Sixty-five million people play baseball worldwide, with the popular American pastime ranking seventh in popularity internationally. It is estimated that baseball has around 500 million fans globally, concentrated in Japan, the United States, and South Korea. Deep-rooted in American culture, baseball is at the heart of sporting culture across communities in the United States.
Little League is popular among children who want to play, and most towns and schools have teams with progression up to the highest level of competition.
It is often understood that baseball originated in the United States. However, its connections to popular sports played across the pond in England and ties to ancient stick and ball games are more convincing. This article will explore baseball history, including who invented it and its origins.
Where did Baseball Originate From?
As with most sports, baseball’s exact origins are uncertain. However, it may have ancient roots, with the Ancient Egyptians who played bat and ball games around two thousand years ago. Subsequently, baseball could have British roots, resembling proto-baseball games such as Cricket and rounders, which inspired today’s baseball.
While baseball’s precise inspirations and origins are unknown, the first iterations that resemble the modern-day sport can be traced back to the early 1800s in New York.
