History of Softball-(Part 4)

Meanwhile, back in Chicago where softball began, it was getting even more popular. It was still played often indoors at armories. Also, outdoor softball in the city had need of a ball that wouldn’t go so far when it was hit with a baseball bat. It was played on playgrounds and small fields, so a ball that you couldn’t hit too far was needed.

 

A guy named Frederick DeBeer made the first 16′ softball for that reason. He also made it with the stitches on the inside and it was called the Cincher. The reason the stitches were placed on the inside was so they wouldn’t wear out on the playgrounds. Another ‘game-changer’ was you didn’t wear a glove when playing 16′ softball.

Related posts:

1. History of Softball-(Part 5)
2. History of Softball-(Part 7)
3. History of Softball-(Part 6)
4. History of Softball-(Part 2)
5. History of Softball-(Part 3)