Category Archives: 2024

First Pitch: How Baseball Began

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

With “First Pitch: How Baseball Began”, America’s premier baseball historian has created the first book for young baseball fans that truly tells the story of the origins of our national pastime. While debunking long-held myths, Thorn introduces kids to the first games, first fields, and first leagues. He also shows how the game of yesteryear connects to the game kids love to play and watch today. Featured in the book is the story of his personal discovery of the oldest reference to the sport in American history, a 1791 Massachusetts ordinance banning “Base Ball.” Cartwright did not play in that … Continue reading →

Marjorie Adams In Memoriam Episode Of “Baseball And BBQ”

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

On March 8, 2021, Marjorie Adams appeared on Baseball and BBQ Podcast Episode #87 (Marjorie Adams-Baseball Royalty) with Len Aberman and Jeff Cohen, and Jeff “Pinetar” Kornhaas. It was a very interesting discussion about her great-grandfather, Doc Adams, and Marjorie’s efforts to spread the word of his role in the development and growth of our National Pastime. The goal of her awareness campaign was to see Doc acknowledged with induction in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. This “Marjorie Adams in Memoriam” episode posted on July 18, 2021, is a follow-up by Len and Jeff with Pinetar participating again, reminiscing … Continue reading →

Doc Adams Base Ball Biography (Base Ball Executive)

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

In May of 1846, his first full year with the Knickerbockers, Doc was elected Vice-President of the club and would, over his seventeen years of membership, go on to serve six terms as President (’47, ’48, ’49, ’56, ’57 and ’61) and several terms as a Director. In 1848, Doc headed the Knickerbocker committee to revise the original rules and regulations from the 1845 formation of the club. And in 1853 with the formation of the Gothams (1850) and the Eagle Base Ball Club (1853), Doc was appointed (along with two other teammates) to be part of the committee at … Continue reading →

Baseball Americana At The Library Of Congress

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

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 … Continue reading →

Ninety Feet From Fame

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

The title of the book, “Ninety Feet From Fame – Close Calls With Baseball Immortality” by Mike Robbins has a deeper meaning when discussing Doc Adams. In 2015 Adams was considered for the Hall of Fame for the first (and so far, only) time when he was named to the 2016 Pre-integration Era ballot. This was his first close call, as he received 10 of the 12 votes needed for election. His second close call was when his hand-written “Laws of Base Ball” were re-discovered a couple of months after that vote. However, with all thar in his favor, he … Continue reading →

The Baseball “Patronym” Defined

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

Baseball Almanac, the “official baseball history site”, has added a “Definition of Father Of Baseball” from the Dickson Baseball Dictionary. The Dictionary has been “hailed as ‘a staggering piece of scholarship’ (Wall Street Journal) and “an indispensable guide to the language of baseball” (San Diego Union-Tribune), The Dickson Baseball Dictionary has become an invaluable resource for those who love the game.” Of the 4 definitions of the “Father of Baseball”, two are of particular interest to us. 2. Patronym sometimes applied to baseball missionary Alexander Joy Cartwright (1820-1892), a bank teller and bookseller, who helped organize the Knickerbocker Base Ball … Continue reading →

Ridgefield Road Trip

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

In 1865, Doc and Cornelia moved to a home in Ridgefield, CT on Main Street (demolished in the 1950s to make way for Ballard Park). Between 1866 and 1874, Cornelia and Doc had four children: two boys and two girls. “For the higher altitude, … for my mother’s health”. Roger Cook Adams (Doc’s son) on why his family moved to Ridgefield While no longer practicing medicine, Doc became active in his new community. In 1870, he was elected to the State House of Representatives and was also the first treasurer of the Ridgefield Library in 1871. In the same year, … Continue reading →

This Day in History… July 12

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

Found this on the Jamaica Observer website. 1892: Despite Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams, president of the New York Knickerbockers Base Ball Club, authoring documents titled the Laws of Base Ball in 1857 which established the essentials of the modern game, Alexander Cartwright is credited as the American inventor of modern baseball in 1860. Cartwright dies of natural causes at age 72 on this day. “This Day In History – July 12”, Jamaica Observer So, Cartwright invented modern baseball in 1860… Cartwright soon disappeared from baseball circles. He left New York and the Knickerbockers for California in the gold rush of … Continue reading →

A Pitch For Doc Adams

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

The Vintage Base Ball community is raising awareness of baseball pioneer, Doc Adams, and his Hall of Fame case. Clubs across the country will host mid-19th century style base ball games to raise awareness of the many contributions of baseball pioneer Daniel Lucius Adams, MD (aka “Doc”) to our National Pastime during its nascent period. The events, dubbed “A Pitch for Doc Adams”, are one of several types being planned throughout the year by vintage base ball teams across the U.S. Each event seeks to draw attention to Doc Adams – a long-overlooked and forgotten baseball legend – who played … Continue reading →

Doc Adams Base Ball Biography (Base Ball Player)

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

“I used to play shortstop, and I believe I was the first to occupy it as it had formerly been left uncovered.”¹ Doc is credited with creating the position of shortstop in 1849/50 because the very light-weight balls would not carry into home base from being tossed from the outfield. “The advent of the short fielder, or shortstop…was a radical development and distinct innovation…however, when Adams first traipsed out to a spot between and beyond second and third bases, it was not to bolster the infield but to assist in relays from the outfield. The early Knickerbocker ball [that Doc … Continue reading →