The ‘Laws of Base Ball” authored by Doc Adams will be the centerpiece of a major year-long exhibition that opens today at the Library of Congress. The exhibition will explore baseball’s past and present and how the game has 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.”

Hopefully this exhibit will continue to highlight and spread the word about Doc Adams’ foundational contributions to the game and result in his well-deserved enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

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)

More on the “Laws of Base Ball“.