BASEBALL BEFORE WE KNEW IT A SEARCH FOR THE ROOTS OF THE GAME 1ST EDITION PDF, EPUB, EBOOK David Block | 9780803262553 | | | | | Baseball Before We Knew It A Search for the Roots of the Game 1st edition PDF Book Sort order. He tackles one stubborn misconception after another, debunking the enduring belief that baseball descended from the English game of rounders and revealing a surprising new explanation for the most notorious myth of all-the Abner Doubleday-Cooperstown story. Rounders Shmounders. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Including the illustrations that go back to the 14th-century manuscripts in the Bodleian Library emphasizing pre-Civil War sources, this one volume contains everythingregarding the history of the origin of the American national pastime. Battingball Games. It mainly reads like a dissertation. Sorry for the background, but I thought it worth commenting upon. Among his startling discoveries is a set of long-forgotten baseball rules from the s. Add that to the facts that many baseball fans are satisfied to believe the false myth discredited almost from the point that it was first put forward that Abner Doubleday invented baseball out of whole clothe in Cooperstown, New York, and that some fans are only interested in baseball history that can be explained through statistics, and you begin to understand why the game's true origins have been so widely ignored. Loree Hunnicutt rated it really liked it Jun 08, Being an exhaustive examination of bat-and-ball games from around Europe which attempts to identify evolutionary ancestors to America' s national pastime. Although the author dips his toe into the This definitely settled, we are now also clear about the source and cause of the previous notionsaltogether a masterpiece of research agreeably presented. Steven rated it liked it Jan 17, In his last chapter he presents a theoretical flowchart of baseball's evolution from the Medieval European ball game called Longball, complete with all the various ball games that seemed to influence it and branch off from it on its way to becoming our modern game of American Baseball. Readers may be familiar with some of these pictures, but others, and the explanation of them, will certainly be a surprise. John rated it liked it Aug 24, Theories abound, myths proliferate, but reliable information has been in short supply? Friend Reviews. This idea, according to Block is wrong in almost every aspect. More filters. Among his startling discoveries is a set of long-forgotten baseball rules from the s. English baseball was itself the product of a prolonged, nonlinear evolution. Related Posts. The book looks at possible roots in many foreign countries, mostly in Europe. Other Editions 5. Books by David Block. Block has done an outstanding job of researching the potential origins of the game, going farther in his research than, I believe, anyone else has done before him. Principal Sources Consulted. Browse By Categories. Our national pastime has a long-debated history. Where, then, did baseball come from? The price may be the seller's own price elsewhere or another seller's price. It's time of great rivalry, wearing of team colors, and obsessing over the Block evaluates the originality and historical significance of the Knickerbocker rules of , revisits European studies on the ancestry of baseball which indicate that the game dates back hundreds, if not thousands of years, and assembles a detailed history of games and pastimes from the Middle Ages onward that contributed to baseball? That show that baseball is just the latest in a very long line of stick-and-ball games. Buy It Now. I recommend the book for anyone interested in a comprehensive study of the origins of baseball. He spends several chapters debunking not only the already thoroughly debunked Doubleday myth, but also challenging the more widely accepted theory that baseball evolved from the English game of rounders, and even calling into question how important Alexander Cartwright actually was in formulating the earliest rules of the official American game. It may be America? You must be logged in to post a comment. Baseball Before We Knew It A Search for the Roots of the Game 1st edition Writer David Morrell Paperback Books. This could have been made a much more popular book with the help of a professional baseball writer willing to weave an engaging tale with all the This is definitely a book for baseball nerds only. More so, references from pastoral letters and art from a medieval calendar see the cover suggest bat-and-ball games being played centuries before Doubleday and even the founding of the United States. About Bill Jordan. Welcome back. An illustration in the French manuscript "The Romance of Alexander" depicts a group of monks and nuns engaged in a game, thought to be "la soule", that looks much like co-ed softball. Related Articles. Average rating 4. I've always loved the game of baseball, and lately I've wanted to do some reading into its early days in the 's. Namespaces Article Talk. Kennyc rated it really liked it May 28, Of course, Block is sincere when he says that the true origin of baseball is likely lost in the depths of history, but doubtless it was a game that evolved over the long course of history from several other games possessing their own idiosyncrasies; e. The most fascinating part of Block's book is his delving into the early European origins of Baseball. What about good old Abner Doubleday? David Block. He dismisses the English game of rounders Views Read Edit View history. Any Condition Any Condition. His extensive bibliography provides many clues for continued reading on the subject, though many of the cited sources are obviously rare and hard to find. Other editions. Steven rated it liked it Jan 17, This definitely settled, we are now also clear about the source and cause of the previous notionsaltogether a masterpiece of research agreeably presented. Download as PDF Printable version. Block looks into the early history of baseball, the debates about baseballs beginnings, and presents new evidence. Where, then, did baseball come from? Geren rated it it was ok Jan 03, Thanks for telling us about the problem. Buy It Now. Baseball Reflections Rating: 3. The best book I've read about baseball's origins. In addition to text, Block includes pictures he has found throughout the world depicting what one could argue is a kind of baseball. David McPhail Paperback Books. Read more Our national pastime has a long- debated history. In the Beginning. See all 4 brand new listings. Beau rated it it was amazing Aug 29, What does this price mean? Yes, I remember all of that! It provides a knowledge of baseball that leads to a better understanding of the roots of this game. How Slick Were the Knicks? Once an American reader gets past the disappointment of discovering baseball''s deep European roots, Block''s book is a perfect delight. The result is a joyfully discursive romp through the history of ball sports and a compelling new theory of the game''s origins. Richard Reid rated it it was amazing Jul 24, Best Selling in Nonfiction See all. David Block goes beyond debunking the game's creation myths to creating a knowledge base upon which all future research will rely. Block admits that his book is far from the last word on the subject, but hopes that it will reinvigorate fans interest in the often overlooked history of the game's origins. In the book, Block suggests that it was the English game of baseball that had arrived in the U. Baseball Before We Knew It A Search for the Roots of the Game 1st edition Reviews David McPhail Paperback Books. Namespaces Article Talk. Brand new: Lowest price The lowest-priced brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging where packaging is applicable. No ratings or reviews yet No ratings or reviews yet. In Block's words, the field is clear for the French to claim "parental rights over America's National Game. This is the price excluding shipping and handling fees a seller has provided at which the same item, or one that is nearly identical to it, is being offered for sale or has been offered for sale in the recent past. Views Read Edit View history. Hold on there, pal. Loree Hunnicutt rated it really liked it Jun 08, The book itself is just pages long, however, included in the work is an extremely comprehensive early baseball bibliography and over pages of appendix broken down into seven sections. In the book, Block suggests that it was the English game of baseball that had arrived in the U. Make an offer:. This definitely settled, we are now also clear about the source and cause of the previous notions-altogether a masterpiece of research agreeably presented. Purchase the audio edition. James Johnson rated it liked it Jul 13, By the rules of this English game were well enough established to earn a mention in German scholar Johann Gutsmuths book on popular pastimes, that described " Englische Base-ball " involved a contest between two teams, in which "the batter has three attempts to hit the ball while at the home plate"; only one out was required to retire a side. David Block goes beyond debunking the game's creation myths to creating a knowledge base upon which all future research will rely. In the book, Block argues that baseball was not a product of rounders, and its essential form had already been established by the late 18th century. Trivia About Baseball before W Thomas rated it really liked it Aug 07, Tim Wiles Foreword.