I received the latest copy of the official magazine of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Memories and Dreams (Opening Day 2024 Volume 46 Number 2), in the mail yesterday. The theme of this issue is “Dreaming Big, Amateur passion, baseball’s unyielding spirit.” Each issue is usually a fun easy read.

Something in this issue caught my eye.

Scott Pitoniak’s article “For The Love Of The Game” talks about how “amateur baseball has powered the National Pastime since its earliest days.” The article piqued my interest regarding what would be mentioned regarding the nascent amateur era – when Doc Adams played his crucial role in the development and growth of the game.

There were numerous forms of base ball (two words, initially) during those nascent years, with the rules and versions of the game varying widely, often dependent upon where in the country it was being played. Eventually the New York game took charge, with the powerful Knickerbocker Base Ball Club introducing a set of rules in 1845. Over time Knickerbocker player/president Doc Adams helped tweak and codify those guidelines, and they would be embraced nationally. Thanks to Adams’ efforts along with the rest of the members of the National Association of Base Ball Players rules committee, staples such as nine players on a diamond, three outs an inning, 90 feet between bases and nine-inning regulation games were adopted at an 1857 convention of the NABBP.

“For The Love Of The Game”, Memories and Dreams (Opening Day 2024, Volume 46, Number 2)

Although Doc Adams’ role was a bit understated in the article, it is reassuring to see the Hall of Fame singling out Adams by name. One can only hope that this acknowledgement of Doc’s role as a pioneer portends well for additional honors when the 2025 Classic Baseball Era ballot is announced and voted on later this year.