MLB’s Historian John Thorn has called him “The True Father of Baseball.”

He was largely responsible for the innovations that created the “New York game” of baseball, such as a 9-player game, setting the basepath length at 90 feet, and inventing the position of shortstop. These innovations set the New York game apart from the various bat-and-ball games that were common at the time.

He was chairman of the first convention of baseball players, in May 1857. At the convention the following year, he chaired the vital Committee on Rules and Regulations. He prepared and presented a first draft of the rules of baseball, which draft was largely adopted. He succeeded in the convention adopting a game that was to be played in 9 innings, rather than 21 runs, as had been heretofore common.

In 1846, one year after the formation of the pioneer Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York, he was elected president of the club, and served as such for many years. In 1848 he headed the committee that revised the Knickerbocker Club’s Constitution and by-laws.

According to one source, the Hall of Fame includes two people based solely on their impact as pioneers of the game—Henry Chadwick and Alexander Cartwright. Adams’ contributions as a pioneer are undoubtedly greater than Cartwright’s, and on a par with Chadwick’s.

As John Thorn has written: “For his role in making baseball the success it is, Doc Adams may be counted as first among the Fathers of Baseball.”

Bruce Allardice
Professor of History
Author, Editor of SABR’s “Origins of Baseball” Committee Newsletter

This is part of our “Speaking of Doc” series.