How Baseball Began…

Baseball Basics: Origins Of Baseball

Baseball wasn’t invented by one person. The old myth was that Abner Doubleday invented it in Cooperstown. Never happened. Baseball evolved from a variety of other bat and ball and base sports including cricket and rounder’s. But it wasn’t invented at any one point.

What are the origins of baseball?

Baseball traces its roots to a variety of bat-and-ball games, including rounders and cricket. It wasn’t until the 1840′s in America that a man named Alexander Cartwright actually put the rules to paper. Even though baseball existed prior to that point, he is often considered to be the father of baseball.

When was baseball invented?

Baseball really wasn’t invented. It is considered an American game, but it evolved from games in Europe. There wasn’t a birth, and there wasn’t a grand creation to the game.

When did professional baseball start?

Professional Baseball began in the late 1800s. The National League is the oldest existing league. It began in the 1870s, followed by the American League in the early 1900s.

When did Major League Baseball start?

Major League Baseball began in 1903 when the American and National leagues agreed to begin holding the World Series.

Who were some of the original Major League Baseball clubs?

Some of the original Major League clubs were Boston, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Louisville, and many others.

Who were the 1919 ‘Chicago Black Sox’ and why are they so important in baseball history?

The Chicago Black Sox of 1919 are the most infamous team in baseball history. They threw the World Series to the Cincinnati team. As a result, many of the players on that team were banned for life from baseball. It is now one of the cardinal rules of baseball, and became so at that time, that any player caught gambling on the game would be banned from baseball. It is why Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, two tremendous ball players, are not in the Hall of Fame. The Sox scandal also led to the creation of a powerful commissioner form of government in baseball, and the first commissioner was Kennesaw Mountain Landis.

What were the ‘Negro Leagues’ in professional baseball?

Major leagues did not integrate until 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. Prior to that point, and even after that point ,black players often played in segregated leagues, in the Negro Leagues. There were many leagues that bore that title “Negro Leagues”. But it was a popular form of baseball.

Eating Right for Peak Performance

Athletes are some of the healthiest and in shape individuals in the world, for the most part they practice proper eating habits and a well rounded diet. In this post I want to cover the three components that make up an athlete’s diet.

Protein

The protein requirements of athletes, once the source of great controversy, has settled into a current consensus. Sedentary people and recreational athletes have similar protein requirements, about 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body mass. These needs are easily met by a balanced diet containing about 70 grams of protein for a 70 kg (150 pound) man or 60 grams of protein for a 60 kg (130 pound) woman.

People who exercise at greater intensity, and especially those whose activity grows muscle bulk, have significantly higher protein requirements. According to Clinical Sports Nutrition (see footnote above), active athletes playing power sports (such as football), those engaged in muscle-development training, and elite endurance athletes, all require approximately 2 grams of protein per day per kilogram of body weight, roughly double that of a sedentary persons. Older athletes seeking primarily to maintain developed muscle mass require 2 to 3 g per day per kg.

Protein intake in excess of that required to build muscle (and other) tissue is broken-down by gluconeogenesis to be used as energy.

Water and salts

Water is one of the most important nutrients in your sports diet. It helps eliminate food waste products in your body, regulates body temperature during activity, helps digest, is involved in converting food into energy and helps lubricate joints. Athletes should drink as much water as they comfortably can. ^[20]

Maintaining hydration during periods of physical exertion is key to peak performance. While drinking too much water during activities can lead to physical discomfort, dehydration in excess of 2% of body mass (by weight) markedly hinders athletic performance. Some studies have shown that an athlete that drinks before they feel thirsty stays cooler and performs better than one who drinks on thirst cues, although recent studies of such races as the Boston Marathon have indicated that this recommendation can lead to the problem of overhydration. Additional carbohydrates and protein before, during, and after exercise increase time to exhaustion as well as speed recovery. Dosage is based on work performed, lean body mass, and environmental factors, especially ambient temperature and humidity.

Carbohydrates

The main fuel used by the body during exercise is carbohydrates, which is stored in muscle as glycogen- a form of sugar. During exercise, muscle glycogen reserves can be used up, especially when activities last longer than 90 min. Because the amount of glycogen stored in the body is limited, it is important for athletes to replace glycogen by consuming a diet high in carbohydrates. Meeting energy needs can help improve performance during the sport, as well as improve overall strength and endurance.

There are different kinds of carbohydrates–simple or refined, and unrefined. A typical American consumes about 50% of their carbohydrates as simple sugars, which are added to foods as opposed to sugars that come naturally in fruits and vegetables. These simple sugars come in large amounts in sodas and fast food. Over the course of a year, the average American consumes 54 gallons of soft drinks, which contain the highest amount of added sugars. Even though carbohydrates are necessary for humans to function, they are not all equally healthful. When machinery has been used to remove bits of high fiber, the carbohydrates are refined. These are the carbohydrates found in white bread and fast food.

How to Hit with Proper Timing

Not being able to see the ball well can usually be attributed to a breakdown in your timing.  This is where being late with your stride will affect your ability to see the ball.  If your stride foot gets down late, it will cause you to do the following:

• Jump at the ball
• Pull your head
• Use your body too much
• Overswing.  When you overswing, you are trying to hit the ball too far or too hard.  This causes you to pull your front shoulder, which in turn pulls your head off the ball

Be careful that you are not trying to do more than you ability allows.  If you do this, you are taking yourself out of your game and the pitcher is winning the battle.  Jumping at the ball can be attributed to not only getting into a position of power late, but also by trying to hit the ball too hard or too far.  Jumping at the ball causes your head to move forward and makes the ball appear faster than it really is.  This means the ball will come at your quicker, and this hurts your ability to make good, consistent contact.

