Abner Doubleday

Birthdate 06/26/1819
Death Date 01/26/1893
Debut Year
Year of Induction
Teams US Army
Position War General

At one time Abner Doubleday was widely accepted as “The Father of Baseball” though it’s unlikely he ever even witnessed a baseball game.

Leave a comment

In the collection:

Civil War general Abner Doubleday likely never saw a baseball game

Civil War general Abner Doubleday likely never saw a baseball game

Much debate about the origin of baseball centered around Abner Doubleday, a Civil War general. Today baseball historians fully discount any contribution to the game by Doubleday, but as the Hall of Fame was getting ready to open, that debate was alive and well. In the collection is this four-page testimony
The Mills Commissioner identified Doubleday as the game's originator

The Mills Commissioner identified Doubleday as the game's originator

The second page refers to the Mills Commission whose charge was to identify the origins of baseball. According to this page, the commission was composed of “Col. A.G. Mills, Morgan G. Bulkeley, the first president of the National League, Alfred J. Reach, George Wright, and other experts…
Alexander Cartwright and Henry Chadwick had much to do with the game's invention

Alexander Cartwright and Henry Chadwick had much to do with the game's invention

The third page makes mention of a witness who maintained that, “Doubleday was the captain of the boys and usually played catcher.” The page continues, “To Alexander Joy Cartwright, sometimes spoken of as a playmate of Doubleday, is conceded the honor of having hit
Henry Chadwick is credited with creating statistics and the box score

Henry Chadwick is credited with creating statistics and the box score

In reference to the Henry Chadwick’s role during the Civil War is this, “Chadwick was a war correspondent during the strife between the States, and he saw first hand the game take hold in a big way. He was keen on statistics…” Indeed Henry Chadwick is credited with creating c
Alexander Cartwright's grandson worked on behalf of his grandfather

Alexander Cartwright's grandson worked on behalf of his grandfather

Bruce Cartwright made it his mission to illuminate his grandfather’s role in the origin of the National Pastime. To that end he would have to discount Abner Doubleday’s supposed contributions. The younger Cartwright does this early in this two-page letter to the Hawaii Chamber of Commerc
Alexander Cartwright reached the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938

Alexander Cartwright reached the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938

In the second page of Bruce Cartwright’s letter is this, “From the above facts, I know Judge Landis will agree to, you can get some idea of why Alexander Joy Cartwright Jr. should be honored whenever the birth of the game of Base-ball is celebrated, and why he should be nationally recogn
Cartwright's grandson calls Alexander

Cartwright's grandson calls Alexander "The Father of Organized Base Ball"

The Doubleday myth was still widely believed when this letter was written by Bruce Cartwright, grandson of Alexander Cartwright. In this offering the younger Cartwright writes, “…I remember viewing several games…with, ‘The Father of Organized Base Ball’. On
Alexander Cartwright's autograph on a woodworking receipt from 1883

Alexander Cartwright's autograph on a woodworking receipt from 1883

Perhaps a true contributor of the game’s formation, Alexander Cartwright was responsible for introducing the concept of foul territory, 90 foot bases, three outs to a half inning, a fixed batting order and the elimination of retiring base runners
Alexander Cartwright letterpress letter from 1861

Alexander Cartwright letterpress letter from 1861

In the 19th Century, long before copy machines, letterpress copies were an option for letter writers wishing to create an exact copy of an outgoing letter. The letter to be copied was placed under the thin paper, a damp blotter was placed on top of the paper. The original letter, translucent sheet,

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball…"

~Jacques Barzun, 1954