OT: Baseball Origins

[Runscott]

Most pre-war card collectors are interested in the history of the game, so I thought this might be okay to post here.

I was digging through my collection of vintage baseball history articles, and found an old copy of an 1889 'Century' magazine, with 'Base-Ball for the Spectator' by Walter Camp. I was going to scan and post, but found that already done for me on the internet:

Base Ball for the Spectator by Walter Camp

Of particular interest is the part on page one that refers to the origins of the game. I figured Camp's view was probably better than most we've read, since he wrote it in 1889 as an adult. He talks about pro, college, etc. I found it interesting - maybe you will.

[Nashvol]

Thanks, interesting!

[Hot Springs Bathers]

I am huge Camp fan so that was great fun. John Thorn's book BASEBALL IN THE GRADEN OF EDEN is about as it comes on the earliest days of the game.

By the way if you love the early history go to Thorn's daily blog "Our Game." It is great fun but an easy way to get in trouble at work!

[Hot Springs Bathers]

oops! Garden not Graden?

[tonyo]

Thanks Scott, I thoroughly enjoyed that.

[Runscott]

My pleasure. It doesn't really say anything 'new' , but for me it validates some things that were written later.

Thanks for the Thorn recommendation. My library is about 50% baseball history, but I haven't yet read Thorn's book.

So far, David Block's 'Baseball Before We Knew it' is my favorite in terms of depth of research and presentation of thinking. It's also a good read and David's a great guy.

[deebro041]

Thank you for posting Scott! What other early Base Ball books do you recommend? I love to read Peter Morris's works, especially But Didn't We Have Fun.

[Runscott]

If you are a 19th century researcher, I think Preston Orem's book is a must.

[deebro041]

Baseball 1845-1881? Yes i have that book, 2/3 way throught it.

[mattsey9]

Sol White's History of Colored Baseball is also a must.