Civil War and Base Ball

Believe it or not, the event that nearly ended the Union may have had a large impact on the expansion of what became "The Great American Pastime."  As legend has it, and newspaper reports from the time seem to corroborate, the game of base ball that first began to gain popularity in the mid-1800's was assisted in its spread throughout the nation by soldiers that moved through regions and states as a result of the Civil War. Northern troops taught it to their southern captives who took the game to the south after the war, or the northern troops would play it in confederate prison camps, as depicted in the undated painting below.  Troops would also spread it throughout New England and the Midwest and teach it to the people of the region.  Soon, clubs would form and leagues would be held.

The first organized base ball game held in St. Louis occurred on the afternoon of July 9, 1860, between the Cyclone and Morning Star clubs, as announced by the St. Louis Republican newspaper.  It is widely believed that Merritt Griswold, Jeremiah Fruin, and Joseph Hollenbeck brought the game to St. Louis from New York when they were stationed in St. Louis with the Federal Army shortly before the Civil War broke out.  The St. Louis vintage base ball teams of today honor these men by playing tournaments and festivals in their names every year.

The following blurb was taken from the St. Louis Daily Bulletin on July 11, 1860:

"The Great Match of Base Ball-Victory By The Morning Star Club.-The announcement that the first match of base ball ever played in St. Louis would take place on Monday afternoon on the field west of the Fair Grounds, between the Cyclones and Morning Star Clubs, was sufficient to call out a large number of spectators, among whom were several ladies.  A very great interest was manifested by all present, who expressed their delight at the many instances of fine play displayed by both clubs.  The match resulted in the victory of the Morning Star by twenty-six runs..."

It is fascinating to me to see how the history of the nation and the history of base ball are so intertwined.

Dixie