Baseball, as a sport, has roots that can be traced back to various bat-and-ball games played in different cultures throughout history. However, the modern game of baseball, as we know it today, originated in the United States in the mid-19th century. The specific origins of baseball are somewhat debated, as it evolved gradually from earlier bat-and-ball games. The Knickerbocker Rules, developed by the Knickerbocker Baseball Club in New York City in 1845, marked an important milestone in the formalization of the game.