| This thesis covers the history of baseball from approximately 1750 to January 2008. The first major characters are Alexander Cartwright and Henry Chadwick who were instrumental in building the foundation of the modern game. Baseball spread around the nation and is documented in Civil War journals and recollections. Cap Anson and Moses Walker are linked as baseball sought to eliminate blacks from competing as was baseball's first commissioner, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis.;As the 'modern era' appeared, people like John McGraw, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig introduced baseball to other countries. Scandals were overcome (1919 Black Sox) and the Negro Leagues were started by Rube Foster. Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson erased segregation which led baseball to even greater popularity. Curt Flood, Catfish Hunter and Marvin Miller gave us the free agency period. Latinos, Japanese and Koreans have been new corners along with a smattering of Canadians, British and Australians. |
