Tag Archives: Doc Adams

Remembering Marjorie Adams And Her Great-Grandfather’s Appearance On A HOF Ballot

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

Today would have been Marjorie Adams’ 75th birthday. Marjorie’s tireless efforts to spread the story of her great-grandfather, Doc Adams, enlightened and inspired many baseball fans. Marjorie conducted a campaign 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 goal was to see him recognized with long overdue enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. She made many ‘baseball’ friends, particularly in the vintage base ball community. She is greatly missed. When talking about Doc, Marjorie often said that “she has all … Continue reading →

The National Association

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

When the Knickerbockers met on December 6, 1856, they resolved “to call a convention of the various base ball clubs of this city and vicinity.” The New York Herald, in reporting on this meeting, observed: “We understand the object of this convention is to promote additional interest in base ball playing, by the getting up of grand matches on a scale not heretofore attempted.” The anticipated outcome would be to inaugurate new clubs and to strengthen existing ones, by conforming the rules and making the game more “scientific” and difficult to play—”manly,” in the preferred term of the day, like … Continue reading →

Birth Of The National Association Of Base Ball Players

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

In Francis C. Richter’s (editor of Sporting Life) book, “Richter’s History and Records of Base Ball” written in 1914, is a comprehensive work among the early books on baseball. This volume is designed to supply the growing need of a concise, yet complete, record of our National Game, from its remote inception and humble beginning to the present period of magnificent development to real national stature. It is also designed to serve this purpose in such form as to make it valuable, possibly indispensable, as a book of special information, of ready reference, and of general interest to all lovers … Continue reading →

The American National Game Of Base Ball (1856)

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

The December 6, 1856 issue of Porter’s Spirit of the Times provided a season wrap-up of sorts including a description of the pioneer Knickerbocker Base Ball Club and its ballists. Of course, this includes a shorts capsule of the good doctor. The principal players in the club, and have usually composed their ‘First Nine’, … Adams, as short field has for many years, been deservedly distinguished. Excellent as a catcher and probably the most accurate thrower in any club. A ball sent by him to first base rarely fails in proving fatal to the runner. He strikes with great force, … Continue reading →

Doc Adams’ Youngest Son’s Recollections Of His Father

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

Roger Cook Adams wrote the “Nestor of Ball Players” about his father in August 1939. Besides some facts about Doc’s contributions, it’s interesting how Roger Cook Adams highlighted how Doc’s passion for the game was invaluable to the early game, The first five years of the existence of the Club were evidently the hardest. Enthusiasm waned and attendance lagged. There was no inter-club rivalry, and often Dr. Adams would go to Elysian Fields and find only two or three others present, compelling them to play “old cat, one or two as the case might be.” The continued existence of the … Continue reading →

2024 Video Memories

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

As part of our awareness efforts this year, we shared a number of short videos about Doc Adams events and support. Due to the response, we will continue using this format in the future, Here’s a sample of this year’s videos in case you missed them.

Continue reading →

Doc Adams Moves To Ridgefield

Doc Adams Base Ball (Official) Posted on by

In late 1865, Doc and Cornelia moved to Ridgefield, Connecticut and in 1866 the first of their four surviving children, Catharine, was born. In a family tape recording made in late 1961 by their youngest and last surviving child, Roger Cook Adams (1874-1962), explains that Ridgefield was chosen because of the “altitude” and for “my mother’s health”. In a December 1865 letter, Cornelia wrote to a cousin: We have hung some of the pictures – have the Resolutions [*] as large as life in the dining room – the glass was cracked in coming up –the only one that was … Continue reading →