Even during the Civil War, both sides were actively playing the game and some of the prisoner camps had developed baseball diamonds, with the diamond now standardized by the 1857 rules. In fact, it was Union prisoners of war that are credited with spreading the popularity of baseball in the South (Figure 1). The New York rules developed in 1857 were now becoming widespread as men were stationed in different parts of the country or were even prisoners in the South, where they taught this game to fellow prisoners and their guards.<ref>For more on the spread of baseball during the Civil War, see: Kirsch, G.B. (2003) Baseball in Blue and Gray: the National Pastime During the Civil War. [Online]. Available from: http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1422511</ref>
In the 1860s, the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP) developed, which was an amateur association for players and clubs. By the late 1860s, the popularity of baseball led to the development of the first professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Even before the development of the Red Stockings, some of the best amateur players were now getting paid to play for specific clubs, indicating the increasingly competitive nature of baseball. Soon in the 1870s other teams followed, including the Chicago White Stockings and Boston Red Stockings and a league of professional teams playing each other was formed. The first professional association was called the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, although it only lasted from 1871-1875. With the professionalization of baseball, players now had contracts and given strict rules to follow.<ref>For more on the early professional development of baseball, see: Furst, R.T. (2014)
In the 1860s, the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP) developed, which was an amateur association for players and clubs. By the late 1860s, the popularity of baseball led to the development of the first professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Even before the development of the Red Stockings, some of the best amateur players were now getting paid to play for specific clubs, indicating the increasingly competitive nature of baseball. Soon in the 1870s other teams followed, including the Chicago White Stockings and Boston Red Stockings and a league of professional teams playing each other was formed. The first professional association was called the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, although it only lasted from 1871-1875. With the professionalization of baseball, players now had contracts and given strict rules to follow.<ref>For more on the early professional development of baseball, see: Furst, R.T. (2014) Early professional baseball and the sporting press: shaping the image of the game. [Online]. Available from: http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1664166.</ref> Unfortunately, this was also the beginning of open racism, where African American players were excluded from playing in the early professional teams. Although the convention is Jackie Robinson was the first African American player to play professional Major League baseball after this ban was lifted in 1947, in actuality several African American players played professional baseball either before the ban or as pretending to be Native Americans. In the 1880s, several leagues were emerging but it was the major cities that developed the most popular and appealing leagues. These teams eventually formed what became the National League, which was a league of eastern cities. A Western League of western cities emerged in 1893 and ultimately became the American League. This created a situation of somewhat two major leagues that were parallel or similar to each other, although the style of play was slightly different in that the Western league was considered more novel in its style. By 1902, the two leagues signed an agreement to play each other in a World Series contest. This now formed what became the American and National leagues and conception of the World Series as we know it today.
==The Sport Today==
