History of Softball

Softball, known as the softer version of baseball, is known to derive its roots from various sports. The rules and concepts, though similar to baseball, are entirely different and complex on their own. What is interesting and not known to quite a few of us, is that softball was born at a football game, played long back in the 1880s. Here's a look into how this world famous sport was born.

Softball was first introduced in 1887 at a Harvard-Yale football game. When one from the group of Yale and Harvard alumni, waiting for the results of the Harvard-Yale game (which Yale won),picked a glove and threw it at an Harvard alumni, it triggered the start of a game. This hit was met by the Harvard alumni by hitting the glove back with a stick. George Hancock , the founder of softball, a reporter back then, started the idea of a new game – Softball. The attempt to create Softball batting helmets was introduced in 1905.

Hancock divided the people into two teams, marked the bases, and played the game for a while. But little did they know how popular this sport would become in the coming days. On gaining popularity in Chicago, the game was played outdoors and special rules were also adopted. Softball gained popularity in other states as well, and by 1889, a winter league was formed. By 1913, after undergoing few changes, softball was officially adopted by the Minneapolis Park Board.

Also known to be played majorly by women, softball went on to attain its highest peak when it became an Olympic event in 1966. This also marked the introduction of technology in softball and how popular it was to become in the future.