Getting Ready for the Game

The best way to get ready for a game is called the “Hitter’s Success Chain“.

Before the game: If you have the ability to watch the opposing pitcher as he warms up so you can time his delivery, the speed and type of his pitches, and his commend. Look for his release point.
In the dugout: Pitcher is now on the mound. Watch to see what type of pitches he is throwing. Check his release point. Is he having trouble commanding any of his pitches? What type of pitch do you want to look for off this pitcher?

On deck: While taking your practice swings remind yourself about any keys you have about your swing. This is the last time you should think about your mechanics. Time the pitcher’s delivery; see yourself hitting your pitch hard. Know the situation before you go to the plate. Allow only positive thoughts into your mind. Focus on what you want to do, not on what you don’t want to do.

In the batter’s box: do your pre-at bat routine with a relaxed rhythm. Do not vary your routine once you have found on that has worked for you. If anything disrupts it, call time out and step out of the box.  This should get you ready for your at bat. The key is consistency and getting your mind ready to attack every pitch.

Learning How to Scout Effectively

The last time I went to a high school baseball game I saw 5-6 men in the stands behind home-plate. They were armed with radar guns, charts, and stop watches. You couldn’t miss them -scouts. These are the guys parents dream and players long to have show up for their games.

The scouts you see at high school games are more than likely either area scouts, part-time scouts, or associate scouts. Every Major League Organization employs 20-40 full time area scouts. Depending on the organization an area scout may have as many as 8 states to cover. The area scout sees a prospect approximately 10-15 times over a 4 year span. Their primary responsibility is to find and report on prospects. A scouting report on individual hitting prospects includes some of the following:

•    Running speed
•    Hitting for average
•    Power potential
•    Hands – Defense
•    Throwing arm
•    Proper hitting mechanics
•    Ability to make adjustments
•    Mental make-up
•    How much money the player should sign for
•    Ability to make consistent contact

These tools are graded not only for their present ability but also for their future potential. Most organizations grade on a major league scale. For example a present hitting ability for a high school player might be a 3. This could equate to a .230 Major League Hitter at present time. However this same scout may project this same hitter’s future potential as a 6, which could be a .300 Major League Hitter. The 3 is a below average major league hitter, a 6 is an above aver-age major league hitter. This scale goes up to 8 for the superstar. Very few are rated as such because this is so hard to project.

A five tool player is one that ranks above average in every area listed (1-5). Keep in mind that the Major Leagues are filled with players with less than 5 tools, you really only need 1 great tool to get to the major leagues, or 2-3 average tools to be a good Major League Player.

Despite the fact of that this country is loaded with scouts looking for talent, there seems to be some talent that is always missed. Look at the list below to see who was almost missed.

•    Mike Piazza 61st round
•    Bobby Bonilla undrafted
•    Darryl Kile 30th round
•    Frank White undrafted
•    Don Mattingly 19th round
•    Tom Candiotti undrafted
•    Nolan Ryan 10th round
•    Ryne Sandberg 17th round
•    Jose Canseco 15th round
•    Dave Parker 14th round

It’s important to take note that no matter how elaborate a scouting system is, someone may be missed for one reason or another. As Bob Didier stated in his interview with us, the one thing that no scout has ever been able to do is to cut someone open and look at the size of his heart and his determination. These are 2 of the main ingredients that it takes to succeed with just marginal talent. However there are only a few willing to pay the price.

Under the area scouts are the part time scouts as well as the associate scouts. Part time scouts are basically more eyes for the area scout. Part time scouts draw either a small salary or travel expenses. Although their pay is minimal, they can be a valuable tool for an area scout covering a large territory. The part time scout usually scouts the area where he lives. If he is impressed with a player, he will tip off the area scout with the player’s profile.

Associate scouts do not get any compensation for their work. They basically work to try to get their foot in the door of a Major League Organization, they are better known as “bird dogs.” Bird dogs submit reports to the part time scout who in turn reports to the area scout. Associates may be coaches from different schools but occasionally one might be an older, retired gentleman with years of baseball experience.

You never know who may be in the stands, so always play hard and give 100%. Scouts will be initially drawn to you by talent but it is how you play the game and how you present yourself that will catch their eye. Let me give you a for instance. It is late in the game, nobody out, runner on 2nd base. Perhaps the game is tied.

You, as a hitter have a decision to make. Should you swing for a base hit and make either the headlines or an out? Or do you try to get the runner over to 3rd with less than 2 outs? Most scouts would take notice if you drove the ball to right field to get the runner over as opposed to pulling the ball, even if you got a base hit and scored the winning run.

The first scenario shows a selfish player – the other shows a team player. I tell my hitters to make sure they get the runner over. If they hit a line drive to right field, they may not only get the runner over, they may possibly get the runner in. These are the things that show scouts that you know how to play the game.

This segment has covered the associate scout, part-time scout and the area scout. In future issues we will advance on the scouting hierarchy and cover the regional scout, national cross checkers, and the scouting director. Your goal is to have the scouting director show up at your game to watch you!