History of the Game

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    • Alexander Cartwright had been credited with setting bases 90 feet apart and giving the game nine innings and players.

  • New light shed on game's origin

  • John Thorn, who was named MLB's official historian earlier this month, dethrones Alexander Cartwright Jr. as the innovator of modern baseball in his new book, "Baseball in the Garden of Eden."
    Full story >
  More stories > • With Duke gone, only Willie remains
  Hall of Famer Snider passes away at 84
  Tanner got everything out of the game he loved
  Man who caught Maris' 61st returns to Bronx
  When 'locked and loaded,' no one beat Paige
  Braves' move to Atlanta had great significance
  Deion enjoyed 'Prime' moments on diamond
  Pettitte calls it a career after 16 years, five rings
  Pettitte left indelible mark in Houston
  'Smokey' Joe was the ultimate flamethrower
  Foster a winning machine on the mound
  Rogan a threat from the mound and the plate
  Day's fastball dominated 'black baseball'
  In every respect, Hoffman finished strong
  Civil rights a hallmark of MLB's rich history
  Blyleven a beast with 242 complete games
  Could anyone throw harder than Feller?
  Sparky's influence on 'pens remains
  Lasorda reflects on 2000 gold-medal squad
  Wrigley adds another chapter to gridiron history
  Football, Yankee Stadium go hand-in-hand
  Bidding adieu to captivating 2010 season
  Bauman: Mays led by example, not words
  Latos joins rare company
  April thrills: A precursor to future fireworks
  Baseball and the Derby: A unique bond
  Plenty of no-hit history on April 27
  Gammons: No rewriting game's history
  No-hit history now eluding only trio of teams
  Examining Opening Day history
  How St. Patrick's became baseball's holiday
  
  HOF ballot in 2014 shaping up to be epic
  
  Long-term deals risky for starting pitchers
  
  Baseball celebrates Babe's 115th birthday
  
  Hawk's arm an intimidating force
  Cursed anniversary: Babe's sale turns 90
  2009 brings memorable end to decade
  20 years later, Martin's legend lives
  Ruth's shots to Rivera's stops, 27 titles
  Yanks' 27th title caps long list of records
  

  • Historical Stats:

    • Search for a player:
    • Search for a player Go
    • Batting Leaders:
    • Batting Leaders Select year ¬ 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 1900 1899 1898 1897 1896 1895 1894 1893 1892 1891 1890 1889 1888 1887 1886 1885 1884 1883 1882 1881 1880 1879 1878 1877 1876 1875 1874 1873 1872 1871 Go
    • Pitching Leaders:
    • Pitching Leaders Select year ¬ 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 1900 1899 1898 1897 1896 1895 1894 1893 1892 1891 1890 1889 1888 1887 1886 1885 1884 1883 1882 1881 1880 1879 1878 1877 1876 1875 1874 1873 1872 1871 Go
    • Team-by-team results:
    • Team-by-team Results Select team ¬ Angels Astros Athletics Blue Jays Braves Brewers Cardinals Cubs Rays D-backs Dodgers Giants Indians Mariners Marlins Mets Nationals Orioles Padres Phillies Pirates Rangers Red Sox Reds Rockies Royals Tigers Twins White Sox Yankees Go

• • Year in Review

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  • MLB.com takes a look back at the season that was, with multimedia, team coverage, special features and the major events that highlighted each campaign.
  • Year in Review Select a year ¬ 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 Go

• • This Day in Baseball History

  • April 27, 1983 > Houston's Nolan Ryan fans Montreal's Brad Mills to record his 3509th career strikeout and break Walter Johnson's 56-year-old record. Although Steve Carlton will surpass Ryan before the season is over, Ryan will eventually reclaim the record and end up with a mind-boggling 5714 career K's when he retires in 1993.
    
    1983 NL strikeout leaders >  
    
  • This Week in Baseball History >

• • Downloads from Itunes

  • Yanks lift WS trophy

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  • Classic games, All-Star, Postseason and Games of the Year: download games from the MLB.com Store in iTunes, ready to play on your portable media device or Apple TV.
  • Download Categories Download categories ¬ MLB.com Store Baseball's Best Classics 2010 World Series 2010 All-Star Game 2009 World Series 2009 Games of the Year 2009 All-Star Game 2008 DS & LCS Package 2008 Games of the Year 2008 All-Star Game Go

• • Cooperstown Collection Shop

  • Browse through the official online shop of Major League Baseball and find your piece of history. Choose from authentic jerseys, caps from previous eras and teams, and exclusive collectibles.
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• • Postseason

