Alexander Cartwright

When he died on July 12, 1892, Cartwright was one of Honolulu's most respected citizens. He never returned to the mainland United States to see just how popular his beloved sport had become—and in the world of baseball, his contribution was largely forgotten. It was not until 1938, when a special committee of baseball veterans reviewed his journals, that Cartwright gained proper recognition. That year, he was elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame for originating the sport's basic concepts. Even today, only the most well-versed sports historians and enthusiasts recognize Cartwright as the true father of modern American baseball.