Sports · 1845–
Baseball History Timeline
From club rules and professional leagues to a worldwide diamond game.
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18451872189919261953198020072028
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About this timeline
About Baseball
Baseball history through codification, professional leagues, integration, women’s participation, international tournaments and Olympic competition.
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Baseball history
Baseball timeline: key events
Explore 18 documented Moments in chronological order. Read the dates, locations and source references below. Where available, additional context explains why a milestone matters.
Knickerbocker rules are adopted
The Knickerbocker Base Ball Club adopted a written ruleset associated with Alexander Cartwright and the New York game.
Source: baseballhall.orgA landmark recorded match
The New York Nine defeated the Knickerbockers at Elysian Fields in a frequently cited early match under the new rules.
Source: baseballhall.orgFirst openly professional team
The Cincinnati Red Stockings began a season as baseball’s first openly salaried professional club.
Source: baseballhall.orgNational League is founded
Eight clubs formed the National League, creating the oldest surviving major professional sports league.
Source: www.mlb.comMoses Fleetwood Walker plays in a major league
Walker appeared for Toledo in the American Association before baseball’s colour line hardened.
Source: baseballhall.orgFirst modern World Series
Boston defeated Pittsburgh in the first championship series between the established major leagues.
Source: www.mlb.comNegro National League founded
Rube Foster and club owners created a durable professional league for Black baseball.
Source: baseballhall.orgBaseball Hall of Fame class announced
Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner formed the first elected class.
Source: baseballhall.orgAll-American Girls Professional Baseball League begins
The league opened play during World War II and operated for twelve seasons.
Source: baseballhall.orgJackie Robinson breaks the modern colour barrier
Robinson debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers, integrating modern Major League Baseball.
Source: www.mlb.comA perfect World Series game
Don Larsen retired all 27 Brooklyn batters in Game 5, the only perfect game in World Series history.
Source: www.mlb.comDivisional play and league championship series
Expansion split each major league into divisions and introduced playoff series before the World Series.
Source: www.mlb.comLittle League opens baseball to girls
Little League Baseball formally allowed girls to participate after legal and social pressure.
Source: www.littleleague.orgBaseball becomes an Olympic medal sport
After demonstration appearances, baseball joined the official Olympic programme; Cuba won gold.
Source: olympics.comPlayers’ strike halts the season
A labour dispute cancelled the World Series for the first time since 1904.
Source: www.mlb.comWorld Baseball Classic begins
National teams of Major League and international players contested a new global championship.
Source: www.mlb.comBaseball returns to the Olympics
Baseball returned after a thirteen-year Olympic absence, with Japan winning gold.
Source: olympics.comOlympic baseball is scheduled to return
The IOC approved baseball-softball among the additional sports for the Los Angeles Games.
Source: olympics.comExplore related timelines
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This educational timeline is not endorsed by or affiliated with Baseball or their representatives. Event text is original editorial copy based on the linked sources.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Licence shown on source file
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About the Baseball timeline
What is Baseball?
Baseball history through codification, professional leagues, integration, women’s participation, international tournaments and Olympic competition.
How many moments are included?
This public timeline currently contains 18 sourced moments spanning 1845–.
Who maintains this timeline?
This public timeline is created and maintained by Memmie Editorial Team. Schools, clubs and cultural organisations can apply to become timeline partners.
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