Roger Ratzenberger Reflects On Doc Adams
My wife, Cathy, and I have enjoyed the Dr. Daniel Lucius ‘Doc’ Adams journey we’ve been on for the last thirteen years and would like to take share some thoughts on it.
First of all, we would like to thank the late Marjorie Adams, Nancy Adams Downey, and their family for sharing the story of their baseball pioneering ancestor with us. On a hot Saturday afternoon, between games of an Alert Fire Hose Company doubleheader at Colt Meadows in Hartford, CT, I was introduced to someone whom I was told was “someone that I’d really want to meet”. That someone was Marjorie Adams. Cathy and I couldn’t possibly have anticipated the wonderful adventure upon which we would embark, nor the friendships that we would develop.
We have had many great times and experiences, met interesting people, learned more about the early game, and made many friends and acquaintances. Special thanks to John Thorn, Peter Mancuso, Bill Ryczek, Joe and Carol Williams, Corky Gaskell, Tom Fesolowich, Collin Miller, Zoe and Mike Fimbel, and Jeff Kornhaas.
He’s the true father of baseball and you’ve never heard of him.
John Thorn (4/7/2016)
There was a time, not too long ago, that very few people had heard of Doc Adams.
John Thorn’s rediscovery of Doc Adams changed all that with his “The True Father of Baseball” article in the debut issue of Elysian Fields Quarterly in 1992 (and 1993 edition of Total Baseball), and his subsequent classic, “Baseball in the Garden of Eden”. Thorn, the Official Historian of Major League Baseball, and other respected historians and authors have detailed Adams’ accomplishments and contributions to the game in its infancy, building a strong Hall of Fame case for Doc Adams.
We’ve recounted Doc Adams’ credentials:
- Elected Vice-President of the Knickerbockers, and President in ’47-’49, ’56, ’57 and ’61, served as a director in other years.
- Created the position of shortstop and was the first to occupy it.
- Personally made the balls and oversaw the making of bats, for the Knickerbockers and later for other NYC clubs, to enable the game to be played and help standardize its equipment.
- Appointed to a committee to arrange a joint set of rules for the Knickerbockers, Gothams, and Eagle clubs.
- Elected presiding officer of the first baseball convention and Chair of the Rules Committee to standardize the rules of play.
- Authored the ‘Laws of Base Ball’ which was presented to the convention and established and codified.
- 9 men per side
- 9 innings of play
- 90 feet between bases and 45 feet from pitcher’s base to home
- Advocated for the ‘fly’ game: ball caught on 1st bounce no longer an ‘out’ – not adopted until 1865
- Presided as Chair of the National Association of Base Ball Players Rules Committee until his retirement from the Knickerbockers and the game.
Marjorie Adams conducted awareness efforts to educate people on Doc’s role as a pioneer of our National Pastime and his importance to baseball’s survival and growth during its nascent period. Her tireless efforts to spread the story of her great-grandfather enlightened and inspired many baseball fans. She shared her great-grandfather’s case with a broader audience, including people who normally weren’t interested in the details of the early game, as well as some folks who still thought Abner Doubleday “invented” baseball.
90% of what I know about Doc Adams I know because of John Thorn, plain and simple…
I would not know as much as I know about Doc if it weren’t for John Thorn, first and foremost, and he’s been very kind and very generous with his knowledge. Absolutely. And what an honor it is to have had his help and so forth I’m just very blessed. Thank you, John.
“My Baseball History – Episode 202”, Marjorie Adams
So, much of what I have learned, all of this, I owe it to several fine historians…
John Thorn, of course, who is the Official Historian for Major League Baseball.
Bill Ryczek, Richard Hershberger, Peter Morris, Thomas Gilbert, Eric Miklich. These men are amazing for what they have found out. They really are.
I knew more personal stuff, of course, than they did, but all this baseball stuff. Anything I know about it; I owe to those men.
And Peverelly,… Charles Peverelly…
So, I owe all these people an awful lot. They taught me 500 times more about Doc than I ever knew when I was starting out.
“Roller Out The Barrel Podcast: #6 Marjorie Adams”, Marjorie Adams
We’ve shared documented facts, research, and recognition from baseball experts, historians, authors, and others including:
- John Thorn, Official Historian of Major League Baseball; Author; who re-discovered Doc Adams
- Peter Mancuso, Chairman, Nineteenth Century Research Committee, Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); 2020 SABR Bob Davids Award
- William Ryczek, baseball historian, Author
- Hal Bock, former Associated Press baseball writer and Hall of Fame voter
- Jay Jaffe, FanGraphs
- Joe Williams, baseball historian, writer, and Co-chair of SABR’s Overlooked 19th Century Base Ball Legends Project
- John Zinn, baseball historian and Chairman of the Board of the New Jersey Historical Society
- Bruce Allardice, baseball historian, author, Editor of SABR’s “Origins of Baseball” Committee Newsletter
- Andrew J. Schiff, author, SABR member
- Graham Womack, writer and baseball historian
- Jacob Newcomb, Maine Baseball Historian; President, Dirigo Base Ball Club of Maine
- Robert D. Sampson, Ph.D., Author; Department of History and Political Science, Millikin University
- Gary Schiappacasse, Vintage Base Ball Association (VBBA)
- Tom Fesolowich, President of the Mutuals Base Ball Club of New York (host of the longest running Vintage Base Ball Festival of its kind)
- Collin “Stumpy” Miller, Captain and President of Fleischmanns Mountain Athletic Club (M.A.C.) Vintage Base Ball and co-trustee of the Vintage Base Ball Association (VBBA).
