Local-Origins Project
In February 2014 Protoball launched a new activity on the local origins of base ball. About a dozen local research groups, listed below, are working to fill in data in the Pre-pro Baseball data base of about 5,000 Clubs and Games in local areas. We invite you to join in by researching a local town, county, or state that is of interest to you. This effort is encompassing both the modern ("New York rules") form of base ball and the predecessor base-running games (base, wicket, round-ball, cricket, etc.) that were known to have been played in each geographical area.
How to Join
Contact Larry McCray . He will welcome you on the project and help you get started. Here is a list of Local-Origins Resources
Search Guides for new researchers
New information on an area's earliest clubs and ballgames is likely to be found in 19th Century newspaper accounts. We have compiled list of searchable national and local data bases (most of them free) to help new researchers to get started. This document includes practical search tips from several of the most-experienced Origins-Era diggers. Version 1.1 of this guide is found here?. We welcome additional listings and suggestions for improving later versions of the Search Tips guide. Before searching for new data, it may be useful to familiarize yourself on currently-held data in your geographical area of interest. We are particularly interested in finding earlier data that what is now on the Protoball site.
Study Groups
Arkbaseball.com Website (tentative participant)
- Main Contact: Caleb Hardwick
- Continuity Editor: Caleb Hardwick
- Regional Focus: Arkansas
Boston Chapter of SABR
- Main Contact: Joanne Hulbert, Dixie Tourangeau, Larry McCray
- Continuity Editor: Larry McCray, Brian Sheehy
- Special Interest: The Massachusetts Game, The conversion to the New York Game
Bronx Project
- Continuity Editor: Gregory Christiano
- Regional Focus: The Bronx, New York
Essex Base Ball Club
- Main Contact: Brian Sheehy
- Continuity Editor: Brian Sheehy
- Regional Focus: Down East USA: ME, NH,and Northeast MA
Halsey Hall SABR Chapter (Minnesota)
- Main Contact: Rich Arpi
- Regional Focus: Minnesota and the Dakotas
- Special Interest: MN Base Ball Through the 19th Century
Illinois Project
- Main Contact: Bruce Allardice
- Continuity Editor: Bruce Allardice
- Regional Focus: Illinois
Maryland Project
- Main Contact: Marty Payne
- Continuity Editor: Marty Payne
- Regional Focus: Maryland (emphasis on the Eastern Shore)
Missouri Project
- Main Contact: Jeffrey Kittel
- Continuity Editor: Jeffrey Kittel
- Regional Focus: Missouri and the Trans-Appalachian West
New Jersey Project
Pacific Northwest Chapter of SABR
- Main Contact: Mark Brunke
- Continuity Editor: Mark Brunke
- Regional Focus: Pacific NW
Rochester Baseball Historical Society
- Main Contact: Priscilla Astifan
- Continuity Editor: Priscilla Astifan
- Regional Focus: Greater Rochester, NY
SABR Chapter of Rhode Island (tentative participant)
- Main Contact: Rick Harris
- Continuity Editor: Rick Harris
- Regional Focus: Rhode Island
SABR Field of Dreams Chapter (tentative participant)
- Main Contact: Tim Rask
- Continuity Editor: Jophn Liepa
- Regional Focus: Iowa
Tennessee Association of Vintage Base Ball
- Main Contact: Chris Ryland
- Continuity Editor: Chris Ryland
- Regional Focus: Tennessee