On this day, January the 20th, in the year of 1892, the first game of basketball to be played with rules was played in Springfield, Massachusetts.

While in the previous December (1891) the first basketball game was played, the rules of the new game weren’t established, leading to a “… free-for-all in the middle of the gym floor,” according to founder Dr. James Naismith.

The basic rules of the game was to shoot the ball into the opposition team’s peach basket which was nailed to the wall, with dribbling reducing the number of altercations (theScore) (NBA).

To read more daily facts and tidbits and about sports, see the Barron Perspectives “On this Day Archives” webpage and such articles as “(2nd Jordan Retirement) On This Day – January 13th” and “(NHL Lockout [94-95] Ends) On This Day – January 11th”.