Oliver Wendell Holmes

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While Doc Adams was at Harvard Medical School he made the acquaintance of Oliver Wendell Holmes (Sr.), as they roomed at the same boarding house. In a bit of an interesting twist, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. has a tie to baseball as well. According to John Helyar’s classic, “Lords of the Realm,” baseball’s Reserve Clause dated to 1879, when the eight pro teams at the time opted to “reserve” five of their players apiece each year, preventing high salaries and free agency. The arrangement soon drew heated opposition, including in 1915 when owners of the short-lived Federal League brought an … Continue reading →

KBBC Game Ball (HOF)

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The oldest existing game ball from a scheduled baseball match is on display in Cooperstown. It is from the game between the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club and the Gothams played on September 20, 1854. Doc Adams played in that game, batting 4th, had 6 Hands Lost and 1 Run scored. The Knickerbockers defeated the Gothams 24-13.

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Doc Adams Memorial Classic

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The Doc Adams Memorial Classic was held on Saturday, September 16 to honor baseball pioneer Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams, M.D., one of baseball’s most consequential, yet overlooked, pioneers. Adams was a founding father of base ball and author of 1857 Laws of Base Ball. This year, the Doc Adams Birthplace Classic took a brief hiatus, as play shifted to Connecticut as the Doc Adams Memorial Classic. This marked the first time the annual event was hosted in the state where Doc Adams attended college (at Yale) and spent his “retirement” years. After his playing days, Adams moved to Ridgefield in … Continue reading →

Doc Adams Memorial Classic Tomorrow

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For those who missed the previous announcement or as a reminder to those who saw it: This year, the Doc Adams Birthplace Classic will be taking a bit of a hiatus. Actually, it will be just taking a road trip south to Connecticut to be celebrated as the Doc Adams Memorial Classic, The Knickerbocker Experience will stage a match of 1858 rules base ball and an 1865 “fly game” on Saturday, September 16, to honor baseball pioneer Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams, M.D., a founding father of base ball and author of 1857 The Laws of Base Ball. This marks the … Continue reading →

The Knickerbocker Experience

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We’d like to highlight an effort that brings Doc Adams and the Knickerbockers to life, The Knickerbocker Experience. It is the brainchild of Jeff “Pinetar” Kornhaas, The Knickerbocker Experience, offers an opportunity to play the game as historically accurate as possible.  “Rules aren’t bent” or “exceptions made” to make it work.  The intent is to provide an historically accurate game of base ball. That is the point of the “Knickerbocker Experience”. Play the game as it was played in 1858, 1864 or 1865.  Give people that chance to try or watch it, unrestricted by “variations or customs”.  Just pure base … Continue reading →

Doc Adams Memorial Classic Next Weekend

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This year, the Doc Adams Birthplace Classic will be taking a bit of a hiatus. Actually, it will be just taking a road trip south to Connecticut to be celebrated as the Doc Adams Memorial Classic, The Knickerbocker Experience will stage a match of 1858 rules base ball and an 1865 “fly game” on Saturday, September 16, to honor baseball pioneer Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams, M.D., a founding father of base ball and author of 1857 The Laws of Base Ball. This marks the first time the annual event will be hosted in the state where Doc attended college (at … Continue reading →

Doc Umpires Deciding Fashion Race Course Game

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The Fashion Race Course games were played between All-Star teams (pick nines) comprised of the finest New York area players versus the finest Brooklyn area players and was the 1st real All-Star Series. It was also the 1st time admission was charged to watch a game. None other than Doc Adams of the Knickerbocker Club was selected to be the umpire for the third and deciding game of this first championship “series” between New York and Brooklyn. In the game, umpire Adams called non-swinging strikes, the first time that new rule was applied. The second bane of Chadwick’s existence, in addition to swift pitching, … Continue reading →

Knickerbockers Vs. The Gothams

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Doc Adams led off and tallied 2 runs in the ‘great’ match between the Knickerbocker and Gotham Clubs won by Gotham 21-7. Per the New York Daily Times, “There was some fine batting by Dr. Adams…” “Gotham Club of New York v Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York on 5 September 1856” on Protoball.

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Talk About Big Shoes To Fill

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It’s always a challenge for children to live up to their celebrity relatives.This article in the “Argus and Patriot” (Montpelier, VT) dated August 28, 1895 illustrates that this is not a new phenomenon. The article is a recount of a game between National Life Insurance Company and the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Company. The game was played on Seminary Hill in Montpelier, Vermont on a rather inclement day. The final score was 14-7 in favor of the “fire boys”. The game account is written in the ‘flowery style” of the day and interesting for that alone. However, about halfway into … Continue reading →

Marjorie Adams On “My Baseball History” Podcast

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Marjorie Adams talked with Dan Wallach on his “My Baseball History” podcast about her great-grandfather, Daniel Lucius ‘Doc’ Adams, M.D. To steal a line from SABR, Marjorie draws on her family archives and ephemera in addition to more traditional sources to provide an in-depth look into the man John Thorn called “the true father of baseball – and you’ve never even heard of him!” “Liner notes” for this podcast episode can be found at “My Baseball History: 202 – Marjorie Adams“.

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