Baseball History Comes To Waltham

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Major General Nathaniel Prentiss Banks, George Maynard, Charlie and George Brown, and Anna Fogg Worcester are a few of the Waltham residents who served. Charlie and George were killed at Gettysburg and now lie in .

We know the men – and a few women disguised as men – fought during the war. For enjoyment, they played a form of baseball with the 1860 rules used during the Civil War era.

It’s true. History books and baseball fanatics tell us that Civil War General Abner Doubleday invented baseball. He may have conceptualized the circular route of bases and home plate, but that’s about it.

Base; rounders; cricket; one, two, three, four, old cat; and town ball; are all versions of a game traced back further than the Civil War. Yes, the game – in various forms – did become popular during the War Between the States. Shortly after it was Americanized and eventually became the country’s favorite pastime.

Baseball writer, Henry Chadwick, who lived from 1824-1980, wrote that baseball is a derivation of English cricket, played as early as 1550. Rounders, another English game, was first referenced in 1744. 

As evidence, Oliver Wendall Holmes watched and wrote about a version of the game played in 1830, years before the Civil War.

Baseball, as we know it, formally came into the regulation play familiar today years after the Civil War. Its variations were combined into one game. Baseball player A.G. Spalding added the rules and Doubleday provided the bases.

Surprised? I was. Over a cup of coffee at , David Louis Smith, a Civil War historian and member of the Waltham Historical Society, offered this new and interesting version of baseball’s story, and a few Waltham history lessons too.

A few weeks ago Smith, a Waltham resident, gave a lecture on Civil War baseball. Don’t worry if you missed the talk, you can see a real Civil War era-game next week. I’m sure Smith will answer any of your questions after the game. 

As part of Historic Waltham Days, the Essex Baseball League and the Medfield Pondfielders are playing with 1860 Civil War rules, at Cornelia Warren Field on July 10 from 1 - 4 p.m. After the game spectators are asked to scrimmage with the players. Bring a picnic, chairs, and blankets and skip the bleachers. Sit in the outfield, just as people did 150 years ago.

is throwing out the first ball and there’s a rumor Babe Ruth will show up.

The afternoon game is free to the public. I’ll be there with my Waltham cousins, although I’m not sure which team we’ll cheer to victory. Next week I’ll tell you about the game and give you more of Smith’s incredible information about Waltham and the Civil War.