CHAPTER 1
A BRIEF HISTORY OF BASEBALL AND ITS OUTSIDE INFLUENCES ON WESTFIELD
The origin of baseball appears to be rather uncertain, but the natural opinion seems to be that by a process of evolution it has developed. Complete History of Baseball / The New York Clipper Annual, 1891
It is hard to imagine that the above quote was written in 1891, only just a few short years since the early evolution of the game. Here we are in the twenty-first century, and still the debate rages on. If, in 1891, we cant say for sure what happened just fifty years previous, then I feel we (Westfield) have the right to make its claim on the national pastime.
Westfields earliest reference In what could be the earliest evidence of baseball playing, in Westfield, can be found in a letter to the editor of the Western Hampden Times on September 8, 1869, titled simply Ball Playing and authored by someone named 1843, The author of the letter writes about a concern he raises that no ball playing has been going on during the past summer on the old ball ground at the south end of the park. Apparently this person was upset that baseball playing just south of the Green had been stopped by some of Westfields older citizens. This person claims that he, being beyond his playing days, has fond memories of having spent many a happy hour ball-playing on that ground and it seems to me hardly possible that objections should come from such a source, and I have known that ground for twenty-five years and I have never known a serious accident to happen to passers by on account of ball-playing. That would put baseball being played in Westfield at least as far back as 1844 and probably further, plus the fact baseball just didnt startit evolved. This opening chapter is meant to give the reader a basic understanding of the traditional background of the evolution of the game, and, more importantly, how the people of Westfield were generally influenced by various outside baseball happenings during the late 19th century. I would suggest taking the time to read other (which there are many) books and documents that tell these stories, in greater depth. Keep in mind that there are as many versions as there are versions. Each has merits, each slightly different. By first understanding Westfields baseball universe, the reader will have a greater appreciation as to where it all fits. In this chapter, I will briefly touch up several key areas, such as; the Abner Doubleday myth, early forms of bat & ball games, equipment of the time, the Massachusetts and the New York game, the importance of the railroad, the major league player and professional baseball and barnstorming in the Northeast.
The Abner Doubleday myth First, lets get this out of the way. To the avid baseball historian, it is a well-known fact that Abner Doubleday had nothing to do with the invention of baseball. Its not even clear if Doubleday ever played the game at all, or why Cooperstown is considered the birthplace of baseball. In fact, in 1839, the mythical year of baseballs creation by Doubleday, he was attending West Point and would later become known as a war hero in the both the Mexican War and the Civil War as a Major General in the Union Army.
Early forms of bat & ball games Putting it in simple terms, bat and ball games have been in existence since the time of the cave man, and people in all corners of the world can claim various activities used with sticks and rocks. The American Indians can easily claim to be the first to have played bat and ball games on this continent. Early English and European settlers brought with them their versions of bat and ball games, and by the time of the American Revolution, soldiers would commonly play as a break from the war. By the early 19th century, these various games, played primarily by children, as leisure time for adults was virtually non-existent, would be known by several different names but with very similar rules and customs depending on location and origin. Some of the more common and not so common names of these games were: base, feeder, barn ball, stool ball, soak ball, town ball, one-old-cat, two-old-cat, three-old-cat, four-old-cat, wicket ball, rounders, and cricket.
These games, in particular rounders and cricket, gained in popularity in the early 19th century. From there, these games would continue to be modified and evolve into what we now know as baseball. In one direction, the game evolved toward a style of play known as the Massachusetts game, while in the other direction, the game evolved into the New York game. Westfield would head in the direction of the New York style with wicket ball being the game of choice in the region.
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