America's favorite pastime didn't start as the sensation it is now right off the bat. It began as a game that was to be played (not watched) by ordinary people with minimal equipment. This comprehensive history unravels the true, amateur origins of the game with precision and humor. Discover how nineteenth-century cultural and social factors led to the creation of the sport that shaped our nation. Fans of sports and history will devour this full-scope narrative that introduces us to "how baseball happened," and the little-known people we have to thank for it.