Base-ball : How to become a player, with the origin, history and explanation of the game

Written by a veteran of the New York Base‑Ball Club, this compact guide offers a player’s eye on a sport still finding its own rules. Beginning with a lively look at the ball’s ancient roots—from mythic Greek maidens to medieval schoolyard games—the author frames baseball as the latest chapter in a long tradition of ball‑play across continents.

From that sweeping prologue the book shifts to practical instruction, describing the layout of the diamond, the basics of batting, fielding, and pitching, and the etiquette that governed clubs in the 1880s. Interwoven with anecdotes from early clubs and illustrated diagrams, the text captures the excitement of a game on the brink of becoming America’s national pastime, while still leaving several tactical debates unresolved. Listeners will appreciate the clear, period‑specific language that brings the 19th‑century clubhouse atmosphere to life.