Baseball's First Inning: A History of the National Pastime Through the Civil War

by William J. Ryczek

This history of America's pastime describes the evolution of baseball from early bat and ball games to its growth and acceptance in different regions of the country. Such New York clubs as the Atlantics, Excelsiors and Mutuals are a primary focus, serving as examples of how the sport became more sophisticated and popular. The author compares theories about many of baseball's "inventors," exploring the often fascinating stories of several of baseball's oldest founding myths. The impact of the Civil War on the sport is discussed and baseball's unsteady path to becoming America's national game is analyzed at length.

Genres: Baseball

269 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2009

About the author

William J. Ryczek is a finance professional in Wallingford, Connecticut, who writes about early baseball, football, the Yankees, and the Mets.