Publication Date

12-15-2018

Document Type

Working Paper

Advisor

Professor John Hall

Journal of Economic Literature Classification Codes

L83, N11, N31

Key Words

Amateur, Baseball, National Pastime, Professional, Sport

Abstract

This inquiry seeks to establish that in the 19th century baseball transitioned from a sport to a business activity. At the outset, the game of baseball was first played for the enjoyment of the players and spectators. Typically, teams were composed of players stemming from the towns for which they played, and early organized leagues enacted rules to keep the game played as a serious activity—but for amateurs. As the 19th century came towards its close, these amateur leagues were challenged by the emergence of new, professional leagues, and players took the liberty to play for the teams that offered the highest pay. Teams owners no longer looked at baseball as a sporting competition, but as a source of profit from the products they placed on the ball fields. Baseball lost its innocence; however this game but gained prestige as a national pastime once the professional leagues paved a way for Major League Baseball of today.

Rights

© Brian Burres

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/30839

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