In his recent article, “How the Shortstop Offensive Makeover Is Changing Baseball“, Zach Kram discusses the evolution of the shortstop position. From Doc Adams invention of the position through to today’s game – it’s been a fascinating evolution.
Continue reading →On March 26, 1862, Doc tendered his resignation from the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club, “… although absent in body, I shall be present in spirit. My interest in the Club will never cease, nor can I forget the many happy hours spent in communion with its members.” James Whyte Davis, the KBBC secretary, accepted his resignation, “I indulge the hope that the ‘spirit’ you express of being with us as always, may be accompanied by the body on the old Play Grounds. Playing commences on the 21st.” Doc was made an honorary member of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club and … Continue reading →
In 1845, a young doctor from Mont Vernon named Daniel Lucius Adams moved to the city to establish his practice. As a proponent of the benefits of exercise, Adams began gathering with several medical colleagues on a nearby New Jersey field to participate in a game then known as “base ball.” In his recent article in New Hampshire Magazine, Ray Carbone spotlights Doc Adams while “discovering baseball’s hidden gems and deep historical roots in New Hampshire”. Click here to read his article: “New Hampshire’s Role In Creating Baseball”, New Hampshire Magazine (3/14/2019)
Continue reading →On February 29, 1896, the Sporting News published an article on Dr. D. L. Adams sub-titled ‘Memoirs of the Father of Base Ball’. The article is based on an interview of Doc and details his contributions to the nascent National Pastime. More on this can be read at “Memoirs of The Father of Base Ball“.
Continue reading →Doc Adams was highlighted in a story about Mont Vernon on WCVB on Monday, February 25, 2019. “Doc Adams is the historic, yet unknown Mont Vernon man behind the modern rules of Baseball. The hope is that the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY will recognize him in its 2020 vote.” Zoe Fimbel discusses Mont Vernon native son Doc Adams and his contributions to the game of baseball. To view the video, click on the photo below.
Continue reading →The 1857 Convention of Base Ball Players met for the second and final time on February 25 at Smith’s Hotel, the headquarters of the Knickerbocker Club, with the following clubs represented: Knickerbocker, Gotham, Eagle, Empire, Putnam, Baltic, Excelsior, Atlantic, Harmony, Harlem, Eckford, Bedford, Narrau, and Continental. The clubs elected Daniel Adams of the Knickerbockers as president of the convention and then appointed a rules committee, made up of one member of each represented club. This was perhaps the most important meeting in the history of baseball. It was a meeting of the baseball clubs of New York City, and unlike … Continue reading →
On January 31, 1899, Henry Chadwick wrote to the editor of the Sporting Life with reminiscences of his late friend and baseball pioneer, Dr. Daniel ‘Doc’ Lucius Adams. The letter was published on the front page of the February 4, 1899 edition. On that same day, Doc Adams was also remembered by Mr Chadwick in The Sporting News.
Continue reading →The 1857 Convention of Base Ball Players met for the first time on January 22 at Smith’s Hotel, the headquarters of the Knickerbocker Club, with the following clubs represented: Knickerbocker, Gotham, Eagle, Empire, Putnam, Baltic, Excelsior, Atlantic, Harmony, Harlem, Eckford, Bedford, Narrau, and Continental. The clubs elected Daniel Adams of the Knickerbockers as president of the convention and then appointed a rules committee, made up of one member of each represented club. This was perhaps the most important meeting in the history of baseball. It was a meeting of the baseball clubs of New York City, and unlike the previous … Continue reading →
January 3, 1899, Doc Adams passed away at the age of 85 at his home in New Haven, Connecticut. In his years playing base ball (1845-1862) in New York City with the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club), he created and developed the shortstop position (1849/50), made all the balls and supervised the manufacture of all the bats. In 1857, in his ‘Laws of Base Ball’, he set the bases at 90 feet, and proposed nine innings/nine players per side and more. You can find more of Doc’s obituaries here.
Continue reading →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 Hall of Fame ballot. Although he was not elected THIS time, being the top vote getter, so close to election, was a major accomplishment. As recently as … Continue reading →