Indiana has a rich baseball history. Not only the site of the first-ever major league baseball game ( Cleveland Forest Cities and Ft. Wayne Kekiongas on May 4, 1871), but Indiana has had five major league baseball teams throughout history, including the 1914 Federal League pennant-winning Hoosiers.

Here are some other highlights of baseball’s connections to Indiana.

Albert Von Tilzer made baseball’s greatest hit

In the late 1970s, when fans heard Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Caray singing the classic “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” in the booth during the seventh inning stretch – they decided to join in. It wasn’t a new song by any means. In fact, it was released in 1908 in the theater and was composed by Indianapolis native Albert Von Tilzer.

Charleston was known as the “Black Ruth”

Oscar Charleston is an Indianapolis native. When the Chicago Giants met the Indianapolis ABCs on May 2, 1920, in the first game in Negro Leagues history, Charleston was in center field at West Washington Street Park, now the site of the Indianapolis Zoo. He played for and/or managed the ABCs, the Indianapolis Crawfords, the Indianapolis Clowns — 14 Negro Leagues teams in all.

Baseball great Gil Hodges

Petersburg native, Gil Hodges was first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers and one of a handful of players from that era whose popularity helped baseball rocket through the 1940s and ’50s as America’s pastime. He also interrupted his career for World War II, joining the Marines and fighting at Okinawa and receiving a Bronze Star Medal for courage under fire as an anti-aircraft gunner.

Was Amos Rusie the world’s greatest pitcher?
Amos “The Hoosier Thunderbolt” Rusie of Mooresville was 18 years old when the Indianapolis Hoosiers signed him  to a $300-a-month contract. Rusie, a burly 6-1, 200-pound redhead  was the fastest pitcher in the major leagues, but lacked control of his pitching and temperament.

Play Ball! Where Indianapolis watched America’s pastime

Few people remember when Indianapolis enjoyed numerous “knothole parks” for the various baseball teams. Baseball fields with wooden fences were prime spots for neighborhood kids who couldn’t afford a ticket. Knots in the wood popped out and kids could watch the games for free.

She’s on first: women in baseball

From “Bloomer Girls” of the early 1900s to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, women competed in the mail dominated sport.

Billy Sunday, the baseball evangelist, had Indiana home

Evangelist Billy Sunday played baseball for the Chicago White Stockings, then several other teams, setting a record for stealing bases. After leaving baseball for the pulpit, Sunday never lost his love for baseball; in fact, he would often be a guest umpire in towns where he would set up his revival meetings — but never on Sundays. Sunday was a frequent speaker in Indianapolis and had an Indiana home and tabernacle meeting place in Winona Lake from 1911 until he died in 1935.

Bush Stadium served 65 years as Indians home

Between 1931, when it opened, and 1996, Bush Stadium was the home ballpark of the Indianapolis Indians. It was first named Perry Stadium after James Perry, who had been killed in a 1929 plane crash. The name was changed to Victory Field in 1942, shortly after the U.S. entered World War II, and then in 1967, it was bought by the city of Indianapolis and renamed Bush Stadium in honor of longtime manager Owen J. “Donie” Bush.

Indiana baseball legend trades horsehide for harmonica

Carl Erskine of Anderson appeared in 11 World Series games as a pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers and threw two no-hitters in the 1950s.