In April of 1905, a call went out from Albert Spalding looking to learn about the “origin of baseball”. Based on the Knickerbocker members he listed; his call was about ten to fifteen years too late. Now granted, the Knickerbockers weren’t really the first base ball club. And yes, Spalding had a personal agenda that eventually led to the establishment of the Abner Doubleday myth.

Was Spalding even aware of the Doc Adams interview in the February 29, 1896, issue of the Sporting News (et al)? Not likely.

Adams was humble and could not foresee what baseball would become; however, he and the other early baseball pioneers could have provided more insight into the early game.

If Doc Adams was looking down on Hartford Saturday, he was probably blushing. He was that type.

To hear his accomplishments recited, his virtues extolled and see the pride in the faces of his great, great-great and great-great-great grandchildren, the old Doc might well have been embarrassed by it all.

“Doc Adams Finally Recognized As A Founder Of Baseball”, Dom Amore, September 10, 2011

We wonder how much more light could have been shed on those early days of the game had the process started several years earlier. It seems that all the folks referenced below were deceased by the turn of the century. How might the telling of the story of baseball’s early days unfolded had there been more actual first-hand accounts?

Since, one myth was simply replaced with another, we’ll never know.

However, maybe we wouldn’t need to be conducting this effort to raise awareness of Adams and his contributions to our National Pastime. Maybe, just maybe, the National Baseball Hall of Fame would be doing that job already. But they’re not.

Of course, it’s never too late, even if we have to wait another 3 years!

Doc Adams never realized the impact he had on others. He could not have conceived what the National Pastime would become. We owe it to him, the game, and history to ensure that people know his story and he is appropriately recognized in the Hall of Fame.

… I was very happy to receive your congratulations upon the completion of my 83^rd year – a long life measured by the ordinary standard.  It covers a period of wonderful development and achievement in every direction – an increase in the wealth, population and enterprise of the country which seem like the magic of a fairy tale, and I shall leave the world in possession of agencies and comforts undreamed of in my youth.  In the ordinary course of events each succeeding age is one of greater development than its predecessor, and we are very ready to believe that our own can never be equaled, but it requires little observation to perceive that every succeeding step is made easier by the multiplied resources of those that follow.  I have been an observer only, amazed at the brain power and energy exercised by the great inventors and workers of the world but contributing nothing to the marvelous results.  My life, upon the whole has been a happy one – a happy home with no discordant domestic note, and I thank God that my children have ever been sources of unalloyed pleasure...

                                                                               All send greetings
Write often to father
DLA

Letter from Doc Adams to his son, Roger Adams; November 10, 1897

Because people didn’t really know about him. This is not a family into self-promotion. This is not a family that would boast or brag. That’s not our way, and I think it’s really a matter of education. So, I’m not trying to, I’m not trying so much to get Doc in the Hall, although that of course is the desired result. I really want to educate people about Doc so that they say “wow, he should be in the Hall of Fame.” And about six years ago I was talking to a local sportswriter about Doc and he looked at me and he said, “I guess you can’t tell the history of baseball without Doc Adams.” And well, that line struck me because it’s obvious, it’s true. So, I’m really here to educate people about Doc so they realize how obvious it is that he should be in the hall.

“ROTB EXTRA #6-MARJORIE ADAMS”, The Roller Out the Barrel Podcast