Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-09-06
THE BIRTHPLACE
OF BASEBALL
investigation Result. in Honor Going "a

Cooperstown. N. Y.
In the new Delaware & Hudson station
at Cooperstown, N. Y. hangs an oil paint
Ing with an inscription that runs thus:
Major Gen. Abner Doubleday
1S19-1S93
Graduated from West Point, 1912;
commanded 18th N. Y. Civil War
volunteers from Cooperstown. He
originated our National Game of
Baseball. and II was here in 1899
that he laid out the first baseball
diamond. So reported the special
Baseball Commission in 1907.
The decision that AbAer Doubleday was
the father Of baseball and that Coopers-
town was its birthplace followed thor
ough investigation of many clues, says
the Youths Companion. The commission,
which numbered among its members two
United States senators and several high
officials Of the National and the American
Leagues. spent long time in completing
the research.
At the time of the investigation. Abner
Graves, one Of the original players, was
a mining engineer at Denver, Colo. He
proved to be the only survivor among
those young Cooperstown boys who played
so long ago in village field. conveniently
near Greene's select school. He reported
that he saw Doubleday mark off the lines
and place the bases and players virtually
as they are in baseball to-day.
Tho game had previously been nothing
more than the English FOUNDERS. to which
baseball. as now known, bears as little re-
semblance as drafts to chess. Abner
Doubleday. who was then 20, received his
inspiration one day while he was playing
FOUNDERS, and he lost no time in marking
out a diamond with a crooked stick. La
ter. he blocked out his new scheme on
paper; but it is interesting to remember
that he tried 1t first on Mother Earth
The diamond he drew was 30 yards
square. Players, amateur and profession
al. have come and gone; rule after rule
has been modified; underhand throws and
curved deliveries have arrived; a change
has come in the size and weight Of the
ball. which originally was two and one
half ounces Of rubber covered with yarn
and leather weighing six and one-half
ounces and measuring 10 and one-half
inches in circumference: in the wake Of
the ball have followed padded gloves.
catchers' mitts, breast pads and masks |;
but the diamond OF to-day still measures
90 feet along each side.
How bright" was the idea that seized
Abner Doubleday on that summer day
In 80 can best be appreciated by reflect
ing that 1900 men in the United States
are now said to be earning their living
through BASEBALL that 1t is recognized
as the national game, not alone Of this
nation, but of China and Of Japan; and
that there seems to be likelihood that
we shall be challenged. at no very re-
mote date, to a match game with France!
Just a spark Of an idea but from out
that spark sprang the fun of nations!
After fighting valiantly In the Mexican
and Seminole wars. Abner Doubleday be.
came second in command at Fort Sumter
| and at the outbreak of the Civil War aim
| ed and fred the first gun discharged or
the Union side. AS soldier. he was brave
and able. modest and amiable.
Another tie between the Civil War and
baseball lies in the fact that the game
| got its impetus through the soldiers who
| played 1t in camp and on hospital grounds
when recovering from illness. Since then
it has followed the flag to Alaska. and
thence to all other American territory
Its progress in England has been slow In
spite Of the fact that IL is a second cousin
\ to FOUNDERS. but it has become very pop
ular in Australia. The Intervention OF
| the great war has postponed champion
| ship game between France and America.