A New Exhibit Explores the Origin of Baseball

A new exhibit in London explores the origin of baseball. The exhibit traces the game’s evolution alongside cricket, crossing the Atlantic with English settlers to America. While many people believe baseball was invented in the US, it may have evolved from bat and ball games that were already popular in England. Whether this is true or not, it’s still hard to say what the sport really was until the late 19th century when organized leagues started.

One of the most popular theories about the origin of baseball is that it was developed from the British game called rounders. The two games resemble each other in some ways, although the rules are very different. By the early 18th century, games resembling baseball were being played in America as well. In fact, Jane Austen even wrote about a version of the game in her book Northanger Abbey.

However, it was not until the Civil War that a game was developed into what we know today. This was when professional baseball leagues began to form and teams were able to make money. Until this time, the game was mostly a pastime for men who often took part in it for entertainment or wagering.

The first game of organized baseball was held on June 19, 1846 in Hoboken, New Jersey. It was between the Knickerbocker club and the Gotham club. This game was heavily altered by amateur clubs in New York City, but the rules became very similar to the modern game of baseball. During this time, baseball was a segregated sport due to racism in the United States and it was not until after the Civil War that African American teams were able to play professionally.