Name: Evolution of the Game of Baseball in the 19th Century
Start: 2026-03-07T13:30:00-05:00
Location: 25 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA, United States, Massachusetts 02452

Join us at the Waltham Museum on March 7th at 1:30pm as we continue our Social Series with Evolution of the Game of Baseball in the 19th Century.
Did you know the original home plate was circular? Did you know the National League that we know today was formed in 1876? If not or even if you did, join us for a lecture by baseball historian Brian Sheehy….
Learn about the changes in the game, rules, and equipment of baseball throughout the 19th century.
This talk examines how baseball changed and evolved from an amateur game played for fun and recreation to a professional sport played for money and profit. We look at how the rules and equipment changed drastically over a short amount of time to create the game that we know today.
Brian Sheehy, History Department Coordinator at North Andover High School and award-winning educator, specializes in object-based learning and sports history. Founder of the NAHS History Learning Lab, he creates innovative curricula, publishes work on sports and history, and serves as president of the Essex Base Ball Organization.
-Award-Winning Educator:2020 OAH Mary K. Bonsteel Tachau Teacher of the Year and Williams College Olmstead Secondary Teacher of the Year.
-Object-Based Learning Expert:Founded the NAHS History Learning Lab to enhance curriculum through artifacts and gallery walks.
-Sports Historian & Author:Published work on baseball/military history and president of the Essex Base Ball Organization.
-Curriculum Development:Expert in integrating sports themes and “hidden histories” into classroom instruction.
Our free event will take place on Saturday, March 7th at 1:30pm 25 Lexington St. Waltham. Tours and refreshments available. Seats are limited, so signup by calling 781-893-9020 or emailing [email protected] with name, phone# & email, and number of participants. Parking available in the Public Parking Garage directly across from the Waltham Museum.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Waltham Cultural Council, a local agency funded by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.