  • Red Sox celebrate, 2004

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  • Yearly results and recaps from the Division Series, League Championship Series, and World Series, plus playoff tiebreakers and titles won by each club.
  • Postseason Archives MLB.com archives ¬ 2010 Coverage 2009 Coverage 2008 Coverage 2007 Coverage 2006 Coverage 2005 Coverage 2004 Coverage 2003 Coverage 2002 Coverage 2001 Coverage 100th Anniversary Go

• • All-Star Game

  • AL wins thriller in '08

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  • Relive each of the All-Star week events, including the Futures Game, Home Run Derby, with All-Star Game year-by-year results, MVPs, the all-time All-Star roster, and more.
  • All-Star Game Archives MLB.com archives ¬ 2011 All-Star Coverage 2010 All-Star Coverage 2009 All-Star Coverage 2008 All-Star Coverage 2007 All-Star Coverage 2006 All-Star Coverage 2005 All-Star Coverage 2004 All-Star Coverage 2003 All-Star Coverage 2002 All-Star Coverage 2001 All-Star Coverage Go

• • First-Year Player Draft

  • Joe Mauer, 2001

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  • Sort every draft pick by year and team or draft type, find the No. 1 overall picks by year, and see what players were drafted and then sent straight to the Majors.
  • First-Year Player Draft Archives MLB.com archives ¬ 2010 Draft 2009 Draft 2008 Draft 2007 Draft 2006 Draft 2005 Draft 2004 Draft 2003 Draft 2002 Draft 2001 Draft Go

• • Baseball's Best

  • Mr. October

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  • Watch or listen to the best games ever. You can hear baseball radio legends call baseball history as it happens and watch complete games or jump to any half-inning.
  • Baseball's Best Archives Library by decade ¬ 2000s 1990s 1980s 1970s 1950s & 1960s 1930s & 1940s Go

• • Team Histories

  • Ebbets Field

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  • From the 1800s until present day, get year-by-year results, franchise timelines, all-time rosters, leaders and stats, awards and honors, plus multimedia and special features.
  • Team History Archives Select a team ¬ Angels Astros Athletics Blue Jays Braves Brewers Cardinals Cubs Rays D-Backs Dodgers Giants Indians Mariners Marlins Mets Nationals Orioles Rangers Padres Phillies Pirates Red Sox Reds Rockies Royals Tigers Twins White Sox Yankees Go

• • Leaders and Stats

  • Ty Cobb

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  • Find pitching and batting category leaders: Active, All-time, or Annual. Also see the longest standing records, plus sort historical stats by team and earlier franchises.
  • Leader and Stat Archives Historical leaders ¬ Career batting average Career home runs Career RBIs Career wins Career ERA Career strikeouts Go

• • Special Reports

  • Bob Gibson

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  • MLB.com's extended coverage of great baseball moments, such Ichiro's hits record, retrospectives on retired players, like Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken, and more.
  • Special Report Archives MLB.com archives ¬ All Century Team Baseball in Mexico Bonds HR Tracker 2001 Bonds passes Aaron Cal Ripken retrospective Casey at the Bat Farewell Edgar Ichiro: Record Breaker Instant Replay Japan Series History Mark McGwire retrospective Memorable Moments Mitchell Report Matszaka's first season Pennant Traces: 2008 Tom Kelly retrospective Tony Gwynn retrospective Go

• • Milestones

  • Walter Johnton

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  • Find members of baseball's most exclusive clubs: 300 Wins, 3,000 Strikeouts, 500 Homers and 3,000 Hits. Plus the Milestone Tracker and milestone achievements.
  • Milestone Archives MLB.com archives ¬ A-Rod: March to 600 homers Ichiro's nine straight 200-hit seasons Jeter passes Gehrig Rivera's 500th save Big Unit's 300th win Sheffield joins 500-HR club Griffey's 600th home run Thome's 500th homer Manny joins 500-homer club Smoltz fans No. 3,000 2007 Milestone Madness A-Rod youngest to 500 HRs Pedro joins 3,000-K club Bonds passes Aaron Glavine's 300th win Thomas' 500th home run Biggio's 3,000th hit Sosa's 600th homer Hoffman sets all-time saves record Bonds: To the Babe and Beyond Palmeiro: 3,000 hits/500 HR Trevor Time: 400 Saves Bonds' 700th Home Run Maddux's 300th victory Griffey Jr. hits 500th HR Route 660: Say Hey, Barry Clemens' 300th victory Palmeiro hits 500th HR Sosa joins 500 club Mt. Crushmore: Elevation 600 Bonds joins 500 HR club Go

