers
• Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
• Alfonso Soriano 3, Chicago Cubs
• Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston Red Sox

MLB Series 22 (due in stores in May 2008)

MLB 22 delivers the Sports Picks debuts for Vernon Wells, Carlos Lee and Jose Reyes, as well as all-new sculpts for Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki and Curt Schilling.

• Ichiro Suzuki 3, Seattle Mariners
• Carlos Lee, Houston Astros
• Derek Jeter 4, New York Yankees
• Andruw Jones 2, Los Angeles Dogers
• Jose Reyes, New York Mets
• Curt Schilling 3, Boston Red Sox (or a new team if he leaves via free agency)

MLB Cooperstown Collection 2-pack (due in stores in July 2008)

This 2-pack highlights the home run chase of 1961, when Yankees teammates Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle raced each other to topple Babe Ruth's single-season home run record. It will feature both figures in uniforms never available before.

• Mickey Mantle 2 and Roger Maris