Basketball is born. Canadian James E. Naismith nailed two peach baskets to opposite sides of a gymnasium, developed a simple set of rules, and invented basketball. In 1891, the YMCA (International Young Men’s Christian Association) of Massachusetts presented Naismith, a physical education instructor, with a challenge: to invent a winter game that would keep incorrigible students occupied. The game he created—basketball—was a huge hit among his students, and in January 1892 the rules were distributed to Christian schools across the United States. YMCA students in other countries were also introduced to the game, and by the early 20th century, basketball was widely played.
