McGourthy,+William

** The History of Baseball ** ** Bibliography **
 * William McGourthy **
 * English 1 **
 * 4/30/09 **
 * Baseball was born in New York, but it originated in England as cricket. Baseball is a sport played with a ball and a bat between two teams (“The History… States”). This game has had many names including Town Ball, Cricket, and Baseball. Baseball is a sport that has entertained fans for many years with its players, rules, regulation, origins, and eras of baseball. **
 * Baseball in the earlier stages was confusing with all the rules and regulations, but the new advancements in the rules of baseball have made it a little easier to learn. Alexander Cartwright was the inventor of the first rules. Alexander named them the “Kinckerbocker Rules” after the baseball club in New York. These rules include the dimensions for a field, the foul ball, and the ground rule single (“The History… Cartwright”). Next came the “Massachusetts Rules” after the Massachusetts Association of Base Ball Players at Dedham. Some of these include the beanball, batters must stay on the base lines, and four bases the fourth being “home”. These rules and regulations help set a foundation to baseball.(“The History… States”). **
 * Baseball has developed a lot since then. Since baseball was made there have been many developments including astro-turf, girls’ leagues, and uniforms. Astro-turf is an artificial turf used in most modern day baseball fields. (“Baseball Timeline”). Players of the major leagues have been split into two groups. Players who were good, clean players and never cheated or used steroids. Players, who were mean, dirty player and cheated, used steroids, threw games, or paid umpires. One negative development is steroids. This illicit drug has made good people into bad cheaters. One of these players is former steroid user, Barry Bonds, who will soon be sent to prison for about 20 accounts of perjury and many more for illegal drugs (“Barry Bonds”). In the opinion of many people Barry Bonds should be eliminated from the record of most home runs hit. Also, The Chicago Black Sox Scandal is when they gambled on themselves to lose and throw the World Series (“Baseball Timeline”). **
 * Baseball has been split into eras. The Early Era when was the beginning of the major leagues and World Series. The Dead Ball Era 1900-1919 when on average 3.4 runs were scored a game. This era ended with the emergence of Babe Ruth. The Integration Era 1947- present when blacks and Hispanics were allowed into the major leagues and the emersion of Jackie Robinson in 1947. And The Women’s’ Leagues 1930- present when woman were allowed to play professional baseball while the men were at war fighting for our country (“The History… States”). **
 * Many Americans consider baseball the “National Pastime”. This is one of the biggest sports in America. Baseball is one of the world’s most cherished sports being featured in the Olympics. The year 2008 brought a tragic end to baseball and softball in the Olympics. And these are the reasons for why over 200 years baseball has entertained fans with its players, rules, regulation, origins, and eras of baseball. **
 * “Barry Bonds.” (online). Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Bonds. **
 * 29 April 2009. **
 * “Baseball.” (online). Http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/11G2-3402800051.html **
 * 21 April 2009. **
 * “Baseball Timeline.” (online). **
 * Http://www.fieldmuseum.org/baseball/timeline.html. 24 April 2009. **