The short-lived career of baseball's first home run hitter | 1st | Episode 3

1st | Episode 3
Baseball didn't always have fences, and the rules used to make hitting fly balls a really, really bad idea. But somebody had to hit the first home run* in major league history. That somebody was Ross Barnes, who went from arguably the most accomplished batter in the brand new National League to effectively out of baseball within a few years. This is the story of Barnes and the first homer ever.
*whatever, inside-the-park doesn't count
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[@g-magz9502]

What I learned in this video is that he told a very historic story while preparing to break into someone’s home

[@UDumFck]

I was thinking worse ... he was about to go down to the basement to visit his chained up prisoners.

[@teamredshirt]

Oh Christ, now were done, hooligans have figured out how to use a smartphone.

[@wvu05]

@@teamredshirt That's a bot account that says the exact same thing in a bunch of baseball videos.

[@teamredshirt]

wvu05, I know, but it’s funnier to me if that was a drunk, rowdy soccer hooligan on the bus home from the pub.

[@wvu05]

@@teamredshirt Fair enough

[@TeamKhris]

“Inside the park home runs are bullshit. The people demand dingers.” Words to live by. Mike is great.

[@devonhalford5522]

Wait so the white stockings didn't become the white sox they became the cubs wtf

[@Il_Exile_lI]

And the Boston Red Stocking didn't become the Red Sox, they became the Boston Braves (then the Milwaukee Braves, then the Atlanta Braves).

[@mrSlush50]

And the Baltimore Orioles didn't become the Baltimore Orioles, they became the New York Yankees. The Milwaukee Brewers on the other hand, DID become the Baltimore Orioles.

[@bendsomemetal]

Keith Watts the Yankees used to be called the Highlanders

[@kevinnguyen3680]

It seems like baseball team names are both unique and unoriginal at the same time

[@WhFastus]

The team now known as the Chicago Cubs had several name changes in the early days of the NL. They were initially the White Stockings, changed their name to the Colts in 1890, then the Orphans in 1898, and finally the Cubs in 1903.

[@drakectoll]

I actually really really like this guy.

[@almightysosa3007]

I guess Kevin Durant is known as the biggest seceder since ross Barnes

[@ImTheRealSnowy]

i love how no matter what the videos are about, everyone just wants and talks about pretty good

[@andrikpozos4062]

Snowy Senpai wat does dat even mean?? Lmao

[@alexmariana3148]

andrik pozos "Pretty good" is a series that Jon bois does for SB nation and they are really well done and very interesting. He hasn't made a video lately though and everyone is complaining lol

[@capncrunch4864]

That's because they're amazing videos

[@TheNookOfficial]

Because don't people realize that these take a lot of time... then demean the people who make other things in the meantime because of it

[@jimbo-fk4dq]

A simpler time in baseball, when crushing a ball 600 ft didn't make people yell "steroids'.

[@rickrobertbob]

You mean, a time before baseball players did steroids?

[@planbskaterchu]

+rickrobertbob Baseball players always used PEDs. Pud Galvin was using them way back in 1889. Baseball has never been clean.

[@jimbo-fk4dq]

planbskaterchu True. Even in modern times, steroids have existed since the 1950s, and in the 70s, many were using amphetamines to have the energy to play every day.

[@squiddi1393]

I always find it hilarious that some people think there were oldies who hit 600+ ft homeruns. Keep dreaming grandpa, definitely not possible just by looking at some of these dude's stature alone, they were not even close to big enough.

[@mr.starkidontfeelsogood7413]

Squiddi here you are saying this now. You'd be the guy to step into a boxing ring and underestimate someone because of their size.

[@Magic_beans_]

0:56 Base ball was mostly in the eastern US because that's where the people were. According to the 1880 census, the most populous cities in the US were: 1. New York City 2. Philadelphia 3. Brooklyn 4. Chicago 5. Boston 6. St. Louis 7. Baltimore 8. Cincinnati 9. San Francisco 10. New Orleans To find another western town, you have to go all the way down to Denver at #50, eleven places behind Scranton, Pennsylvania. Most of our big western cities -- Los Angeles, Seattle, Salt Lake, Phoenix, Houston -- were back then just towns of a few thousand people.

[@carlfuggiasco7495]

Thank you Thank You for acknowledging the first superstar of baseball Ross Barnes. You are right most people never heard of him. Then again most people do not read much at least not as much as I. I knew of Barnes since I was 12 and I am now 65. Your little piece is the first video on this subject I have ever seen. Thanks!

[@LDQBBQ]

"Inside the park home runs are bullsh*t" had me giggling for two minutes. Spectacular execution.

