d. Still, the true believers managed to spread the gospel, and for more than three decades this story survived as part of baseball's official history. In 1939, new research revealed baseball's true roots, though too late for the Baseball Hall of Fame, which broke ground in 1936ùadjacent to Doubleday Field in Cooperstown (Wallace 89).
The paternity became so important to Spalding only because the game of baseball had become so important to many Americans. Two effects of rapid industrialization benefited baseball, both as a participatory sport and as a spectator sport. First, the change to an industrial economy dramatically altered the U.S. from a rural to an urban nation. Millions flocked to the cities, and they needed something to do. Second, the workers needed a release because of the mind-numbing factory work. They had more time on their hands than they did on the farm, but they exercised less because farm work had been so labor intensive. Watching and playing baseball provided the release and the exercise these new urbanites needed (Wallace 11).
At the same time, numerous books and articles urged Americans to exercise. The transformation from rural to urban life threatened the nation's health, these writers claimed, and they needed to do something. Consequently, many organizations (businesses, unions, churches, civic groups) formed baseball teams and leagues (Wallace 11).
The advent of dependable mass transit also benefited baseball as a spectator sport. Thanks to street cars, trolleys, and the like, fans could come from a wide area to watch a baseball game. Americans also were buying passenger cars and driving to games. Meanwhile, railroad service improved dramatically, allowing teams to travel between cities to play games (Wallace 11).
The nation also experienced a communications revolution. Cities such as New York featured dozens of daily newspapers. Magazines exploded during the early part of the 190...