In 1980, Nelson Doubleday, Jr., president and CEO of Doubleday and Company, was instrumental in the company’s decision to buy the New York Mets baseball team from the Payson family. Of course, the press had a field day because Nelson, Jr. was related to the mythical inventor of baseball, General Abner Doubleday of Cooperstown. However, Nelson, Jr. was not a direct descendant of Abner but was likely related through a shared ancestor several generations back.

All the talk of Doubleday prompted a young Nathan Adams Downey, great-great-grandson of Daniel Lucius ‘Doc’ Adams, to write a letter to the New York Times about his ancestor’s pioneering role during baseball’s nascent stage. With the letter, he shared an account of Doc Adams’ role in the game written in 1939 by Doc’s youngest son, Roger Cook Adams.

This New York Times article spurred interest in Doc Adams that led to much research into his background and contributions (most notably by John Thorn). This research not only confirmed Doc’ Adams’ role as a pioneer but established a solid case for his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The rediscovery of his handwritten “Laws of Base Ball” should have sealed the deal, but as of 2026, he still awaits that honor.

Here is the letter: