Monthly Archives: December 2024

The True Godfather Of Our Game

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From Bardball.com: BARDBALL wants to resurrect the connection between baseball and poetry, between the love of the game and love of language. A century ago, most baseball columnists regularly published poems in the paper about the players, the personalities, the action and the game itself. “Casey at the Bat” might not be Shakespeare, but if Shakespeare were alive today, we bet he’d be looking for rhymes for “Yelich”, “Markakis” and “Moncado”. For Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams (11/1/1814-1/3/1899) “Doc Adams, with newly claimed fame,Now “The Man” whom historians name –Not Doubleday, not Wright,Or Doc’s teammate, Cartwright –As “The True Godfather of Our … Continue reading →

Baseball Hall of Fame Needs More Pioneers

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In the introduction to a guest post by Jamie Selko on the Our Game blog, John Thorn, the Official Historian of Major League Baseball, mentions his opinion on Doc Adams. I am on the record for stating my belief that the Baseball Hall of Fame has enough nineteenth-century players, and that what it needs is more pioneers, namely Doc Adams, Al Reach, and Jim Creighton. But if there is a case to be made for more early players, my friend Jamie Selko makes it simply yet brilliantly, below. The post, “Getting the Short (Season) Shrift”, is an interesting read.

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Doc’s Knickerbocker Uniform Buttons

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Two uniform buttons from Doc Adams’ Knickerbocker Base Ball Club (ca. 1855). These buttons currently reside in a private collection. They are likely the oldest known surviving piece of baseball uniform with provenance. These are also locked up in a bank vault. We have two buttons that belonged to Doc that are embossed with KBBC on them that they’re a little bit larger than a quarter and they’re studs. They are not regular sew-on buttons. And I showed very detailed pictures of them to Jim Gates at the Hall of Fame at the Library. He’s one of the head researchers … Continue reading →

Doc Adams Appearance On 2016 Hall Of Fame Ballot, Falls Only 2 Votes Short

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Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams, MD appeared on a Hall of Fame ballot for the first, and as of now, ONLY time, on the 2016 Per-integration Era ballot. On December 7, 2015,  the Pre-integration Era Committee announced the results of the voting on the 10 candidates on the 2016 ballot at the MLB Winter Meetings. Candidates needed to receive 12 of 16 votes (75%) for election. The committee failed to elect any one of the 10 candidates. Doc Adams received the highest vote total,  just 2 shy of the required votes required for election. This was Doc’s first time appearing on a … Continue reading →

Homes.Com Touts Doc Adams Birthplace Classic

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Mont Vernon hiking trails Residents of Mont Vernon have a number of ways to access nature. Less than 2 miles from the town square is Purgatory Falls, a walking trail that runs alongside the water and is easily trekked. Lamson Farm is home to additional trails and to the oldest property in town, a farmhouse constructed in 1760. The farm is also the location of multiple annual events, including the vintage baseball game at the Doc Adams Birthplace Classic. Traveling athletes dress up in historical baseball uniforms to honor Doc Adams, one of the sport’s earliest players who was born … Continue reading →

Dick Allen and Dave Parker Elected To The Hall Of Fame

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Congratulations to Dick Allen and Dave Parker for being elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. They were elected via the Classic Baseball Era Committee which includes everyone pre-1980 (covering 120+ years). The 2 played after 1963 and 1973 respectively. It took Allen 20 times on the ballot to get elected and Parker 18 times. They both have had a long wait; however, not as long as Doc Adams. It’s been 162 years since Doc Adams retired and he is still waiting to appear on a ballot for the 2nd time. This, even though he missed election by 2 … Continue reading →

Musing About Getting In The Hall On Classic Baseball Era Announcement Day

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Since today is the day that the 2025 Classic Baseball Era results will be released, the mind wanders to eternal question, “what if”? This was the day that we hoped to be waiting to hear if Doc Adams’ 164-year drought would end. Well, there’s no drama, we already know the answer. But one wonders what the chances of this pioneer getting elected in the future are. As of 2024, there are 346 members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The Baseball Hall of Fame is one of the most exclusive clubs with only 1.6% of players ever receiving the … Continue reading →

Remembering Marjorie Adams And Her Great-Grandfather’s Appearance On A HOF Ballot

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Today would have been Marjorie Adams’ 75th birthday. Marjorie’s tireless efforts to spread the story of her great-grandfather, Doc Adams, enlightened and inspired many baseball fans. Marjorie conducted a campaign to educate people on Doc’s role as a pioneer of our National Pastime and his importance to baseball’s survival and growth during its nascent period. Her goal was to see him recognized with long overdue enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. She made many ‘baseball’ friends, particularly in the vintage base ball community. She is greatly missed. When talking about Doc, Marjorie often said that “she has all … Continue reading →

The National Association

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When the Knickerbockers met on December 6, 1856, they resolved “to call a convention of the various base ball clubs of this city and vicinity.” The New York Herald, in reporting on this meeting, observed: “We understand the object of this convention is to promote additional interest in base ball playing, by the getting up of grand matches on a scale not heretofore attempted.” The anticipated outcome would be to inaugurate new clubs and to strengthen existing ones, by conforming the rules and making the game more “scientific” and difficult to play—”manly,” in the preferred term of the day, like … Continue reading →

Birth Of The National Association Of Base Ball Players

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In Francis C. Richter’s (editor of Sporting Life) book, “Richter’s History and Records of Base Ball” written in 1914, is a comprehensive work among the early books on baseball. This volume is designed to supply the growing need of a concise, yet complete, record of our National Game, from its remote inception and humble beginning to the present period of magnificent development to real national stature. It is also designed to serve this purpose in such form as to make it valuable, possibly indispensable, as a book of special information, of ready reference, and of general interest to all lovers … Continue reading →