1857 Convention of Base Ball Players – 160 Years Ago Today

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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 →

The Father of Base Ball ca. 1895!

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In doing some Doc Adams research, Cathy Ratzenberger, came across the article to the left. It was in the June 30, 1895 edition of the Saint Paul Daily Globe and pre-dates the seminal Sporting News article of February 24, 1896, “Dr. D.  L. Adams: Memoirs of the Father of Base Ball“. The full page containing the article can be found at the Library of Congress site. The most interesting aspect of the article is that Dr. Daniel L. Adams is referred to as the “The Father of Base Ball” and the “Originator of the National Game”. There is also a very nice … Continue reading →

Doc Adams Finally Appears On Hall of Fame Ballot But Falls 2 Votes Short

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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 →

Knickerbocker Meeting – 160 Years Ago Today

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By John Thorn, author, Baseball in the Garden of Eden When the Knickerbockers met on December 6, 1856, they resolved “to call a convention of the various base ball clubs of this city and vicinity.” The New York Herald, in reporting on this meeting, observed: “We understand the object of this convention is to promote additional interest in base ball playing, by the getting up of grand matches on a scale not heretofore attempted.” The anticipated outcome would be to inaugurate new clubs and to strengthen existing ones, by conforming the rules and making the game more “scientific” and difficult … Continue reading →

Doc Adams #17 On 40 Most Important People In Baseball History

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Graham Womack recently wrote a piece, “The 40 most important people in baseball history, ranked” on The Sporting News website. “The greatest thing about baseball, perhaps, is its history. In nearly 150 years of play in leagues and informal competition that goes back further, many people have made baseball’s history what it is today.” The article lists 40 players, but top executives, media members and even Supreme Court jurists who have done the most to shape Major League Baseball. Doc Adams appears as #17 on the list!

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From a Game to a Sport – Baseball in the 1850s

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Noted author, Bill Ryczek recently published an article, “From a Game to a Sport – Baseball in the 1850s”  on The National Pastime Museum website. It is a very interesting article on the early days of baseball. Definitely worth a read for baseball fans in general and Doc Adams fans in  particular. The article includes Doc’s contributions to the game of baseball, his post-baseball life, and Marjorie Adams’ quest to have her great-grandfather recognized with enshrinement in  the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Doc Adams Appears on Hall Of Fame Ballot For The 1st Time

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On October 5, 2015, Daniel Lucius ‘Doc’ Adams appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time as the National Hall of Fame announced the 10 candidates on the 2016 Pre-integration Era ballot. This marked a major milestone in the efforts to have Doc recognized with enshrinement. For a more detailed announcement read DOC ADAMS HELPED SHAPE BASEBALL’S EARLIEST DAYS. Sadly, he came up 2 votes short for election. Doc will next be eligible for the ballot in 2020, for 2021 Induction. Thanks for your continued support as we take this final step to achieve the final goal of getting Doc his long … Continue reading →

Baseball in the Garden of Eden Lecture at Oregon Historical Society

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John Thorn recently gave a lecture in the Oregon Historical Society’s summer series, entitled, “Baseball in the Garden of Eden (can be heard in its entirety here)“. It was on the occasion of the ‘Laws of Base Ball’ making its public debut at the Oregon Historical Society.  The lecture was enlightening and entertaining (would have loved to have been there) and definitely worth a listen. Three key highlights (with their approximate location within the audio file) of the lecture are transcribed below: (37:12) When the veteran’s committee of the Baseball Hall of Fame voted on Adams last year, one of the reasons that … Continue reading →

The Father of Baseball

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On August 16, 1898, Henry Chadwick wrote me responding to my 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 like Topsy ‘never had no fader’ it growed up.” Mr.Chadwick was being modest, however there were others who could share that title. The entire letter can be read here.

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