• • Rare and Memorable Feats

  • Nolan Ryan

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  • Baseball's most unusual, and often exciting events. Browse the famous home runs, no-hitters, perfect games, longest hitting streaks, and much more.
  • Rare and Memorable Feat Archives More feats ¬ Unassisted Triple Plays Consecutive HR games Four-Homer Games Four K's, One Inning Hit for the Cycle Hitting Streaks No-hitters Rookie No-hitters Perfect Games Six-hit Games Triple Crown Winners: Batting Triple Crown Winners: Pitching No-hitter coverage ¬ 10/06/10: Roy Halladay 7/26/10: Matt Garza 6/25/10: Edwin Jackson 5/29/10: Roy Halladay 5/09/10: Dallas Braden 4/17/10: Ubaldo Jimenez 7/23/09: Mark Buehrle 7/10/09: Jonathan Sanchez 9/14/08: Carlos Zambrano 5/19/08: Jon Lester 9/1/07: Clay Buchholz 6/11/07: Justin Verlander 4/18/07: Mark Buehrle 9/6/06: Anibal Sanchez 5/18/04: Randy Johnson 6/11/03: Six Astros combine 4/27/03: Kevin Millwood Go

• • Awards and Honors

  • Roberto Clemente

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  • From regular honors, such as Player of the Week and Player of the Month, to prizes like the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award, all the bases are covered.
  • Award and Honor Archives Choose award ¬ Cy Young Gold Gloves Hank Aaron Award Historic Achievement Manager of Year Most Valuable Player Relief Man Award Roberto Clemente Award Rookie of Year Silver Slugger Triple Crown: Batting Triple Crown: Pitching Go

• • Hall of Fame

  • Jackie Robinson's plaque

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  • Information on all of the Cooperstown members back to the first Hall class of 1936, including first-year electees and highest voting percentages.
  • Hall of Fame Archives MLB.com archives ¬ 2011 Coverage 2010 Coverage 2009 Coverage 2008 Coverage 2007 Coverage 2006 Coverage 2005 Coverage 2004 Coverage 2003 Coverage 2002 Coverage 2001 Coverage Go

• • Tributes

  • Ted Williams

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  • Saying goodbye to baseball legends, including broadcasters like Jack Buck and Bob Murphy, and paying respect to the people who make the game a great spectacle.
  • Tribute Archives MLB.com tributes ¬ Nick Adenhart Sparky Anderson Jack Buck Larry Doby Bob Feller Mark Fidrych Lou Gehrig Josh Hancock Ernie Harwell Harry Kalas Joe Kennedy Darryl Kile Bowie Kuhn Cory Lidle John Marzano Tug McGraw Keli McGregor Bob Murphy Dave Niehaus Kirby Puckett Phil Rizzuto Robin Roberts Ron Santo Paul C. Smith Bob Sheppard Duke Snider Warren Spahn George Steinbrenner Ted Williams Remembering 9/11 Remembering the VT tragedy Go

• • Interleague Play

  • AL vs. NL

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  • An overview of Interleague origins, with all-time leaders, team-by-team all-time records, plus year-by-year stats and MLB.com Interleague special features.
  • Interleague Play Archives MLB.com archives ¬ 2010 Recap 2009 Coverage 2008 Coverage 2007 Coverage 2006 Coverage 2005 Coverage 2004 Coverage 2003 Coverage Go

• • Negro Leagues

  • Chicago American Giants

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  • Discover information about the legacy of the Negro Leagues, with team histories, editorial features, plus multimedia highlights such as video features.
  • Negro League Archives Player profiles ¬ Newt Allen Cool Papa Bell Dave Brown Ray Brown Roy Campanella Oscar Charleston Ray Dandridge Leon Day Martin Dihigo Larry Doby Bingo DeMoss "Big" Bill Foster Rube Foster Josh Gibson Arthur "Rats" Henderson Pete Hill Monte Irvin Fats Jenkins Home Run Johnson Judy Johnson Stuart "Slim" Jones Buck Leonard John Henry "Pop" Lloyd Raleigh "Biz" Mackey Oliver Marcelle Satchel Paige Cannonball Redding Jackie Robinson Bullet Wilbur Rogan Louis Santop Chino Smith Hilton Smith Turkey Stearnes George Stovey Mule Suttles Ben Taylor Cristobal Torriente Fleetwood Walker Willie Wells Sol White Smoky Joe Williams Jud Wilson Nip Winters Wild Bill Wright Go

• • Commissioners

  • Kenesaw Mountain Landis

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  • Since baseball's beginnings in the mid-19th century, the governance of the game has evolved to a central figure with considerable powers called the Commissioner.
  • Commissioner Archives Commissioner bios ¬ Allan H. "Bud" Selig Francis T. Vincent Jr. A. Bartlett Giamatti Peter Victor Ueberroth Bowie Kent Kuhn General William D. Eckert Ford Christopher Frick A.B. "Happy" Chandler Kenesaw Mountain Landis Go