Eight Fun Facts About the History of Baseball

Baseball is over a century old, and in that time, it’s gained a rich history that is full of quirky moments, unexpected plot twists, and tidbits that will give you a newfound appreciation for baseball. All fans are familiar with great stars and famous games, but baseball is full of little-known facts about its history that will amaze you. Let’s take a look at some of baseball’s more intriguing nuggets from America’s national pastime.

1. Baseball was not originally developed in America
It is a common belief that baseball is as much a component of America as is apple pie, but its roots are in England. The game evolved from older forms of baseball-like games that included rounders, which Englishmen had played in England for centuries. English settlers in turn played early forms of baseball before baseball as a structured sporting activity took hold in America. America did have a significant impact on baseball in its transition into its current form, though, in that it did not create the game from its inception.

2. The very first professional team wore… red stockings?
Most likely, you think about either the Yankees or the Cubs when you consider the very first professional baseball team. In reality, that designation went to the Cincinnati Red Stockings. In 1869, they achieved a historical precedent as the first team that paid its player full wages, making it America’s first professional baseball team. They swept that first season with a perfect score in each contest. The team evolved over time, as did its nickname, but its impact on baseball remains legendary.

3. The Baseball Hall of Fame started out with a bit of a myth
The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., is sacred ground in baseball lore. But its foundation is in a disproven legend. In the early 1900s, a group claimed that a man by the name of Abner Doubleday had invented baseball in 1839 in Cooperstown. The twist? There is no evidence. Historians have subsequently confirmed that baseball developed from a series of different games, and Doubleday had little involvement. The Hall of Fame remains a shrine in baseball tradition.

4. Baseball Games Once Were Extremely High Scoring
The fans in baseball these days are used to a form of play in which a team will score a few. In the 19th century, though, a 30, 40 run score in a single game did not shock. The reason is that the rulebook was different, pitchers did not pitch as quickly, fielders did not have as much defense as fielders do these days, and early baseballs were not as stiff as baseballs are these days. The game changed over time as the rulebook changed, making it more equal.

5. The World Series once included some peculiar rules
The World Series is arguably the most thrilling event in all sporting activities, although in its early days, it was not necessarily in the form that we are familiar with. The 1903 World Series between the Pirates and the Boston Americans was a best-of-nine series, not a best-of-seven series as we have it these days. There also were seasons in which the World Series did not occur at all, as in 1904, in which the New York Giants did not play because they did not think that the American League constituted a valid league. Thankfully, in subsequent seasons, they changed their minds, and the World Series is a baseball tradition.

6. The Myth That Is The Called Shot by Babe Ruth
One of baseball’s greatest moments is that of Babe Ruth’s “called shot” in the 1932 World Series. The story is that before homering into that location in the outfield, Ruth signaled in that direction. It is a storied tale, though did it really take place that way? Some believe that he did in fact call his shot, while some believe that he signaled towards the pitcher or that he was just trash-talking the visiting team. The facts will perhaps forever be a mystery, though either way, it is a story that baseball fans love to discuss.

And imagine having a prop bet on whether Babe Ruth will phone in a home run. The 1932 odds on that would have been outlandish. In baseball online betting today, fans enjoy betting on a series of discrete outcomes like in which inning a home run will be hit or whether a player will have multiple hits in a single outing.

7. A Woman Once Struck out Babe Ruth And Lou Gehrig
You may not have expected two of baseball’s all-time greats to be struck out by a teenage woman, but that is exactly what took place in 1931. 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell pitched in an exhibition game with both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and struck both out. Some have speculated that it was a prearranged hoax, although some are more likely to believe that it really did take place. Either way, though, it was a wonderful exhibition that served as proof that women can play baseball with men, even baseball legends.

8. The opening night match took place in strange circumstances.
Evening baseball is a common feature in baseball these days, but in days gone by, baseball games were played in daylight. The Cincinnati Reds‘ hosting in 1935 of the very first Major League evening game changed that. There is a more peculiar aspect to that story, though—the Massachusetts minor league in 1880 conducted a night baseball game with 36 electric lights. The lights did not suffice, though, as play had to be suspended early because a player could hardly see the ball. Stadium lights did not have enough power until the 1930s, making evening baseball a viable possibility.

Final Thoughts 

Baseball has come a long way from its early days, and in its development, it’s accumulated some great yarns, legends, and bizarre moments that add a little bit extra to the game. Be it a teenage girl striking out legends, a historic home run that perhaps got a little bit away from itself, or a surprising start, baseball is full of unexpected moments. That is why it is a game that is so lasting. Sit back at that baseball game you are currently watching and just think about that you are a participant in a game that is full of fun, quirks, and moments that are just as much a part of its lore as its heroes.

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