The game of softball has an interesting history. The United States has always been the most innovative and inventive nation in the world when it comes to sports. Softball is one of the greatest innovations in the history of American sports. Softball is another close relative of the popular sport of baseball, but with slight and significant alterations. It is very interesting to note that although softball has never gained much popularity globally, it has its genesis right in the 19th century. The first version of softball was invented in Chicago in the year 1887 by a reporter for the Chicago Board of Trade. His name was George Hancock and he tried to innovate a winter version of baseball.
Farragut Boat Club was the first place where the newly evolved game of what was then known as ‘indoor baseball’ was first played. There are many humorous incidents that have proven to be one of the most important developments in the game. Instead of a specialized glove for the game, a boxing glove was attached to the ball. Instead of a specialized bat, a broom handle was used to hit the ball.
IN 1895 came the first time softball was played as an outdoor game, in Minneapolis. Firefighters played it for exercise. The game of softball at the time was known as kitty ball. After years of development in the game, the first softball league outside the United States was organized in Toronto, Canada, in 1897. Softball’s name had undergone a number of changes since 1926. Some of the names included indoor baseball , mini ball, diamond ball, porridge ball and pumpkin ball. Standard and international rules were first agreed upon only after the formation of the Amateur Softball Association in 1933.