- Brian Sheehy, educator and baseball historian
- Corky Gaskell, baseball historian, 19th century base ball manufacturer, SABR member
- Bob Lazzari, Sports Columnist, Sports Talk Show Host
- Mayor Justin Elicker, Mayor of New Haven, CT
- Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive
- Governor John Sununu, Governor of New Hampshire
- Senator Richard Blumenthal, United States Senator
We’ve referenced many books on baseball history, several written by respected members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) including (to name just a few):
- “The True Father of Baseball”, Elysian Fields Quarterly, 11-1, John Thorn (1992)
- “Baseball in the Garden of Eden“, John Thorn (2012)
- “Baseball’s First Inning“, Bill Ryczek (2009)
- “The Book of American Pastimes“, Charles A. Peverelly (1868)
- “Base Ball: 1845-1871“, Seymour R. Church
- “The Father of Baseball: A Biography of Henry Chadwick” Andrew J. Schiff
- “1860 Beadle’s Dime Base Ball Player“
We’ve shared SABR’s biography of Doc Adams (written by John Thorn).
We’ve detailed recent events and recognitions including:
- Doc Adams’ selection as SABR’s 2014 19th Century Overlooked Baseball Legend
- Adams appearing on a National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the 1st time in 2015, 153 years after he retired from the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club, and falling just 2 votes shy of election.
- The re-discovery of Doc Adams’ handwritten “Laws of Base Ball” in 2016, its sale, at auction, for $3.26 million, and its exhibition at the Library of Congress.
- The renaming of the longest running annual Vintage Base Ball Festival of its kind as the Doc Adams Old Time Base Ball Festival.
- The establishment of the annual Doc Adams Birthplace Classic Vintage Base Ball game(s).
- The Doc Adams Memorial Classic in New Haven, CT.
- 2024’s “A Pitch for Doc Adams“
We’ve also highlighted several Podcast episodes.
Adams was on the Hall of Fame ballot for 2016, but Baseball’s Pre-integration Era Committee gave him 10 of 16 votes, he needed 12. The new document may be what he needs for induction.
“Baseball’s History Re-written”, Andrew Dalton, AP
With the recent discovery of his “Laws of Base Ball” we have tangible primary evidence of his genius. More than anyone else, he created our game of nine innings, nine men, and ninety-foot base paths.
“5 Inventors“, Our Game, John Thorn
We’ve highlighted Dr. Daniel Adams, in his own words, in the seminal 1896 Sporting News article, “Dr. D. L. Adams: Memoirs of the Father of Base Ball” as well as an earlier 1895 article, “The Father of the National Game Still Living in New Haven” from The Chicago Chronicle.
For his role in making baseball the success it is, Doc Adams may be counted as first among the Fathers of Baseball.
Doc Adams’ bio in the SABR Baseball Biography Project, John Thorn
The Hall of Fame’s mission is to “preserve the sport’s history, honor excellence within the game and make a connection between the generations of people who enjoy baseball.” The Museum is committed to fulfilling its mission by:
Honoring, by enshrinement, those individuals who had exceptional careers, and recognizing others for their significant achievements.
National Baseball Hall of Fame’s mission statement
He [Doc Adams] is baseball’s most important figure not in the Hall of Fame.
“5 Inventors“, Our Game, John Thorn
When reviewing the documented facts, the educated opinions of respected baseball historians, and the impact of Dr. Daniel Lucius ‘Doc’ Adams, M.D.’s contributions to the development of our National Pastime, if the National Baseball Hall of Fame is to live up to its mission, there is no choice but to finally recognize this pioneer with enshrinement. A fair and honest assessment by the Historical Overview and Classic Baseball Era Committees can produce no other outcome. A 160-year wait is more than long enough.
Doc Adams has been dead since 1899; he is too well versed in the art of patience.
Twitter, John Thorn (@thorn_john)
The question isn’t “will Dr. Daniel Lucius ‘Doc’ Adams, M.D. be elected to the Hall of Fame?” but rather, “how can you have a National Baseball Hall of Fame that lives up to its mission without Doc Adams as a member?“
“The Hall of Fame knows about this story. They know that Adams is going to be a member of the Hall of Fame at some point.”
“Baseball in the Garden of Eden”, The Oregon Historical Society, John Thorn
The Hall of Fame knows, baseball historians know, authors and writers know, and we know. Hopefully the Historical Overview Committee and the Classic Baseball Era Committee will admit that they know as well. Should Doc Adams Be In The Hall Of Fame? Of Course!
We will continue to raise awareness of Dr. Daniel Lucius ‘Doc’ Adams as we hope to see his contributions and achievements finally are formally acknowledged with a plaque in the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s gallery.
To be clear, we are not creating a narrative, or inventing “evidence” for Doc Adams’ Hall of Fame case. We are simply sharing historical data, and documented positions of respected baseball historians, authors, and writers, while introducing Doc Adams to a wider audience of baseball fans.
We now anxiously await the announcement of the 2025 Classic Baseball Era ballot hoping to see Doc Adams named as one of the finalists and finally voted into the Hall!
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Marjorie Adams is “Administrator Emeritus” of the 40,000 member Facebook group, “Baseball 1857 thru 1993” which I founded. I used the starting date of “1857” as that is when Doc Adams wrote “The Laws of Base Ball.”