[Arnold A.]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

It was a misunderstanding -- similar to that game of "Telephone" we all played as kids. Abner Doubleday was asked about the rule and said, "The hands are apart from the bat." A no-nothing sportswriter (who, btw, has been reincarnated as Joe Morgan) heard it as "The hands are a part of the bat." The rest is history.

Now that's funny, I don't care who you are.