It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Nancy Adams Downey, great-granddaughter of Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams. She was the sister of the late Marjorie Adams, whom she helped conduct a mission to raise awareness of her great-grandfather’s contributions to the early development of our National Pastime. This, with the hope of seeing him recognized with a plaque in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

In 2021, Nancy was preceded in death by her younger sister Marjorie Adams, who spent years educating the world about their great-grand- father, Daniel “Doc” Adams, M.D., who wrote the Laws of Base Ball and presided over the 1857 convention which adopted his Laws, officially setting the number of players and innings at nine and the distance between bases at 90 feet. Nancy helped Marjorie in her quest to secure Doc’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Three months after Doc was two votes shy of the required 75% needed for induction, the original copy of Doc’s Laws sold for $3.2 million. The next generation will continue the quest for Doc’s induction.

Nancy Downey Obituary, New York Times, July. 16, 2025

Nancy’s full obituary can be read here.

Nancy participated in many events including the Coltsville Vintage Base Ball League’s Doc Adams Day, the Doc Adams Awareness Game held in Fleischmanns, NY, the Doc Adams Old Time Base Ball Festival held at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration, the Doc Adams Birthplace Classic held in Doc Adam’s hometown of Mont Vernon, NH, and the SABR Fred Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Base Ball Conference.

She was embraced by the vintage baseball community who enjoyed her engaging presence at events honoring her pioneering great-grandfather.

Nancy’s friendship, class, and grace will be greatly missed.