Throughout the history of the Civil War there were many people the world idolized and give great recognition to. Abner Doubleday is credited for his time served as an Army Officer and a Union General during the Civil War. Ironically, many do not give credit for one of his most famous ideas; Americas favorite pastime, baseball. In fact, the Civil War enhanced the game of baseball which lead it to the national league that it is today.
The Civil War expanded baseball throughout the country and soon made it a professional business. Prior to the war, baseball was restricted to New York since the New York Knickerbockers Baseball Club was created. However, during the war there were long periods where soldiers had to wait in their camps for the next battle; they soon became very bored. The New Yorkers started teaching soldiers from many different states about the game of baseball. Soldiers loved it and played as often as they could. Soon, generals began to send reports promoting baseball activities in soldiers camps. Generals believed baseball promoted good health and helped keep soldiers minds off of the war. Walnuts were used to create baseballs. Soldiers would wrap the walnut with yarn until cut horsehide would fit snuggly around the ball of yarn and then sew it up. …show more content…
One of the earliest baseball games played was captured by 46-year-old commercial artist, Captain Otto Boetticher of the 68th New York Volunteers. He was a prisoner and while attending the game sketched the scene. A few months later in 1863 when he is paroled the drawing is reprinted as a lithograph that today hangs in the Reynolda House Museum of American Art, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The players were mostly POWs possibly from New Orleans and Tuscaloosa. Spectators included townspeople as well as the guards. Some guards were even armed with
The Civil War expanded baseball throughout the country and soon made it a professional business. Prior to the war, baseball was restricted to New York since the New York Knickerbockers Baseball Club was created. However, during the war there were long periods where soldiers had to wait in their camps for the next battle; they soon became very bored. The New Yorkers started teaching soldiers from many different states about the game of baseball. Soldiers loved it and played as often as they could. Soon, generals began to send reports promoting baseball activities in soldiers camps. Generals believed baseball promoted good health and helped keep soldiers minds off of the war. Walnuts were used to create baseballs. Soldiers would wrap the walnut with yarn until cut horsehide would fit snuggly around the ball of yarn and then sew it up. …show more content…
One of the earliest baseball games played was captured by 46-year-old commercial artist, Captain Otto Boetticher of the 68th New York Volunteers. He was a prisoner and while attending the game sketched the scene. A few months later in 1863 when he is paroled the drawing is reprinted as a lithograph that today hangs in the Reynolda House Museum of American Art, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The players were mostly POWs possibly from New Orleans and Tuscaloosa. Spectators included townspeople as well as the guards. Some guards were even armed with