In 2018, The Library of Congress hosted the Baseball Americana exhibition.  The ‘Laws of  Base Ball” authored by Doc Adams was the centerpiece of this major, year-long exhibition. The exhibition explored baseball’s past and present and how the game forged a sense of community for players and fans across the country.

“The founding documents of baseball that would shape the modern game as our national pastime were ironed out in January and February 1857 at a convention called by the Knickerbockers Base Ball Club in New York City. Corrections were made by hand as the details were negotiated by New York-area ballclubs, including whether to play seven, nine or 12 innings to a game. The convention established a uniform set of rules, many of which are still in use today, including nine players on a side, nine innings to a game and 90 feet between bases.”

This exhibition helped spread the word about Doc Adams’ foundational contributions to the National Pastime. Hopefully, this display and acknowledgement of his role in the early game will lead to his enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025.

We have more on the Baseball Americana Exhibition on this page.

For more information, on the exhibition, read “Baseball’s ‘Magna Carta’ to be Displayed in Major Exhibition on the Game” on the Library of Congress site. 

“Exhibition of baseball’s ‘Magna Carta’ comes to Library of Congress”,  WTOP (5/4/2018)