Alexander Cartwright: The True Founder of Modern Baseball

One of baseball's most prevalent myths is that of the founding of the game. The myth reads that Abner Doubleday played the first game in Cooperstown, New York, now home to the Baseball Hall of Fame. However, baseball's true founder is Alexander Cartwright. Alexander Cartwright has been called, "the father of modern baseball", for his role in the creation of the "Great American Pastime", baseball. Alexander Cartwright created the rules for modern day baseball. He also participated in the first modern game of baseball and spread it across America. He led an interesting life, living in places from New York City to Hawaii. Alexander Cartwright created the rules of baseball, participated in the first recorded game of baseball, and led an interesting life.

Alexander Cartwright is credited for being the man who created modern day baseball. Although some of the rules he made have become obsolete, many are still used. His rules included; there are four bases laid out in a diamond, the bases are 90 feet apart, balls hit outside of first or 3rd base are foul, there are three outs per inning, teams play an equal number of innings, the batter must swing and miss three times to strike out Other rules include; foul balls were not considered strikes on the third swinging strike, the batter may run to first base if the catcher does not catch the ball before it hits the ground, runners may be put out by being tagged or forced out, a runner cannot be put out by "soaking" (hitting them with a thrown ball), and throwing at a runner is prohibited. Because of these monumental rules Alexander Cartwright is regarded as the "father of modern baseball".