Morris' A GAME OF INCHES books belong in any serious baseball fan's library. And I also recommend his new book.

I'd strongly recommend Warren Goldstein's "Playing For Keeps", which covers base ball from 1857-1876, who doesn't overlook the the 1866 National Association rule to "unanimously report against the admission of any club which may be composed of one or more colored persons". (Cap Anson was 13 when this rule was passed).

Or, for that matter, the case of three members of the New York Mutuals (Devyr, Wansworth and Duffy) who were expelled for throwing a game in 1865. Or the fact that in 1860 the Eckford club were censured for allowing their rooters to verbally abuse the opposition. Or the abandoned game between between the Atlantics and Excelsiors that same year. The New York Clipper newspaper blamed this on "the foreign element in our metropolitan population".

Some good contemporary accounts too: in 1868 Henry Chadwick wrote "Some ten years ago, and even later, it was a rare sight to witness a ball match which was not marked by changes in positions of players in nearly every innings and, what was most objectionable, open disputes about the decisions of the Umpire." (my italics).

In 2008, 1858 style base ball might look glorious, but in 1868, the man who might be said to have known more about it than anyone, thought it was terrible.

What Fun!