19c Baseball

"Baseball History. Today a multi-billion dollar industry, Baseball has come a long way from its crude and humble beginnings in the fields of 19th century America. More than a game, Baseball remains an inseparable part of the American heritage and an intrinsic part of our national psyche. For many of us, notions of team, fair play, and athletic excellence first occurred on a red clay diamond cut from a grassy field. Referred to as 'America's Pastime' since 1856, Baseball today is played by men and women of all ages and skill levels all around the world. Despite its recurrent scandals and woes, Baseball remains synonymous with the best that America has to offer. 19th Century Baseball: The Beginning: Contrary to popular belief, Baseball was not invented by a single individual, but evolved from various European "bat and ball" games. Russia had a version of Baseball called Lapta, which dates back to the fourteenth century. It consisted of two teams (five to ten members) with a pitcher and batter. The ball would be thrown to the batter who would attempt to hit it with a short stick and then run to the opposite side and back before being hit by the ball. "
19c Baseball

Evolution of Baseball Equipment
"... A minimum of equipment was employed in 19th century baseball, and changes in its regulation were infrequent. No batter wore a helmet during the 19th century. 'Gloves' did not become common until the late 1880s and the baseball has retained the same dimensions, weight and leather pattern since 1872. Only one attempt to regulate uniforms was made by the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs in 1882. This was due to the emergence of the American Association of Base Ball Clubs, which began play in 1882 and attempted to differentiate themselves from the six-year old National League."
19c Baseball: Evolution of Baseball Equipment

Baseball Catches On
"A s baseball clubs became skilled at the game the competitiveness of the clubs resulted in many great base ball matches. These all-star matches drew many observers and as the sport increased in popularity so did the attendance. Once it was established that these matches were worthy of an admission fee, professionalism eventually took over the base ball community. One year after the demise of the first openly professional base ball club, the 1869–1870 Cincinnati Red Stockings, the National Association of Base Ball Players became the first professional base ball league in the United States. As poorly and unorganized as this league was, the opportunity for future investors as another avenue of income would lead to the formation of four more professional leagues in the next 15 years."
19c Baseball: Baseball Catches On