In 1981, YMCA physical education instructor, Dr. James Naismith invented the sport of basketball in Springfield, MA as a safer alternative to football.
He was originally tasked with creating an indoor sports game to condition athletes throughout the harsh northeast winter. His rudimentary version of the game used peach baskets as hoops, a soccer ball, and had 13 rules.
The first public basketball game was played on March 11th, 1892 in Springfield, MA and in 1898, the first professional league, the National Basketball League, was founded with 6 teams. While the NBL eventually dissolved, the basketball that Naismith contracted Spalding to make in 1894 prevailed.
In July, 1958, Ralph Wheeler of Springfield, MA patented a basketball with improved grip through smart leather panel construction and deep grooves between panels. Ralph went on to patent many other sports objects including ski poles, golf clubs, and baseball gloves while his basketball patent led to the basketballs we use today.
