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Why did baseball players begin to specialize in individual fielding positions?

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Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants swings his bat after hitting his record-breaking 756th home run, with the catcher, umpire, and a cheering crowd behind him at AT&T Park. — History of baseball Giants legend Barry Bonds hitting his record-setting 756th career home run, August 7, 2007.

In the post-Civil War period, baseball transitioned from a social, club-based activity to a competitive, professional sport. As the game’s popularity grew, clubs began to prioritize external competition and winning, which created pressure to field the highest-quality teams possible.12

To achieve this, players began to specialize in individual fielding positions, allowing them to focus their practice on the specific requirements of a single role. This shift ensured that field time was dedicated to a team's top players, enabling them to refine their skills and improve the team's overall performance. This professionalization, which included hiring skilled players on a per-game basis, was driven by the public's enthusiasm for intense rivalries and the prestige associated with winning tournaments and interclub games.12