Widely known as the “Father of Baseball,” Henry Chadwick was one of the leading proponents of the rise of the sport in the 19th and early 20th centuries. His influence was felt through his numerous writings on the statistics, rules, techniques and history of baseball. This work, titled “The Art of Pitching and Fielding,” is an 1885 guide to the defensive aspects of the sport at the time. Chadwick provides instruction that is valuable for both amateur and professional players, and although it is not as applicable to the players of today, its fundamentals are still valuable and relevant gems of knowledge and skill. Chadwick includes diagrams and illustrations of the techniques and play styles. This book is a wonderful piece of baseball’s early history as it was developing into America’s greatest game.
