American baseball was invented by Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, New York in 1839. Abner went on to become a Civil War hero.
I find it interesting how the game has changed over time especially with the equipment they use. When the game began, the players didn't have gloves. This wasn't too much of an issue as the players threw the ball underhanded, but when this changed, the players' hands were getting injured.
In 1875, a player for Boston showed up to play with a work glove on his hand that had the finger holes cut out. The opposing players and fans from the opposing team ridiculed him non-stop challenging his manhood, but he took it in stride, at least his hand didn't swell from catching the ball.
A.G. Spalding (former pitcher), saw the glove this guy was wearing and was intrigued by the idea so he and his brothers began a sports equipment company in 1876, and one of their first products was a leather glove with finger holes; later their gloves covered the entire hand.
In 1888, a man created a special glove for catchers and it took off because Spalding enhanced the design and began selling it. Isn't it amazing that over 140 years later, Spalding gloves are still so popular? After not using it for a couple of decades, I finally sold my Spalding baseball glove at a yard sale. :)
I find it interesting how the game has changed over time especially with the equipment they use. When the game began, the players didn't have gloves. This wasn't too much of an issue as the players threw the ball underhanded, but when this changed, the players' hands were getting injured.
In 1875, a player for Boston showed up to play with a work glove on his hand that had the finger holes cut out. The opposing players and fans from the opposing team ridiculed him non-stop challenging his manhood, but he took it in stride, at least his hand didn't swell from catching the ball.
A.G. Spalding (former pitcher), saw the glove this guy was wearing and was intrigued by the idea so he and his brothers began a sports equipment company in 1876, and one of their first products was a leather glove with finger holes; later their gloves covered the entire hand.
In 1888, a man created a special glove for catchers and it took off because Spalding enhanced the design and began selling it. Isn't it amazing that over 140 years later, Spalding gloves are still so popular? After not using it for a couple of decades, I finally sold my Spalding baseball glove at a yard sale. :)
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