Of all documented sports, softball might by far be the one with the clearest genesis. Unlike football, soccer or golf, softball's history is very distinct. This might be due to the sports young age.
Softball originated in a Chicago suburb in 1887. George Hancock is single-handedly credited for creating the popular game. He is said to have drawn a diamond on a floor then used broom's handle as a batting stick to hit boxing gloves tied together to form an oversize ball.
Softball originally was an indoors game, exclusive to men. With time, the game was modified loosely as a shortened baseball version. Ironically, the game was given a larger ball than that for baseball and yet a smaller playing field. Hancock soon painted some permanent lines in his gymnasium, which helped him derive some playing rules.
Softball popularity caught a fire and Hancock published rules of the game officially. It was the popularity and amusement that softball gained that eventually saw it featured on outdoor fields, especially during summer.
The genesis of softball is thus as both an indoors and outdoors game, based on weather patterns. Softball teams and even leagues developed in many towns soon after, especially in northeaster states like Chicago, Minnesota, Massachusetts and New York. The game was however still a male's dominion.
At around 1895, women's softball was in initiated, again in Chicago, where West Division High became the pioneer women team. By 1900's softball, tournaments and leagues gained popularity. In 1933, a National Championship was inaugurated in Chicago for both male and female teams. Thus begun one of the most beloved sport, simple and yet passionate.
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