Considering the present popularity of baseball, it is difficult to realize that the sport has developed almost entirely since the United States Civil War (1861-65). Before that time there were sporadic attempts to arouse interest in baseball, but it was not until the soldiers, who learned the game while in the army camps returned to their homes that the sport became a national pastime.
Baseball in 1862 required 9 men on a side as today, but was played without gloves, masks, or protectors, while pitchers tossed the ball to the batter in much the same manner as batting/hitting practice. These factors doubtless account for the phenomenal scoring power of the team at bat. Two scores, one from each team, were needed to record the tallies. Some scores of the early years were 66-48 with the game lasting nearly four hours, 54-23, 83-57, 115-42 (8 inning game) State of Iowa Baseball tournament held in Burlington, Iowa, October 1867 with total prizes more than $1,000 was one of the earliest tourneys. During the year 1866, groups were organized in towns and cities throughout the country and records exist of a few ball teams in Iowa that year. By 1867 the baseball season had opened and teams were formed which contended for supremacy with neighboring groups.
Couple of renowned Iowa baseball players in the Baseball Hall of Fame are “Cap” Anson (1851-1922) of Marshalltown, Iowa, who was baseball pioneer in the early day era; Bob (Rapid Robert) Feller (1918 – living 2004) of Van Meter also renowned, pitched for the Cleveland Indians 1935 – 1956 (military service 4 years).
A Few Beginning Days Rules and Changes - Base on balls = 9, 1880 to 8, 1882 to 7, 1884 to 6; 1887 to 5, 1889 to 4; Pitcher’s Box distance from home plate – 45 ft, 1881 increased to 50 feet. Pitcher’s delivery motion must have hand pass below his hip, 1884 – pitcher’s motion limited to shoulder high delivery; Pitcher’s box is 6 ft. x 6 ft, 1886 to 4 ft. x 7 ft: Batter allowed to call for high or low pitch, 1887 batter not allowed to call pitch. Strike zone defined as between top of shoulders and bottom of knees, 1893 - Pitching distance is 60 ft. 6 inches; 1895 Pitching rubber is 24 x 6 inches, bat must be round and diameter limit 2 ¾ inches. 1900 – Home Plate changed from 12 inches to 17 inches wide. 1920 – The spitball pitch abolished.
State Baseball Tournaments Through the Years - Iowa State College/University at Ames, Iowa began the State High School spring baseball tournament in 1921. They sponsored and held tournaments through 1927. For the first four years (1921-24) invitations were sent all high schools to participate in the State Baseball Tournament held in mid-May (no fall baseball season) on Iowa State College/ University campus in Ames, Iowa. Beginning 1925 sixteen high school baseball teams across the state were selected by “Committee-in-Charge ” for the State Tourney in Ames.
The Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) assumed sponsorship and control of the state tourney in Spring 1928. Spring state baseball tournaments continued through 1972 when the spring season ended and was merged into Summer baseball that began in 1946. Very few small (Class B) schools participated in summer baseball until after spring season ended in 1972. The Fall baseball tournament began in 1938, and continued through 1985 when it was