Posted By:
CarltonHendricksThere certainly is a lot of contention over this subject. Allow me to introduce physical evidence which doesn't necessarily prove Alexander Cartwright the father of baseball, but lends its self to that conclusion.
I wrote a story some time ago on a c1876 baseball clock; I dubbed "The Muller Clock" for its designer. In the story I presented speculation one of the men depicted in the relief work may have been Alexander Cartwright. My speculation was based on physical similarity, and that he and other Knickerbockers members laid out the rules for the first modern style baseball game on June 19th 1846. The story doesn't conclude it's him, but when the rendering is compared side by side with Cartwright's photo, I think most will agree there is a resemblance. If the rendering was intended to be Cartwright, certainly he would have had to have been held in considerable esteem. The clock was produced about 30 years after that inaugural rule setting game. However, as I recall he left the region shortly thereafter for Hawaii. So it's not like he was around to establish a renowned reputation.
Below, the images I refer to, as well as a link to the story on my site:
http://www.sportsantiques.com/MullerBBClk.htm
http://www.sportsantiques.com/MullerBBClk.htm