During the 18th and 19th centuries, Townball, a popular bat-and-ball game, would become the direct precursor to American baseball. What started as a children’s game became a game of adult leisure, and diverging rule sets and equipment emerged based on the part of North America it was being played in. The most famous variations of Townball were in Philadelphia, Massachusetts (or New England), and New York. The Philadelphia version featured lots of runs and was very fast-paced. The bases were much closer together, and each hit resulted in either a “homerun” or an out. Suppose the score was low at the end of the game. That was used as proof of skilled fielders and good defense tactics. The Massachusetts version had an exciting mix of modern baseball rules and other interesting antique rules. It was agreed that this version required more skill than the Philly version. In Massachusetts Townball, the bases were farther apart and allowed offensive players to stop at the bases. The ability to stop at bases dramatically increased the offensive strategy hitters and base runners employed. It was not uncommon for games to take more than one day to play. The New York Townball version featured the iconic three-out rule, nine innings serving as the game’s length, and the bases’ diamond shape, which would inspire modern baseball.

Regardless of the version being played, they all share similarities to their common ancestor sport of Rounders. Modern baseball would eventually overtake Townball in popularity, but it owes its legacy to these Townball versions. When this series of lessons are presented, I usually start with the Philly version because it requires the least knowledge of base running and is very exciting for the hitting team. Next, I would introduce the Massachusetts version, which has longer base paths and more running strategies. Finally, the New York version is very similar to modern baseball, which completes the evolution of Townball’s influence on today’s modern American baseball game.

Materials: 

·      A large play area (gym or outside)

·      A bat

o   I prefer a cricket bat to an American baseball bat for this sport, but a whiffle ball bat would suffice. For the Philly version, have a small, one-handed bat as an option too.

·      Rubber Disc Dots for bases

·      Small dodgeballs if played indoors, tennis balls if played outdoor

Minimum Number of Players Needed: I recommend having at least eight total students (4 v 4) play an accurate version of the games. However, an entire class would be the best.

Age: Perfect for lower elementary, but would still be fun for upper elementary and middle school.