Baseball’s Radical For All Seasons

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In David Stevens’ book, “Baseball’s Radical For All Seasons” he mentions John Montgomery Ward’s letter crediting Doc Adams’s important role in baseball’s development. When in about the year 1842, or earlier, Dr. D.L. Adams, Alexander J. Cartwright, Colonel James Lee, Duncan F. Curry, E.R. Dupignac, William F. Ladd, and other prominent business and professional men of New York City, seeking some medium for outdoor exercise, turned to the boy’s game of Base Ball, there was not a code of rules nor any written records of the game, and their only guide to the method of playing was their own recollection … Continue reading →

The Call Was Late But There’s Still Time To Answer

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In April of 1905, a call went out from Albert Spalding looking to learn about the “origin of baseball”. Based on the Knickerbocker members he listed; his call was about ten to fifteen years too late. Now granted, the Knickerbockers weren’t really the first base ball club. And yes, Spalding had a personal agenda that eventually led to the establishment of the Abner Doubleday myth. Was Spalding even aware of the Doc Adams interview in the February 29, 1896, issue of the Sporting News (et al)? Not likely. Adams was humble and could not foresee what baseball would become; however, … Continue reading →

Jay Jaffe Of FanGraphs Weighs In On the Classic Baseball Era Ballot

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Jay Jaffe of FanGraphs, who has been a consistent supporter of Doc Adams Hall of Fame candidacy, weighed in on Doc Adams once again being left off the Hall of Fame ballot. I’m far less bothered by their omissions than I am that of an additional SABR Overlooked 19th Century Base Ball Legend, Daniel “Doc” Adams, whom Major League Baseball official historian John Thorn has called “first among the Fathers of Baseball” and “the most significant figure in the early history of baseball.” Adams’ contribution actually predates that 1871 date. Via his 1857 rulebook, “The Laws of Base Ball”, he bears the true … Continue reading →

What’s Wrong With This Picture – The 2025 Classic Baseball Era Ballot

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The National Baseball Hall of Fame‘s BBWAA-appointed Historical Overview Committee released the 2025 Classic Baseball Era ballot Monday, November 4 (or actually Friday the 1st when the first copies of the Hall of Fame’s bi-monthly magazine, Memories and Dreams, were delivered). Once again, there was a glaring omission from the names on the ballot, Daniel Lucius ‘Doc’ Adams. The 2025 Historical Baseball Overview Committee: There was another conspicuous omission, an early baseball historian on the committee. Thanks to the Hall of Fame’s most recent restructuring of the Era Committees (formerly the Veteran’s Committee) the Classic Baseball Era ballot spans over … Continue reading →

The Mighty Historical Overview Committee Has Struck Out

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Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright,The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout,But there is no joy in Mudville— the mighty HISTORICAL OVERVIEW COMMITTEE has struck out. Based on Ernest Lawrence Thayer’s “Casey at the bat” 2015: Doc Adams was named to the 2016 Pre-Integration Era ballot but, the Pre-Integration Era Committee fouled it off by coming up two votes short of election. Strike one! 2021: Even after the re-discovery of Doc Adams’ handwritten “Laws of Base Ball”, the Historical Overview Committee did not see … Continue reading →

BREAKING NEWS: Doc Adams Once Again SNUBBED By The Hall Of Fame

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There was no need to wait for the official announcement from the National Baseball Hall of Fame (which was just released) as they already sent this out in the latest Memories and Dreams magazine the 2025 Classic Baseball Era Ballot and the SABR 2014 Overlooked 19th Century Baseball Legend, Doc Adams, continues to be overlooked! Voting will take place at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings on December 8, 2024, but Doc Adams, once again, is not be on the ballot. Stay tuned for more reactions to another swing and miss by the Hall of Fame.

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In His Own Words Chapter 9: Legacy (The Sporting News)

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This is the ninth and final chapter in a nine-part series, excerpts from an interview(s) in the “The Chicago Chronicle” and “The Sporting News”, both appearing in the mid-late 1890s. This chapter is titled: “Legacy”. The seminal interview of Daniel Lucius Adams, M.D. appeared in The Sporting News on February 29, 1896. This is the only known first-hand account of Doc’s memories of the game. Similar interviews (or excerpts) began to appear in newspapers across the Midwest apparently originating in The Chicago Chronicle on June 23, 1895. He never talked about baseball. We have not one thing in the family, … Continue reading →

Another Doc Adams Baseball Card

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I just added a new Doc Adams card to my collection. It is from the 2024 LJA Cards “Pioneers of Base Ball the 1800s” set. Hopefully, we will soon see more to come, including a Hall of Fame plaque card. The #1 source for bespoke custom trading cardsAll of LJACards’ Custom Trading Cards are original artworks crafted by us. We take inspiration from historical designs and images to create something new. Each card is made by hand, ensuring that every one is unique.With a background in Anthropology and Historic Preservation, my goal is to celebrate history in a fun and … Continue reading →

In His Own Words Chapter 8: Rules (The Sporting News)

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This is the eighth chapter in a nine-part series, excerpts from an interview(s) in the “The Chicago Chronicle” and “The Sporting News”, both appearing in the mid-late 1890s. This chapter is titled: “Rules”. The seminal interview of Daniel Lucius Adams, M.D. appeared in The Sporting News on February 29, 1896. This is the only known first-hand account of Doc’s memories of the game. Similar interviews (or excerpts) began to appear in newspapers across the Midwest apparently originating in The Chicago Chronicle on June 23, 1895. He never talked about baseball. We have not one thing in the family, that Doc … Continue reading →