Early settlers of the U.S. played various ball games resembling baseball but professional baseball has its origins with the New York Knickerbockers, a team that began playing in 1846. Organized baseball had written rules, which have evolved over the years to the game fans know today.
Origins
In 1845, Alexander Cartwright, who played with the New York Knickerbockers, wrote a set of rules for the game of baseball. The first team to score 21 aces, or runs, won the game. These rules remained the standard for the game until 1872, though they were modified several times over the years. The Baseball Almanac reports that called strikes and the concept of the pop fly were introduced in 1858. The requirement to touch each base in order wasn't introduced until 1864. In 1872 the official size and weight of a baseball was established, the same specifications for the balls professional players use today.
Major League Baseball Begins
The National League debuted in 1875. This organization of baseball clubs included clubs across the U.S., and a Negro League for African-American players. The National League established rules for the precise layout of the bases, home plate and the pitcher's mound and added umpires to officiate the game. From 1879 to 1889 the number of called balls that resulted in being awarded a base varied from nine to the four which earn a player a walk today. Until 1893 the baseball bat could be flat on one side, like a cricket bat.
Modern Era
The American League formed in 1900 and the two leagues made up the Major Leagues. Catchers now used mitts and rule required pitchers to place his back foot against a pitching rubber on the mound. Baseballs had cork centers, which made them lighter. But home runs didn't play a major role in this period sometimes called the Dead Ball Era. A team used the same baseball for an entire game, so that by the later innings the ball was dirty, scuffed and misshapen. Pitchers could use almost any pitch they could contrive, including spitball or greaseballs, which batters found difficult to hit.
Babe Ruth And Jackie Robinson
In 1920, Major League Baseball outlawed spitballs and other "freak" pitches. At the same time, umpires were instructed to replace a dirty, scuffed ball with a new one. And a portly pitcher from Boston named Herman "Babe" Ruth hit 29 home runs in a season, a previously unheard of feat. The Babe continued to knock the ball out of the park as he played for New York. Other hitters such as Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Fox also became power hitters. Baseball soared in popularity and the rulebook remained relatively unchanged until the 1960s. Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and won Rookie of the Year, making way for many professional players of color.
1960s And Beyond
Baseball rules have continued to evolve since 1960. In 1968 the height of the pitcher's mound dropped 5 inches, and the following year MLB shrank the strike zone. The American League first used the designated hitter in 1973. And 2008 saw the introduction of instant replay, on a limited basis, in baseball for the first time.
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