Origin of baseball dugouts

BLUEJAYWAY

Having just completed reading a 500 page coffee table sized book on World War 1, I came across this interesting referral within the text. In many of the pictures depicting slain German soldiers, the text describing the pictures refered to the word "dugouts" when the slain soldiers were pulled out from these "dugouts". Were like in ground caves. Did not see any reference to dugouts pertaining to the allies camps. Was this just a German use? Any thoughts on this referal to dugouts in regard to baseball dugouts. Just where did the designation orignate from and when/where was the first reference to dugouts in baseball. The first pictures of a stadium with them. Who invented them and why were they needed as the other 3 major sports do not house their players in these little "houses". With the extreme weather football is played one would think football would of adopted the dugout use.

MisterBungle

First use of the word "dugout", referring to
baseball was from the "Brooklyn Eagle" on
April 13,1908...

"The dugouts of the new fangled players'
benches have been put into good shape"

Source: "The Dickson Baseball"

Via: "Wiki Answers"
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This doesn't account for where the term
originated, but it was used variously for
a dugout canoe, or a pit dug into the
ground for shelter, especially militarily,
for obvious reasons.

Seems to be two theories about why
the benches were put underground.
One states that they were put there
to protect the players from foul balls.
The other says they were put there
to allow fans seated behind the
dugout to better see the field.

I would tend to go with the second
theory.

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