[@bubbaluv0286]

0:49 That turned sad quickly

[@trashytrash8228]

That's a Rougned Odor beard

[@Syceth]

TBH, i was hoping you would just start destroying the place with the bat after you put the balaclava on :)

[@pizzawarmer1571]

Syceth same

[@rossbatchelor]

Keep up the great work, guys. Thoroughly enjoyed this. If you take suggestions, I'd love a video on the first college football game between Rutgers and Princeton in 1869, because, y'know it was hardly a football game.

[@msolec2000]

The main strike against this video (see what I did there?) is that it's not pretty good.

[@dasbuj]

The story was cool, but cmon yall Jon Bois would have told it so much better.

[@snugboat316]

lolzorr5 I thought Jon Bois was narrating it. Super disappointed.

[@nickhanlon6735]

lolzorr5 I

[@hurrythepeace9443]

lolzorr5 what happened to him

[@JUSTTRANSCEND]

Who is Jon bois?

[@catlover10192]

Honestly, I really like the style of this video. It's almost as good as Jon's stuff. If all your stuff was like this, I'd be happy.

[@ericblair8821]

Fun info presented with great levity, made me late for my appointment. I love the actor playing Barnes, he really conveyed his condescension well. The finale moments were a touch unsettling however as our narrator morphed aberrant.

[@zciliyafilms5508]

Discussing the '90s HR surge with an older friend of mine at the time: "Put me a badminton court and I'll break the record too!"

[@KidFresh71]

Glad I found this channel. Good stuff!

[@ezultra6835]

Bring back pretty good.

[@SadMarinersFan]

EZultra yes

[@zacharyharlan9546]

The video was decent but it should be pretty good

[@charleshessproductions]

Friggin love the acting in these. Keep it up man

[@robdugas4476]

I believe Barnes played in a day in which batting average was closer to on base percentage as base on balls was considered a hit. Its really hard to quantify his numbers due to big changes in the game and the general lack of quality record keeping. Still, a .429 OBP is pretty darned good.

[@joshuafetter3831]

This was really well done.

[@PapiValdez]

I wanted jon bois

[@SadMarinersFan]

yes I think we all did.

[@Kyalthered]

we all do...

[@enbypolyshostan]

you're not jon bois but you have a sweet faceblanket

[@JoshuaKimbrough]

depressed lesbian who never sleeps Ema Skye is a lesbian??

[@josh-tt4fq]

You should do a video on Tip O'Neill, the first Triple Crown winner

[@luisfrau9810]

What a great channel.

[@rosseganjr9402]

There's nothing like the pioneers of baseball

[@michaelcarlson2732]

3:38 best lime ever

[@michaelcarlson2732]

Not lime, I’m not talking an out a citrus fruit. I meant line. Apologies

[@jnerdsblog]

I would like to counter that in-the-park HRs are their own breed of awesome, thank you for listening to my TED Talk.

[@mackickinback3649]

This guys great I love him

[@benjaminoser4763]

This guy and Jon are the only people on SB who actually understand sports. The other guys always use the wrong lingo and seem like they really have no clue. They definitely never played sports haha

[@Ididntaskforahandleyoutube]

I love 1st. Listen not to these Boisites. Your creepy style is quite impressive.

[@pillbox1240]

This guy is hilarious. Dark and twisted.

[@elronyd3511]

that bat flip though lol

[@ikeknights]

Inside the park home runs are awesome.

[@iStackOk]

please do more of this

[@xRestart]

this video is really, really good.

[@UggaBugga1]

Hey this was pretty good :]

[@grousetheghoul2754]

What about " home run " Baker ? The story I heard was he hit 8 home runs in a season around 1900 or so. Actual home runs.

[@SavingSoulsMinistries]

liked for the sweet curtis martin jersey in the back

[@portland9880]

Go Jets

[@kayleighlehrman9566]

you should do a video on the first overtime period (nba or nfl, or maybe nhl or even extra innings in mlb)

[@sameddington9072]

I've long argued that Barnes (along with Paul Hines and Bob Caruthers from the early days) should be in the Hall.

[@teucer915]

Why the hell isn't he?

[@Anthony-rt5oj]

They need to add a lot like Jim Creighton Joe Start Levi Meyerle Cal McVey etc

[@kourii]

@@teucer915 He didn't play ten seasons and so isn't technically eligible

[@themanthelegendjmw]

Should be a hall of famer.

[@mikedrop4421]

This was beautiful

[@roadhockey]

"Yup. He's sick all right""

[@deluge-rainstorm9055]

Man, was expecting this to be told by Jon Bois. A little disappointed :/

[@andrikpozos4062]

Deluge-Rainstorm who dat?

[@hydreigonstan]

andrik pozos he is pretty good

[@butcherboy2008]

Baseball was confined to the eastern part of the country. To be fair, in the 1800s, we only had the eastern part of the country.

[@GG4GJake]

Give me Jon Bois or give me death

[@henrythemuthafuckineighth]

This guy is actually...pretty good...

