The Doc Adams Base Ball website is celebrating it’s 9th birthday!

A lot has happened just since this website was established nine 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 longest running Vintage Base Ball festival of its kind renamed the Doc Adams Old Time Base Ball Festival…Doc appearing on the 2016 Pre-integration Era Committee Ballot… and sadly, coming up 2 votes shy of election…the re-discovery of the ‘Laws of Base Ball‘  authored by Doc in 1857 which baseball historian John Thorn refers to as baseball’s Magna Carta which sold at auction for $3.26M…….Marjorie Adams presented, and received an honorable mention for her research presentation “Doc Adams: A Founding Father of Baseball” at the SABR 47 National Conference in New York City…signs honoring Doc Adams were dedicated in his hometown of Mont Vernon… the Doc Adams Birthplace Classic now held annually in Doc Adams’ hometown…Doc Adams’ “Laws of Base Ball” exhibited at the Library of Congress.

Since our last birthday…

The Fleischmanns Mountain Athletic Club (M.A.C.) and the Mudville Base Ball Club, from the Boston area, played a lively and entertaining doubleheader of 1860’s style baseball at the historic M.A.C Grounds in Fleischmanns, NY, dubbed the Doc Adams Awareness games.

The Doc Adams Birthplace Classic returned last September for another great event on a beautiful day.

After a 6 year wait since Doc first appeared on a Hall of Fame ballot when he only missed by 2 votes, the 2016 top vote getter was shockingly omitted from the 2022 ballot by the Early Baseball Era Committee in November of 2021. Since the ‘Laws of Base Ball’ were rediscovered subsequent to that election, the snub was completely inexplicable. Especially since the second highest vote-getter on that 2016 ballot was named to a ballot for the 6th time!

The Hall of Fame again changed their Era Committee rules. Rather than having to wait until the 2032 ballot, Doc will now be eligible every three years starting with the 2025 (or until the Hall changes their rules again). However, that’s the only good news as the rule changes favor more modern players (the Classic Baseball Era spans all years pre-1980), makes selection even more challenging (ballot reduced from 10 to 8), and lacks robust historical knowledge among those chosen to establish the ballot. It remains to be seen what it will take for the Hall to abandon myths and honor one of baseball’s true pioneers.

Marjorie Adams was announced as SABR’s Smoky Joe Wood Chapter’s Inaugural Doc Adams Award recipient, and was remembered and honored at the 2022 Michigan Vintage Base Ball Festival,

The Knickerbocker Experience, brainchild of Jeff ‘Pinetar’ Kornhaas, debuted at the Great Gettysburg 19th Century Base Ball Festival and subsequently made an appearance at the always incredible Doc Adams Old Time Base Ball Festival at the Old Behpage Village Restoration.

We look forward to continuing to advance the truth of the origins of the game of baseball and ensure that Dr. Daniel Lucius ‘Doc’ Adams, M.D. is acknowledged for his contributions and achievements in the advancement of the game. Thanks to all our visitors for expressing interest, checking us out, and helping us spread the word!

Please share Dr. Daniel Lucius Adams, MD’s story and help spread the word. Share  on social media – how exciting it would be if this went viral. All baseball fans should know who Doc Adams was and what he contributed to our National Pastime.

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