Stories from America's Pastime
From the earliest U.S. baseball references in the 1700s to the modern major leagues, explore the people, rules, and turning points that built the game.
180+
Years of History
150+
Profiles
500+
Articles & Stories
Journey Through Time
Explore Baseball's Eras
From the strategic dead-ball game to the analytics-driven modern era, discover how America's pastime evolved over more than a century.
Origins Era1786–1899
From the earliest U.S. references through 19th-century codification and professionalization, baseball took recognizable modern form.
Dead-Ball Era1900–1919
Low-scoring games, scientific baseball, and legendary pitchers like Cy Young and Walter Johnson dominated this era of craft over power.
Live-Ball Era1920–1941
Babe Ruth revolutionized the game with power hitting. The Yankees dynasty emerged, and baseball became America's undisputed pastime.
Integration Era1942–1960
Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, transforming baseball forever. Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and other legends emerged.
Expansion Era1961–1976
Baseball spread across America with new franchises. From the Amazin' Mets to the Big Red Machine, dynasties rose and fell.
Free Agency Era1977–1993
Players gained freedom and salaries soared. The game saw new superstars, labor disputes, and unforgettable World Series moments.
Modern Era1994–present
From the steroid controversy to advanced analytics, the modern era redefined what we know about baseball strategy and athleticism.
Statcast Era2015–present
League-wide ball and player tracking changed how teams evaluate talent, design strategy, and develop players.
Featured Reading
From the Archives
Walter Johnson, 1914. Dead-Ball command from one of the era's dominant pitchers.
Photo credit: Charles M. Conlon via Wikimedia Commons
When Pitchers Ruled the Diamond
During the Dead-Ball Era, pitchers worked under conditions that will never be replicated. Dirty baseballs, legal trick pitches, and the expectation of finishing what you started produced statistics that look like misprints today.
Read full articleJackie Robinson, 1954. First black player in modern Major League Baseball.
Photo credit: Bob Sandberg / LOOK Magazine / LOC via Wikimedia Commons
April 15, 1947
Jackie Robinson walked onto Ebbets Field as the Brooklyn Dodgers' first baseman and broke a barrier that had held for more than sixty years. The game itself was almost beside the point.
Read full articleThis Day in History
June 3
Lou Gehrig Hits Four Home Runs in One Game
On June 3, 1932, Lou Gehrig hit four home runs in a single game against the Philadelphia Athletics at Shibe Park. He became the first American League player to accomplish the feat in the twentieth century and only the sixth player in major league history to do it at all.
Start At The Beginning
Baseball Origins in the U.S.
1786 Princeton Diary EntryEarliest known handwritten U.S. mention of baseball (“baste ball”).
1791 Pittsfield BylawEarliest known U.S. municipal use of the exact word “baseball.”
New York Association Play (1823)An early New York notice documents organized association base ball.
Wheaton and Early Club Rules (1837)Rule-writing evidence in New York before Knickerbocker codification.
Gotham-Era Club Development (1840-1843)Club competition patterns that set the stage for written standards.
Knickerbocker Rules (1845)How written rules moved baseball toward modern form.