Deadwood Had it Right
At least with regard to the language? Perhaps.
Robert Edwards Auctions, an auction house apparently specializing in baseball collectibles, has come into posession of a document from 1898 entitled "Special Instructions to Players" and regarding the use of inappropriate language. Some favorite examples of mine from the document with regard to inappropriate language?
"A dog must have fucked your mother when she made you."
"You cunt-lapping dog."
The second link gets you a view of the document itself. From the document, it would appear such colorful turns of phrase were being uttered plenty close enough to offend the delicate sensibilities of people attending such games and was becoming a concern to those who ran the sport. The request from a player to a guy in the stands that he "go fuck himself" prior to one game for asking who was going to pitch seems to have been an impetus for the effort to stop the cussing.
History is sometimes fun.
