Basketball was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith as a way to keep his students active during the winter months. The first game was played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets as goals.

Baseball is believed to have evolved from various bat-and-ball games played in Europe, with its modern form becoming popular in the United States in the 19th century. The first professional baseball league, the National Association, was founded in 1871.

Softball was invented in 1887 by George Hancock in Chicago as an indoor game for a group of reporters during the winter. It is similar to baseball but is played with a larger ball and on a smaller field, and it can be played with either slow-pitch or fast-pitch variations.