Doc Umpires Deciding Fashion Race Course Game

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

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

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

In the ‘great’ match between the Knickerbocker and Gotham Clubs, won by Gotham 21-7m Doc Adams led off and tallied 2 runs. Per the New York Daily Times, “There was some fine batting by Dr. Adams…” The New York Clipper didn’t see fit to provide many additional details as “Where all exerted themselves so zealously, it seems out of place to go into details.” “Gotham Club of New York v Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York on 5 September 1856” on Protoball.

Continue reading →

Memories Of The Father Of Base Ball (part 4)

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

Buffalo, New York August 1939 Written by: Roger Cook Adams “During the present year when the centennial of the first out-break of base ball is being celebrated at Cooperstown, it may be of interest to record the important part played in the development of the game by an early member of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York.” … “He was often asked in later years how the game originated, but was unable to fix any definite starting point. He believed it developed from the English game of rounders, which was played with bat, ball and bases, although the … Continue reading →

Talk About Big Shoes To Fill

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

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

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

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“.

Continue reading →

Memories Of The Father Of Base Ball (part 3)

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

Buffalo, New York August 1939 Written by: Roger Cook Adams “During the present year when the centennial of the first out-break of base ball is being celebrated at Cooperstown, it may be of interest to record the important part played in the development of the game by an early member of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York.” … “In the interest of uniformity it seemed wise to call a convention of representatives of all the club to establish a permanent code of rules by which all should be governed, and a call for such a convention was issued … Continue reading →

Still Time To Submit Video Shorts Supporting Doc Adams

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

Hi all, just a reminder that we’re still looking for more videos. So, if you’re a Doc Adams supporter, take a minute to record one and send it to us (click here). Thanks for your support. While enjoying the festivities at the Doc Adams Old Time Base Ball Festival this past weekend, several folks mentioned they liked the videos we did last year. All of which can be found on our Multimedia page. It was a bit hectic pulling them together last year while we were focusing on raising awareness about Doc Adams during a ballot year. A lot of … Continue reading →

Henry Chadwick On The Father Of Baseball

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

On August 16, 1898, Hall of Fame pioneer, Henry Chadwick wrote to his friend, Doc Adams, responding to Doc’s letter congratulating him on the title of “Father of Base Ball”. Mr. Chadwick wrote: “That title of ‘Father of Base Ball’ is out of place. Base [Ball] like Topsy ‘never had no fader’; it growed up.” Henry Chadwick in letter to Doc Adams (August 16, 1898) Mr. Chadwick wasn’t just being modest; he knew that baseball evolved from other bat and ball games and that there was no single “Father of Base Ball”. However, there are several individuals who played instrumental roles in … Continue reading →

Memories Of The Father Of Base Ball (part 2)

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

Buffalo, New York August 1939 Written by: Roger Cook Adams “During the present year when the centennial of the first out-break of base ball is being celebrated at Cooperstown, it may be of interest to record the important part played in the development of the game by an early member of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York.” … “The first five years of the existence of the Club were evidently the hardest. Enthusiasm waned and attendance lagged. There was no inter-club rivalry, and often Dr. Adams would go to Elysian Fields and find only two or three others … Continue reading →

Happy 12th Birthday DocAdamsBaseBall.org!

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

The Doc Adams Base Ball website is celebrating its 12th birthday! It’s been a fun, exciting, and rewarding ride – one that will continue until Doc and his contributions are well known by baseball fans. Hopefully, this will result in his having a plaque in the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s gallery. A lot has happened just since this website was established 12 years ago. An engaging and memorable interview of Doc Adams (Marjorie Adams) at SABR’s 6th Annual Frederick Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Base Ball Conference in Cooperstown…. Selection of Doc Adams as SABR’s 2014 Overlooked 19th Century Baseball Legend…the … Continue reading →