The history of softball starts in 1887, when a group of men were anxious for the outcome of a Harvard versus Yale football game in Chicago, Illinois. When they heard Yale had won, a man threw a boxing glove to one of the other men. They picked up a ball and some men started hitting it with a stick. A reporter, John Hancock, yelled "Play ball!" and the first softball game was played when everyone else started playing. The first woman team was formed in 1895 in Chicago’s West Division High School. It was very different because there were two players at shortstop, and two outfielders.
Ever since then, the story spread across Chicago, and eventually throughout the Midwestern U.S. In 1926, a representer of the YMCA at a meeting called the term "softball", and in 1930 it stuck as the sports official name. The Joint Rules Committee gave softball a set of rules in 1934. At the Farragut Boat Club, they played with a 16 inch softball, but Lewis Rober Jr. played with a 12 inch ball. Lewis Rober Jr. won the preferred size of the softball! Many people that live in Chicago still think they should use a 16 inch softball.
In 1965, the first Woman's International Championship was held. This was held in Melbourne, Australia, and the Australia won the first championship winning against USA 1-0. In 1991, the woman's fast pitch softball was added to the 1996 Summer Olympics roster. Even though it was taken out of the Olympics roster in 2012, it is still considered one of the most popular sports in the country. Around 40 million people play at least one softball game each year. In 2020, Tokyo, Japan is planning on adding baseball and softball back on the roster of the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Ever since then, the story spread across Chicago, and eventually throughout the Midwestern U.S. In 1926, a representer of the YMCA at a meeting called the term "softball", and in 1930 it stuck as the sports official name. The Joint Rules Committee gave softball a set of rules in 1934. At the Farragut Boat Club, they played with a 16 inch softball, but Lewis Rober Jr. played with a 12 inch ball. Lewis Rober Jr. won the preferred size of the softball! Many people that live in Chicago still think they should use a 16 inch softball.
In 1965, the first Woman's International Championship was held. This was held in Melbourne, Australia, and the Australia won the first championship winning against USA 1-0. In 1991, the woman's fast pitch softball was added to the 1996 Summer Olympics roster. Even though it was taken out of the Olympics roster in 2012, it is still considered one of the most popular sports in the country. Around 40 million people play at least one softball game each year. In 2020, Tokyo, Japan is planning on adding baseball and softball back on the roster of the 2020 Summer Olympics.