The Evolution of Baseball: From Origins to Olympics

1. Baseball in the Olympics Anthony Rodriguez

2. 1344- French manuscript game called “la soule” • First reference to the game “base-ball” was in 1744 in a British book written by John Newberry • Same basic terms were set except the field was more of a triangle setting and there were no in-ground bases, just poles sticking up out of the ground Where it all Started

3. 1791- Pittsfield, Massachusetts • Only one out was required to retire the sides • 1830- Beachville, Ontario- Detailed Rules were published in a sports magazine, Sporting Life • 5 bases • Batter called out after one bounce on the ground then caught by fielder Intro to North America

4. 1845- New York Knickerbocker Rules • Ball was thrown directly at player (kickball) • Pitchers were forced to only throw underhand • 1850- Craze took over the New York area • 1856- Began to be known as a past-time United States

5. 1857- National Association of Base Ball players • 16 Teams playing each other on the east coast of America • 1863- The one-bounce put-out rule was taken away • 1867- African Americans were banned from playing in any of the games • 1869- Cincinnati Red Stockings- First Professional team • Went undefeated against all pro, semi-pro, and amateur teams First Leagues

6. 1884- Overhand pitching was allowed • 1890- Negro Leagues began to form • Most current day changes were made by 1894 • 1901- Batter counts were established by calling balls and strikes Minor Changes

7. Baseball always followed where the Olympics occurred but were never an official Olympic sport until 1992 • Eight Team tournament • Players were Amateurs until 2000 • Round Robin • Every team plays each other and then semi and finals rounds were played • Teams were seeded by record in first round games Intro to the Olympics

8. Host Country had a guaranteed spot • Multiple continental qualifying tournaments • Spots were given to winners automatically • Other spots were given based on places given combination of multiple qualifying tournments Olympic Qualifications

9. Same Rules as Major League Baseball • Mercy Rule- If a team was up by 10 or more runs after 7 innings, they automatically win • After 2000, rosters were expanded to 24 players • Round Robin • 2008- Extra Inning Rule-If game was tied after 10 innings, runners were placed on first and second base with no outs • Made because games were too predictable and anything can happen Olympic Competition

10. Olympic History

11. Baseball, along with sister sport softball, was voted out of Olympic competition • MLB Refused to suspend season to allow players to participate • Lack of fan support • Upset about MLB punishment on players for drug usage • Length of games Olympic Elimination

12. RF- Seattle Mariners • Japan Native • Just set MLB record- 10th consecutive season with over 200 hits • Career .331 batting average Ichiro Suzuki

13. St. Louis Cardinals • Dominican Republic Native • .331 Career Batting Average • 405 Career HR Albert Pujols

14. Fan base has seen a decrease • Player contracts have begun to get out of hand • Injuries to players come too often • Franchises have become to reliant on young stars and rush into the league even when they are not prepared properly • Even though fan base has gone down, the sport itself will never die Baseballs future