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John SAgain Sean, your local public library should have plenty of information regarding this question.
I really cannot blame you for expecting quick answers for every single question. Information in the age of the internet has become a cheap commodity. The high school where I teach, in an attempt to appear progressive, no longer has books in the library. We have an e-library with computer terminals linked to the interenet. Why make the students read those silly dusty old books when answers to most questions are just keystrokes away?
Sean, as many of us have stated before, we would be more than happy to help with your collecting endeavors. The question that you pose is a complex one with no concrete answer. Most books on the history of baseball devote at least a chapter to the origins of the game. Check one out of your local library.