History and Activities of the Amateur Baseball Federation of India

Baseball game was introduced in our country by the Amateur Baseball Federation of India. The Federation was established in December 1983 with an object to promote this game. On 11th December 1983 some Baseball lovers from Delhi, Manjpur, Haryana, Gujarat, M.P and West  Bengal met at Rohtak (Haryana) and agreed to form a baseball federation to promote baseball game through out the country. The Baseball Leaders also agreed that the Federation should become a member of Asian baseball Federation and International Baseball Association. The leading persons at that time were Mr.P.C. Bhardwaj ( Delhi ) and Mr. E.Bijoy Singh (Manipur). Mr.P.C.Bhardwaj (Delhi) was appointed as Hony. Secretary and given responsibility to approach Asian and International Baseball Authority for membership. 

On 16th Sept. 1984 a seminar was organized to discuss the basic bylaws and to hold the Ist National Baseball Championship to popularize this game, An application was moved to International Baseball Association for Affiliation. An extraordinary Congress and 13th Baseball Asia Championship Series was to be held from 19th Jan. 1985 to 31 Jan. 1985  at Perth (Australia). Mr.P.C Bhardwaj Hony. Secretary A.B.F.I Attended the 13th Asian Baseball Championship Series at Perth. ABFI was approved as a member of B.F.A on 19th Jan 1985 at Seoul. Indian Olympic Association also recognized Amateur Baseball Federation of India.

Ist National Baseball  Championship was organized by Baseball Association, Delhi from 25th Feb to 28th Feb 1985 at New Delhi. The Federation also introduced this game for women. A.B.F.I was deeply grateful to B.F.A for providing the Baseball equipment. 

The Federation is determined to promote Baseball game through out the country. At present 26 States/UT are the affiliated member of the Federation. The federation has organized 24 Senior National Baseball Championship, 21 Junior National Championship, 19 Sub-junior National Championship, apart from 11 National Little League Tournament between 11-13 years age group. The Indian team won Bronze medal in 1995 & Silver medal in 1999 in the Asian Cup Baseball championship at Internationals Level. Indian team also participated in “AA” and “AAA” Championship held at Seoul and Taiwan in which Indian team performance was appreciable. The federation has been sending participants under 11 years in the world children Baseball Fair on the invitation from WCBF. The Indian woman team recently participated in 3rd woman world cup at Matsuyama, Japan in 2008.

The Baseball game has been included in the school game by the School Games Federation of India since 1998. The Federation succeeded to introduced Baseball game at Grass Route Level. Sports Authority of India has introduced certificate course for Baseball Coaches at N.I.S Patiala. 

A.B.F.I.’s most urgent task is to make Baseball Tremendously popular in India. The Federation will do its level best to achieve the goal

THE HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL

Although it is clear that modern baseball developed in North America, the exact origin of the game is difficult to determine. Most scholars believe that baseball evolved from a variety of similar games that have been played for centuries. A popular legend claims that Abner Doubleday, who became a Union officer in the American Civil War (1861-1865), invented baseball in Cooperstown, New York, in 1839. Although there is little support for this story, the Baseball Hall of Fame Museum is located there because of it. 

Origins 

There is evidence that people played games involving a stick and a ball since the early days of civilization. Ancient cultures in Persia, Egypt, and Greece played stick-and-ball games for recreation and as part of certain ceremonies. Games of this type had spread throughout Europe by the Middle Ages and became popular in a variety of forms. Europeans brought stick-and-ball games to the American colonies as early as the 1600s. They were widely considered children's games, however, through the 1700s. 

By the early 1800s, a variety of stick-and-ball games had become popular in North America. Most of these games originated in England. Many people in north-eastern cities such as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia played cricket. However, an English game called rounders, which was eventually played in rural and urban communities throughout North America, most resembled modern baseball. 

Rounders called for a batter to strike a ball and run around bases without being put out. Balls that were caught in the air, or in some cases after one bounce, were commonly outs. Rounders also involved the practice of plugging, in which fielders could put runners out by throwing the ball at them as they ran between bases. The rules of rounders varied widely from place to place, and people used various names to describe it, including town ball, one o' cat, and, eventually, baseball. 

Baseball around the World 

BASEBALL INDIA AT A GLANCE 

• The Amateur Baseball Federation of India was formed in Dec 1983.

• First National Baseball Championship was organized in Feb 1985 at New Delhi.

• The Federation was affiliated with the Baseball Federation of Asia & International Baseball Federation in 1985.

• The Federation was recognized by National Federation by the Ministry of Y/A & Sports, Govt. of India in 1991.

• The Indian team participated in the Asian Baseball Championship in 1987 at Tokyo & in 1989 Seoul.

• The Indian Baseball team won the Bronze Medal in 1st Asian cup Baseball Championship in 1995 held at Manila, Phillipines.

• The Federation organized 3rd Asian Cup Baseball Championship in 1999 at Chandigarh and got Silver Medal.

• The Federation has sent baseball team 11yr, 15 yr & 17 yr in the Asian Baseball Championship held at Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei in which Indian team performed  well.

• Baseball was introduced in School National Games in 1999 by School Games Federation of India.

• The Federation was recognized by Indian Olympic association in 2002.

• SAI Introduced Certificate Course for baseball in NIS in 2003.

• Baseball Clinic conducted by MLB coaches at Chandigarh in 2006 - Chennai and Hyderabad in 2007

• 26 States Affiliated. Associations to its credit.