There is often disagreement about the origin of the baseball. For more than 90 years, people have believed in the myth that Abner Doubleday invented baseball. Baseball developed slowly, and changed with time, and that is why it is called America's national pastime. Some believe it was a popular game from England where milkmaids and farmer hands would toss a softball underhand and hit it with a closed fist. Others even say it was evolved from cricket. From 1905-07, a special investigation was done to find the beginning of baseball. An old man, claiming to be one of Abner Doubleday's childhood's friend, swore that he invented baseball in 1839, in Cooperstown, New York (Stewart 5). The fact of the matter is Doubleday was at the United States Military Academy at West Point when he supposedly invented this game. There was also a diary found of his, and there were no writings that mentioned baseball.
             Baseball has been tracked as far back as the late 1700's, along with a few other children's games. These include bat and ball, stool ball, town ball, and one-old-cat. These games all had different rules, but they all had something in common; the ball is thrown to a person with a bat, that person hits the ball, and runs to the bases. Sound familiar? This game was also known as rounders, which was mostly played by girls (Margolies, 11). This game came to the United States in the 18th century by the English immigrants. Rounders included the four bases, a feeder, and a striker (pitcher, and a batter). A player was called "out" when they swung and, missed the ball three times, being struck by the ball, or an outfielder caught a fly ball (Stewart 6).
             Playing a sport in the 1700's was frowned upon. Working up a good sweat was considered harmful. Physical games and competitions were unheard of. Any kind of simple competitions were viewed as pastimes for children and low-class ruffians. Part of the problems w...