[@calebdanielherman4913]

Big dom energy with those gloves

[@nts17]

Does anyone know what happened to the ball

[@n14c0]

oh jon-ny booooois~ the pipes, the pipes, are calling~

[@ExposClassics94]

The first professional home run was hit by Ross Barnes, a second basemen from my hometown Rochester, Ny

[@oJuanyy]

I would think the Chicago White Stockings would be the White Sox lmao

[@michaelanthony4042]

oJuanyy Nope the White Stockings are now the Chicago Cubs

[@njackson6807]

The same way the Baltimore Ravens were actually the Cleveland Browns. Because Cleveland still wanted an NFL team, they made a new team called the Browns. I wonder if the White Stockings/White Sox has a similar story behind it.

[@madc2004]

@@njackson6807 Kinda. After they move from Souix City, the AL White Sox (and the AL as a whole to the NL) kinda wanted to show up the the NL white sox

[@Marcelo-xw9nt]

4:09 dat bat flip doe

[@wompastompa3692]

2:44 Hey buddy, I think you got the wrong door.

[@zachlee5588]

where is pretty good?

[@JohnSmith-nw8cu]

What is the music he uses for most of the video?

[@vincehunter8548]

Whish i could travel back in time to where all of these spotrs started....

[@Ramirezm89210]

Where tf is Jon he's the only reason I occasionally check on this channel

[@TheBasstead1]

I have that exact same shirt. It says, I know Excel, but I also know how to buy a shirt that matches blue, brown, or grey slacks. LoL

[@gregmcknight5183]

Where is Jon Bois

[@tommyhocutt3748]

3:37 yes! lol chicks dig the long ball

[@fcsuper]

Nowadays, in the park homeruns are the exciting feats.

[@alextimemit9454]

Pretty cool he mentions Judge 5 years before he breaks the record

[@alexremoll2771]

Jon Bois

[@billpierson5830]

That guy kicking the dirt looks like Billy Martin

[@SuperWonderlander]

the guy narrarating looks like Charlie Blackmon

[@jittripping7658]

Oh yeah yeah

[@davehill4878]

SO MANY STOCKINGS!

[@iamjacksalias6071]

Dinger derby baby!

[@luisfrau9810]

As a Chicago native, I did not know the Cubs used to be the White Stockings.

[@Cool_Dude]

5:45 he looks like Charlie Blackmon

[@Jakeystar]

4:07 the overhand delivery wasnt introduced in 1876

[@ryanpeters167]

i learned their alot of serial killers who like baseball lore

[@MajesticSkywhale]

the red stockings, who later became the braves, not related to the Red Sox. and the white stockings, who later became the cubs, not related to the White Sox. baseball is so weird sometimes, gotta love it though

[@ps2gamer350]

cool

[@chobby1830]

Gloves were actually worn before the 1890s, as this video incorrectly states. The gloves weren't much, and in some cases optional, but they were there before 1890.

[@jackgorenc6967]

give me dat BOi Jon Bois

[@snowflakepillow8697]

I regret stopping playing baseball just as I was throwing a wicked curve just because I was doing well on the debate team... ugh

[@willdawg0053]

Hmmm. What do Barry Bonds 756th homer and the 1st ever homer have in common? They were both in the 5th inning with 2 outs...

[@keithboyd9582]

Chicks dig the long ball!!!!!

[@hrhitter92]

I thought the guy playing Barnes was Ian Hecox.

[@jayschieffelin3167]

I enjoyed this video. It was good. But not pretty good.

[@scooby45247]

6:23 thats the story.. now its time to go night night..

[@djdjsjfishing4380]

Some times just to hit dingers I go to the little League field

[@Slants05]

so many stockings'

[@dorianhoussiau7903]

I love that it's like he's prepping for a murder every time

[@vincehunter8548]

This whole video i was thinking damn thats a lot of dead people

[@kylew.4896]

Those gloves set a really weird tone and at 3:43 I thought he was going to apply that paint like lipstick swear to god haha

[@alfiewillis4893]

My man looking like Ben Affleck in this video.

[@nicholaswidel]

Is it just me but this dude looks like Charlie Blackmon

[@alexwei2573]

Bonzer Sports Gaming He actually does

[@jaxsonsprull7394]

Imagine losing ur shortstop for that day to a gunshot wound

[@jackwegman604]

Curtis Martin!!!!!!!

[@pierrelevasseur2701]

Looks like Jose Bautista got his bat flip idea from Ross Barnes @4:11

[@toptenguy1]

His great great grand dad. :D

[@jessefrost6730]

His name sounds like some sort of joke Bart Simpson would make moe say on the phone mike imhoff im looking for mike imhoff

[@easybreezy8510]

Looks like Aldo's world tv

[@KillerChickenz01]

Aaron judge needs get out of this slump he's in