The Other Wright Brothers

Sure you know all about Orville and Wilbur, but what about Harry and George. You know, the other Wright brothers, the ones who helped to turn amateur baseball into the professional leagues we know today. Harry Wright has been called "The Father of Professional Baseball" and a "Baseball Edison." Meanwhile, his brother George without a doubt during the 1860s and 1870s was the best baseball player in the country. Together they brought skill and innovation to the sport of baseball.

Contrary to popular belief, baseball did not originate in the United States. The contention that Abner Doubleday in 1839, as a young West Point cadet, invented the game in the Cooperstown village is completely false. More than likely the game of baseball evolved from various ball-and-stick games that have been played around the world since the beginning of recorded history.

The United States during the last half of the 19th century underwent tremendous lifestyle changes. Many Americans for the first time saw an increase in their so-called leisure time. For instance, the urban middle class found themselves with considerable amounts of time in which they were not at their workplace. This included primarily evenings, weekends, and even vacation time. Industrial workers as well began to enjoy some down time as the average work hours per week declined from seventy, in 1860, to under sixty by 1900. Additionally the mechanization of agriculture gave farmers more free time to enjoy leisure activities. Some of these activities included circuses, amusement parks, vaudeville, and sporting events. The most popular however was the sport of baseball.

By the end of the Civil War, interest in the game had grown and more than 200 teams existed. Many of which toured the country playing other clubs. These were primarily amateur teams but they belonged to a national association of "baseball players" who adhered to a set of standardized rules. Because baseball had grown so quickly in popularity, teams were transformed into entertainment businesses. Entrepreneurs saw how first-rate players could draw huge crowds. As professionalism crept in, most clubs sold stock to investors in order to finance their operations. Finally, the professional movement became firmly entrenched when in 1869, Cincinnati businessmen announced openly that they were going to field an all-salaried team that would take on other teams across the country. This team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, was led by player-manager Harry Wright.

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