The Rise of Baseball and the Birth of Organized Sports

The period between the end of Reconstruction and the early 20th century saw a shift from informal recreation to organized, commercial sports, with baseball leading the way. The formation of the National League in 1876 and the American League in 1901 marked a significant move toward professional baseball, turning it into a national institution. This shift was not random; the rise of organized leagues reflected the larger trend of industrial organization in American cities.

Historian Steven A. Riess, in City Games: The Evolution of American Urban Society and the Rise of Sports, explains that the growth of cities during the Gilded Age created a need for structured recreation and the infrastructure to support it⁸,. Riess argues that the introduction of scheduled work hours, public transportation, and concentrated populations allowed sports like baseball to thrive. He also discusses how team sports promoted values such as discipline, teamwork, and masculinity, which matched the ideals of industrial capitalism. Riess also points out how baseball appealed to immigrant and working class communities, creating a shared cultural space in rapidly changing cities. This helps explain why baseball became known as America’s "national pastime." The ballpark offered not just a game but also a place for identity, unity, and civic pride. In cities like Chicago and New York, cheering for a team became part of being “American.” During this time, the commercialization of the sport took off.  Elliott J. Gorn, in The Manly Art, discusses how figures like Albert Spalding recognized opportunities beyond the game itself, turning sports into a business that included equipment sales, advertising, and public promotion³. Spalding’s efforts foreshadowed the rise of the industrial complex, where sports and commerce became intertwined. Therefore, baseball in this era was more than just a pastime, it mirrored America's transformation to urban, industrial, and increasingly corporate. It laid the groundwork for modern sports culture by standardizing rules, forming professional leagues, and generating widespread public interest.