Posted By:
Joe DrouillardNeat thread.
Throwing at the runners does sound neat and probably explains the early game's popularity, afterall, what kid doesn't love a game of dodgeball today?
I did read somewhere that as the making of baseballs improved they became harder and the rules changed to have infielders at the bases to catch and tag out the runners to avoid injury to the runner. I think it was the New York Knickerbockers baseball club in the 1850s that changed the rule that eventually was accepted throughout the country. I think they also established a ninty foot distance between the bases and the foul ball that limited the perameters of the ball field. These were the main changes that morphed "round ball," "cricket," and other ball games into the baseball that become "America's Pastime."
Best wishes,
Joe