Baseball, A.K.A. English Game of Rounders

Baseball developed from variations of the English game of rounders, from related regional and local games, and from children’s games like “one old cat,” all of which had evolved through centuries. Baseball rebounded well from the war and doubled the attendance of the previous year as the nation embraced a return to normalcy. Baseball, widely known as America’s pastime and is well established in several other countries as well. Baseball has certain attributes that set it apart from the other popular team sports in other countries, such as American and Canadian football, basketball, ice hockey, and soccer.

Starting in 1884 and going through 1890, the National League and the American Association faced each other in a series of games at the end of the season to determine an overall champion. Several other major leagues formed and failed. The National and American leagues added two more expansion teams; the leagues were reorganized into two divisions each, and a post-season playoff system leading to the World Series was instituted.