Doc Adams’ “Laws of Base Ball” will debut shortly as part of the “Taking the Field” exhibit. We are excited that Hayden Trubitt has loaned these foundational documents to the Hall of Fame. This will be the third public display of the “Laws” and arguably, the most important.

The documents, which will be exhibited in a special case designed to preserve their structural integrity, will be formally unveiled in the Museum on Friday, May 22, as part of the Hall of Fame’s Memorial Day Weekend celebration of America’s 250th birthday.

“We are honored and grateful that Hayden Trubitt will provide our Museum guests the opportunity to learn about these documents, how they helped advance the game, and how they remain relevant to baseball today,” said Josh Rawitch, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “Our visitors come to Cooperstown to experience baseball history, and these documents mark a critical turning point in the history of our national pastime. It is very appropriate that this story will now be told at the home of baseball.”

“Groundbreaking ‘Rules of Base Ball’ Documents Debut This Spring at Museum”, National Baseball Hall of Fame

We hope that the exhibit will provide the museum’s guests with a real opportunity to learn about the “Laws of Base Ball” and Doc Adams’ pioneering role in the development of our national pastime during its early years. Based on the initial publicity, we’re hoping for a big surprise.

Here’s some background on the “Taking the Field” exhibit.

This exhibit offers an overview of baseball’s origins, featuring more than 150 artifacts.

As you enter the exhibit, be sure to check out the Eckford Ball Case, featuring trophy balls from the Eckford club of the mid-1800s. Each ball is inscribed with the game score and the opposing team’s name.

Taking the Field focuses on amateur baseball, the evolution of pro ball and equipment. Visitors will see the first catcher’s mask, the ball from the first game at which admission was charged and the oldest surviving uniform in existence.

Ambient 19th century baseball music complements the exhibit, while an interactive video quiz helps illustrate the baseball rules of the time.

Be sure to take notice of the custom-made Victorian wallpaper, emblematic of time period. This reproduction paper was manufactured at the nearby Fenimore Farm & Country Village.

“Taking the Field: The 19th Century”, National Baseball Hall of Fame

Hope to see many folks there on opening weekend to take the opportunity to see this “groundbreaking” document handwritten by baseball pioneer