During the Civil War, baseball was a treasured pastime for soldiers and for thousands of men behind lines, both North and South. The game was created in 1840 when Alexander Cartwright formed the New York Knickerbockers (now the NBA basketball team; the New York Knicks). Cartwright declared that the game be played on a diamond shaped field with four bases, with batters who would each have three strikes, and teams would have three outs. Baseball became a National game and was a sport for the "best classes".
When soldiers went off to war in 1861, the took their bats and balls with them, and took every opportunity in between fighting to organize baseball games. There were games in prison camps, the White House lawn, and games on battlefields that were often interrupted by gunfire and cannon. The United States and Military encouraged the game of baseball during the war because they believed it would help keep up the soldiers' morale.
Years after the Civil War, and still today, the game of baseball remained for Many Americans, and is said to be our national game. The game has brought passion and meant so much to many Americans today as it did to the millions of young men that fought in the most savage war in our nation's history.
To learn more about the history of baseball,click here.
