Baseball came from England?

[Virginia Mescher]

Re: Baseball came from England?

This is Virginia's spouse posting.

In calling a game "baseball", I don't find the description from the 18th century with its different rules to be any different than a pickup game today that has fewer (or more) players on a side and a lot of made-up rules that would make a purist cringe. Both could be called "baseball" by their players. It is indeed interesting to know that there were some games further in the past than the 1840's that were called baseball.

However, what would be most important to civil war reenactors would be to know what was being played in the 1860's and what equipment was being used. Many times I've seen a game of "Rounders" on the program for an event done in the apparent belief that baseball hadn't been invented yet. The players were using a modern bat and a softball with its "key" interlocked cover on the ball. Heavens knows what rules they were using. Let's work hard to get our portrayal of 1860's baseball correct and the history of possible precursors becomes just something to mention in explaining the history.

Just my two cents.

Michael Mescher

[Mcouioui]

Re: Baseball came from England?

HaHaHa I was thinking the same thing! The next thing they are going to tell us is hot dogs came from france! LOL :tounge_sm

No, no, we make of the good food... We :D:D:D
And french frie, comes from Belgium, no France:tounge_sm

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: Baseball came from England?

Did you see my post earlier in the thread that quotes a mid-18th century British description of the game of "base ball," just a few years prior to the letter? It seems reasonable that the letter is referring to the same game.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

Nope Hank... sorry. I'm a dumb dumb. I'll take a look... :D

Thanks -Johnny

[Tennessee Boy]

Re: Baseball came from England?

Guys

There are baseball leagues in South Wales, around Newport, Cardiff and Swansea, also in Liverpool and some parts of London. Even internationals between Wales and England. Most kids in South Wales play baseball, rather than cricket in the summer(in my day anyway).

Our game is a cross between rounders/softball and baseball.

The reason; its a mix up between our native game and the game brought over from US sailors off the boats on the Atlantic ports, possibly from WWII.

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: Baseball came from England?

Guys

There are baseball leagues in South Wales, around Newport, Cardiff and Swansea, also in Liverpool and some parts of London. Even internationals between Wales and England. Most kids in South Wales play baseball, rather than cricket in the summer(in my day anyway).

Our game is a cross between rounders/softball and baseball.

The reason; its a mix up between our native game and the game brought over from US sailors off the boats on the Atlantic ports, possibly from WWII.

Do tell more, sir... we need more ideas from across the pond for a different perspective here.

I thought the English 'base ball' game was being played still on a low-key level (compared to cricket). I didn't know it was somewhat still played for ya'll over there.

I've been to Edinburgh, Cambridge, London, and even over to Dublin. The only game I could safely say I saw any interest in was football (soccer). I did see the Irish sport of hurling being played in Dublin- that was really neat.

So, by your estimation/research, did English 'base ball' gain a resurgence post-WWII or was it always being played since earlier times in the UK than the 1940s with gusto? Has the game always been called 'baseball' in Britain, or was this a possible nickname for rounders/town ball/cricket? Did the term possibly die-out and come back in use for a wholly English version of the game?

Questions, questions...

Thanks- Johnny Lloyd

[Army30th]

Re: Baseball came from England?

How about "Stoolball" which was played in the 14th century in Sussex. Similar to Cricket.....

[DBURT]

Re: Baseball came from England?

Johnny,
Have never seen anything about Baseball over here, if it is played it is under the radar.
There is major coverage of cricket in the summer in England, especially the England national team, and the counties play each other in a league, and there are major cricket grounds all over the country.
The Oval, and Lords in London, Old Trafford Manchester, home of Lancashire Cricket club, and now there's a Texan pouring millions into the 20/20 version of the game, as well as American owners of our major Football ( Soccer)clubs, Malcolm Glazer owns Manchester United FC ( Football Club) Randy Lerner owns Aston Villa FC, to name but two.
So your getting your own back......
Dave Burt, England.

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: Baseball came from England?

Johnny,
Have never seen anything about Baseball over here, if it is played it is under the radar.

Yeah, that's what I thought...

Hmmm... might be a regional thing to South Wales per the last poster concerning such.



-Johnny