Event Description

First book of instructions for baseball appears - 'The Book Of Sports'.

First baseball game using Cartwright Rules is played.

The Knickerbockers are the first team to wear an official uniform.

The National Association of Baseball Clubs is the first league in baseball.

Candy Cummings is credited for throwing the first curve ball.

The National Association plays its first official game ever and professional baseball is officially born as the Cleveland Forest Citys 0 lose to the Fort Wayne Kekiongas 2.

First batting averages are recorded starting with Boston and Cleveland.

Oscar Bielaski is the first Polish player.

Fred Thayer invents the first catcher's mask.

National League plays its first game ever: Red Stockings 6 versus the Athletics 5.

Davy Force is credited with the first assist.

Jim O'Rourke is credited with the first hit and single.

Tim McGinley is credited with the first run scored.

Levi Meyerle is credited with the first double.

Levi Meyerle is credited with the first triple.

Ross Barnes hits the first home run.

Bill Harbidge, playing for Hartford, is the first lefthanded catcher.

George Bradley throws the first no-hitter in National League history.

Candy Cummings is first to pitch and win two complete games in one day.

Al Spalding and other players wear the first gloves onto the field.

First schedule appears so fans will know when their club is playing.

First rule appears stating ball must stay in fair territory to be a hit.

Paul Hines is credited as the first player ever to turn an unassisted triple play.

Grays build the first safety net behind the catcher to protect the fans.

Lee Richmond pitched the first perfect game in professional baseball, a 1-0 victory for Worcester over Cleveland four days before his graduation at Brown University.

Roger Connor of Troy hits the first grand slam in National League history off Worcester's Lee Richmond.

Paul Hines is the first player to wear sunglasses on the field.

Pete Browning is the first player to have his bats custom made.

Philadelphia Phillies have their first major league season.

Joe Quinn is the first Australian born player to enter major league baseball.

Moses Walker is the first black player to appear in a major league game.

First postseason games occur - National League versus the American Association.

Joe Harrington is the first player to hit a home run in his first at-bat.

First rule defining the strike zone appears.

First rule giving three strikes for an out appears.

Mickey Welch, playing for New York, becomes the first pinch hitter in major league history - he strikes out.

First rule giving four balls for a walk appears.

Ed Cartwright of the St. Louis Browns became the first player to hit a grand slam and three-run homer in the same inning against the same pitcher (Ed Green of the Philadelphia Athletics).

The first Sunday game is played: Cincinnati 5 versus St. Louis 1.

Tom Daly, playing for Brooklyn, becomes the first pinch hitter in major league history to get a hit - he hit a home run.

Benjamin Harrison is the first President to attend a game.

First rule moving the pitchers mound to 60 feet 6 inches appears.

Cap Anson was the first player to achieve three-thousand hits and start The 3,000 Hits Club. His total was changed to 2,995 then restored more than a century later!

Ed Abbaticchio is the first Italian player in the major leagues.

First modern rules defining a balk and stolen base appear.

First base stealing statistics are officially recorded.

The first pentagon shaped home plate appears on the diamond.

Event Description