Henry Chadwick

Henry Chadwick is widely regarded as the “Father of Baseball Writing.” Though not a player, his contributions as a journalist and statistician in the 19th century shaped how baseball is understood and followed today. Born in England in 1824, Chadwick was passionate about sports and applied his knowledge of cricket to baseball, introducing structure and statistics to a growing game.

He pioneered the box score, introduced batting average and ERA, and was among the first to provide in-depth written coverage of baseball games in newspapers. His influence helped standardize rules and records, giving the sport a sense of legitimacy and consistency.

Chadwick’s work laid the foundation for modern baseball analytics and reporting. His dedication to the integrity and growth of the sport earned him a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938. His legacy still lives on every time fans refer to stats or read a game recap.

Chadwick's Awards and Records 

• Created the baseball box score
• Introduced batting average and ERA
• Pioneered baseball journalism and game coverage
• Advocated for rule standardization in baseball
• One of the first statistical historians of the sport
• Inducted into the Hall of Fame (1938) as a pioneer/executive

Occupation:

Sportswriter

Notable works: