As Hall of Fame observed Memorial Day with their Military Classic: A Tribute to Service and Sacrifice and America 250 tributes, Doc Adams’ handwritten “Laws of Base Ball” debuted in the Taking the Field exhibit.
The “Laws of Base Ball” are now on long-term loan and on display in the National Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY thanks to their owner, Hayden Trubitt.
The exhibit provides fans with an opportunity to view the “Magna Carta of Baseball” and learn about the rules contained within these groundbreaking documents. Its interactive design creates an engaging experience for both youngsters and adults alike.
However, for Doc Adams, the exhibit is ultimately a swing and a miss. Visitors leave without learning about Adams and the leadership role he played in helping evolve baseball from a game into a sport. His name remains conspicuously absent from the Hall, and in this case, as is the name of William Grenelle.
The display of the 1845 Knickerbocker Rules does acknowledge William R. Wheaton and William H. Tucker, while Alexander Cartwright is honored with his own bronze plaque.
The “Laws of Base Ball” are now on long-term loan and on display in the National Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY thanks to their owner, Hayden Trubitt. The documents have been described by the Hall of Fame as follows:
The rules of baseball are engrained in the American culture to a magnitude unlike those of almost any other game. But those regulations changed repeatedly as they coalesced in the national consciousness.
Memories and Dreams, Spring 2026 Volume 48 Issue 1
Beginning Memorial Day Weekend, visitors to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown will have a first-hand look at an important part of that evolution.
On loan from baseball fan Hayden Trubitt, drafts of rules penned circa 1857 by the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club will be on display in the Museum’s Taking The Field exhibit. The handwritten documents, originally submitted as part of a convention called to codify the rules of the emerging National Pastime, address topics still relevant to today’s game, such as player movement from team to team and gambling.
These proposed rules, later amended and approved at the convention, also addressed the length of games, formalized nine players to a side and clarified regulations that were unaddressed in earlier rule books.
These documents, which will be exhibited in a special case designed to preserve their structural integrity, will be formally unveiled on Friday, May 22, as part of the Hall of Fame’s Memorial Day celebration of America’s 250th birthday.
On loan from baseball fan Hayden Trubitt, drafts of rules penned circa 1857 by the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club will be on display in the Museum’s Taking The Field exhibit. Submitted as part of a convention called to codify rules of the emerging national pastime, the handwritten documents address topics still relevant to today’s game such as player movement from team to team and gambling.
These proposed rules, later amended and approved at the convention, also addressed the length of games, formalized nine players to a side, and clarified regulations that were left unaddressed in earlier rule books.
Groundbreaking ‘Rules of Base Ball’ Documents Debut This Spring at Museum, Baseball Hall.org, January 14, 2026
High praise is given to the documents, yet there is a surprising absence of recognition for the pivotal pioneer who led the Knickerbockers for nearly a decade, chaired the Knickerbocker committee that organized the first baseball convention in 1857, was elected president of that convention, and later served as head of the rules committee of the National Association of Base Ball Players until his retirement from the game.
The Hall of Fame chose to attribute the authorship of these rules broadly to the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club, even while continuing to refer to Alexander Cartwright as the “Father of Modern Baseball.”
One can only wonder – why is the Hall so reluctant to acknowledge Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams?
On a high note, despite the miserable weather, the Hall of Fame did a tremendous job with its Military Classic. Among the highlights were appearances by Rick Monday, who reflected on saving the American flag from being burned in 1976; Brittany Apgar and Alyssa Zettlemoyer, members of the new Women’s Professional Baseball League; and two Mets favorites — Todd Zeile, a descendant of John Adams and possible relative of Doc Adams, and Daniel Murphy, who shared his interest in the dead-ball era.
Saturday evening’s Night at the Museum was a resounding success, giving fans the opportunity to meet and talk with players and managers. Special recognition should go to the Hall of Fame staff, whose gracious hospitality helped ensure a memorable experience for everyone in attendance.