Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Henry Chadwick --The Father of Baseball

Are you, or someone you know, a fan of America's favorite pastime, baseball?  Did you know that Henry Chadwick is called the "Father of Baseball"?

Born in Exeter, England, and raised playing cricket, he became one of the prime movers in the rise of baseball to its unprecedented popularity at the turn of the 20th century. Chadwick moved to Brooklyn, New York, with his family at the age of 12, and became a frequent player of early ball games called "rounders" which was similar to baseball.  In 1856, while witnessing a well-played match between two New York baseball clubs, he became a fan, and decided to do everything he could to make baseball "a national sport for Americans," as cricket was for the English. At the time he was covering cricket matches for the New York Times and persuaded them, and other newspapers, to also cover local baseball games. He then went on to author innovative score keeping practices, introduced statistics such as batting average and ERA, and became the chairman of the first baseball rules committee.


Chadwick died in 1908 at age 83 and is interred in the National Historic Green-Wood Cemetery located in Brooklyn, New York.  "Father of Base Ball" is inscribed on his grave marker.  A popular stop for visitors to this very scenic cemetery, a few of whom leave baseballs behind on his gravestone as a sign of respect.


His grave site is neatly outlined with "bases."

Bronze reliefs of baseball bats, a fielder's glove and a catchers mask decorate the sides of his gravestone.

Photo Source: Baseball Hall Of Fame

Chadwick was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938, the only writer elected to the hall itself.  He certainly left an indelible mark on the history of the game!

I'm linking to post to the weekly "Outdoor Wednesday" event on Susan's blog A Southern Daydreamer. Thanks, Susan, for hosting each week!

Please CLICK HERE to go to my review blog to see where I was treated to a shopping spree to buy items for my bride-to-be daughter--that post will be coming up in a few days!  There is also information on how you can enter for a chance to win a $25 gift card to HomeGoods through Blogher Prizes and Promotions, contest ending June 30, 2011.



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23 comments:

Barbara F. said...

Learned something new today. I really like the design of his final resting place. Greenwood is such a fascinating place. Thanks Pat! xo,

Vee said...

Oh this is something I didn't know before. How neat the way his grave is laid out like bases. Wonder if it's always been that way...

Michelle said...

A really great post. I didn't know all of this and so cool that his grave is laid out with those bases.

Snap said...

You KNEW I'd love this post! The baseball season is over for my university team, but as I sit and write this post, the Astros and Pirates are on the TV!!!!! It's also 80 degrees at 8 pm.....UGH!

Ginny Hartzler said...

I didn't know any of this! I had heard of rounders but didn't know exactly what it was. That is SOME grave site!!!

Babs said...

Great post and so interesting. The cemetery where his grave is looks so pretty. Thanks for sharing this little know.. to me.. info.
Thanks also for your nice comments on my post.
Babs

Yvette said...

I am a big baseball fan, Pat. Someone who's never quite recovered from the Dodgers leaving Brooklyn a lifetime ago. Ha!

Today I am a Mets fan primarily because my late dad was. My daughter, however, is a rabid Yankees fan. :)

Thanks for this interesting post on the 'father of baseball.' I never knew any of this.

Claudia said...

Sweet posting and I had no idea - an Englishman - the father of baseball! (And it's one of the few sports I have always followed.)

Janie said...

Good article.

Most of my grandparents family (mothers side) is interred in Greenwood (for over 100 years and more room to spare!)

Have to say I am a Mets fan myself..(yah..they won tonight!)

Sarah said...

Pat, I always learn something interesting when I visit you. Great post! ~ sarah

Light and Voices said...

Interesting information and photo of Henry Chadwick's gravesite.
Joyce M

Unknown said...

That was a cool post!

Rainey @ The Project Table
http://theprojecttable.blogspot.com

SquirrelQueen said...

I learned so much from your post, I had never heard of Henry Chadwick before today. That cemetery looks very beautiful, it would be a pleasant place for a walk.

Old Kitty said...

I used to love playing rounders at school cos the rules were so simple - just hit the ball and run to a base!! And that was it!! I do enjoy a game of cricket (highlights only!) but baseball rules and games just flummoxes me!! LOL!!

What a wonderful insight to the guy who made baseball a sport for Americans!! Another fantastic feature too for Green Wood Cemetary!! Yay! take care
x

Lynn said...

That's interesting Pat, I haven't heard of the gentleman before:@)

podso said...

I'm sure my husband knows this, but I found it interesting today. Thanks for this!

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

My hubby is a huge fan of baseball. I will need to show him this post. I always loved watching my two boys play also. I think that grave site is so cool! What a tribute to him. Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic information and photos of his place of rest. I'm not a baseball fan, but knowing that Henry Chadwick is the father of baseball is wonderful.

Karen said...

What an interesting post!! Thank you for sharing it today :)

nanny said...

You always educate me on great topics.....
Very interesting....

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

What a great an informative post! I have a "boy of summer", so I am forwarding this wonderful post to him! My son started playing baseball at age 4 and played thru college. Now he helps to coach a little league team. There is someting about boys and baseball!
Another great lesson in this post is that we never know and how we will make an impact on others!
Thanks,
Yvonne

Kaye said...

Most interesting and informative. I like pictures of old cemeteries and some of the more creative gravestones.

Tara said...

Hi Pat:

Isn't Brooklyn just the most amazin' place! :0)

I read your article on EATALY...one of my favorite places when visiting Manhattan. Last winter I attended the Martha Stewart show (on the FIT grounds) and headed to EATALY for lunch...and was seated next to Mario Bataglio! It was surreal! Glad your blog is blossoming so...our spring has been busy with my son's graduation frmo FIT, his girlfriend graduating frmo Parson School of Design and my oldest daughter graduating from high school next week! All good stuff...and your grandson pics are ADORABLE! Wishing you the best-Tara