Games involving a ball and some sort of a wooden stick type of device have been around since well before written history began. It is believed that in Northern Africa, the Berbers were playing such games as early as 6000 BC. I myself would not be surprised if it had been played in the caveman era. I can just see it two rival hunting parties hunting close to each other, unaware of the others presense. One member of one party spots the other. The two parties at least know each other. The one member points them out to another member of his own party and threatens to throw histories first beanball. His victim turns in time to hit the first gopherball well over the hurlers head. A game then breaks out!!
Today we mark the anniversary of Baseballs first game between two clubs. The game was played on June 19, 1846 at Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey. This version of the game was called the New York Game. Alexander Joy Cartwright and his Knickerbocker Club altered the rules of game and later took their version of the game on a tour that ended in Hawaii. Cartwright settled in Hawaii, thus explaining why there is a cartwright road in Honolulu. On this date they challenged a group formed to play the game with them called the New York Nine. The game was played in Hoboken because the Knickerbockers could not find a suitable place in play in Manhatten, the future home of the Polo Grounds and several other sports facilities. The New York Nine won the game easily and quickly disbanded afterwards with their place in sports history secure.
Tomorrow we look at a Womens Basketball League at its founding.
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