In the 1700s when the British settled in North America they brought along the game of cricket, and the children's game of rounders. Rounders had been adapted from cricket and already resembled baseball. Although there were many variations to the game, the most popular form involved a pitcher throwing to a batter who would then hit the ball and run from base to base while the ball was being fielded. In order to get him out, the fielders would try to hit (or 'plug') the runner with the ball while he was off base. Bases were rocks, stakes, inverted milking stools or anything else that was available. Bats would be axe handles, wagon spokes or any other piece of wood that was available. Balls were usually constructed of a piece of cork or India rubber wrapped in twine and covered in leather.

By the 1830's the game had developed a variation called Town Ball, or The Massachusetts game, that was played by adults. In 1845, the 25 year old bank teller, Alexander Cartwright Jr. began to experiment with the game to create a set of standard, codified rules for a game that could be played by young and old alike. The most important of Cartwright's innovations was the elimination of the practice of hitting runners with the ball to get them out.

By introducing his rules and regulations, Cartwright had taken a children's game and turned it into a game that adults could play. The appeal of the new game was perhaps due to the combination of complexity, logical reasoning and physical exhilaration. The standardised rules allowed teams to meet on equal terms, wherever they played. In the spring of 1845, Alexander Cartwright proposed the formation of a baseball club which would become known as the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club. The organisation was composed of society gentlemen and was intended to provide recreation

But between 1846 and 1851, there were still very few organised baseball clubs, so the Knickerbockers played most of their games amongst themselves. Even though there was a lack of competition, the game continued to evolve. In 1849, the Knickerbockers adopted the first baseball uniform, consisting of blue woolen pantaloons, white flanel shirts and straw hats. In 1851, the straw hats gave way to mohair caps.

Baseball was first introduced as part of the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden. The USA was scheduled to play an amateur baseball club formed in Sweden called the Vesteras. After seeing the Americans warm-up, the Vesteras were convinced they could not compete with the Americans and asked the Americans to loan them a pitcher and catcher, which they did. Even so, the U.S. beat the Vesteras 13-3 and Olympic baseball was born.