Learn how Massachusetts helped shape the rules, formats, and institutions of modern sports. Below each topic are some reliable websites to get you started!
Possible topics:
Boston Braves – Early MLB team before the Red Sox
SABR: Boston Braves Team Ownership History—A deep dive into the people who shaped the franchise from its founding in 1871 through its Boston years.
Boston Baseball History—A fan-driven yet well-researched site covering the “Miracle Braves” of 1914 and the team’s era in Boston.
The Boston Rovers—Boston's Soccer Legacy
Fun While It Lasted: 1967 Boston Shamrock Rovers – Interesting historical account of the team’s brief tenure in Lynn, MA
The Boston Game – A predecessor to modern football
American Football—Describes the hybrid rules and evolution during the 1870s at Harvard and Boston Common.
The ‘Boston Game’—Did a group of Boston schoolboys organize the first American football team? It’s a complicated, fascinating story, according to BC’s Mike Cronin—and has to do with a lot more than sports.
Invention of Basketball – James Naismith in Springfield, MA
Where Basketball was Invented: The History of Basketball— Official college account of Naismith’s invention of basketball in 1891
NBA Jr. NBA History: James Naismith – A concise summary from the NBA's official educational site .
Invention of Volleyball – William G. Morgan in Holyoke, MA
MassMoments: Holyoke Man Invents Volleyball – A concise historical account of William G. Morgan
International Volleyball Hall of Fame: William G. Morgan – Biographical insights into Morgan’s role in 1895 Holyoke
Candlepin Bowling – A uniquely New England sport
International Candlepin Bowling Association (ICBA) – Official history noting its origin in Worcester in 1880
WBUR Article: Why Candlepin Bowling Took Off in New England – Local public radio site explaining its development in community culture
Cape Cod Baseball League – Historic amateur league still active today
Official Cape Cod Baseball League “What Is the CCBL?” – League-managed resource detailing its founding in 1923 and current operation
CapeCodLife.com: History of the Cape Cod Baseball League – Local history article offering narrative context and tradition
The Surprising Massachusetts Origins of Nearly Every American Sport—This article from Atlas Obscura explores the surprising origins of many major American sports in Massachusetts, highlighting the state’s outsized influence on athletic history.
As you research, look for information on any of the following:
What it is and how it started
Connection to Massachusetts
Importance to sports history
Notable people or teams
Photos, artifacts, or links to primary sources
Use these reliable sources to gather accurate and trustworthy information for your project.
