Mason Square in Springfield in Hampden County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
The Challenge to James Naismith
Photographed by Conrad Ward, March 9, 2025
1. The Challenge to James Naismith Marker
which was the original basketball.
The Challenge to James Naismith
In 1891, James Naismith, a physical education instructor at the School, was challenged by his supervisor to invent a new game for the School's gymnasium students to play during the long New England winter.
The game had to be easy to learn, playable indoors, and complex enough to be interesting. It also needed to provide vigorous exercise without the roughness associated with football or soccer.
After thinking and working for several weeks, Naismith devised 13 basic rules and secured two peach baskets from "Pop" Stebbins, the School's custodian.
Using a regulation soccer ball, Naismith tested his new game with his physical education class on December 21, 1891. It was an immediate hit.
On March 11, 1892, in the first public game of "basket ball" reported by the local newspaper, the School's students defeated its faculty by a score of 5-1 with more than 200 spectators cheering from the gymnasium balcony.
"Let us all be able to lose gracefully
this page online
Erected 2010.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is March 11, 1892.
Location. 42° 6.642′ N, 72° 33.953′ W. Marker is in Springfield, Massachusetts, in Hampden County. It is in Mason Square. It is at the intersection of State Street and Hawley Street, on the right when traveling east on State Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Springfield MA 01109, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Massachusetts’ Knowledge Corridor and in Pioneer Valley. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Springfield College (a few steps from this marker); Growth of the Game
Photographed by Conrad Ward, March 9, 2025
2. The Challenge to James Naismith Marker
Another marker is no longer nearby. The First Game of Basketball (was here, next to this marker but has been confirmed missing).
Also see . . .
1. James Naismith (Wikipedia). (Submitted on November 19, 2025.)
2. Springfield College. (Submitted on November 25, 2025, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 19, 2025, by Conrad Ward of Guilford, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 66 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 19, 2025, by Conrad Ward of Guilford, Connecticut. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
