It is true that obituaries of Abner Doubleday, former general who had fired the first shot for Union from Fort Sumter, did not connect his name with They also failed mention that he had served as commander of unit of Buffalo Soldiers and-to add happiness of men as they patrolled Texas frontier in 1871-had decided to purchase baseball implements and a Magic Lantern.1As plans progressed for opening of Baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1939, underlying premise that young Doubleday had invented game there was called into question. most reasonable argument was that baseball was not product of one mind, but had evolved over number of decades.When some cited lack of evidence that Doubleday had even played sport, letter was received from Robert S. Doubleday, of Tacoma, Washington, stating: The last time General was at our house in New York, I was just young boy, but I very well remember his telling me story of beginnings of baseball. This testimony was scoffed at by critics, but young Robert, whose father was cousin of Abner, lived in Brooklyn in 1880, at time when retired soldier had settled in New York City area.The harshest criticism was reserved for man whose 1905 letters Mills Commission, appointed determine origin of National Pastime, had provided enough evidence justify its conclusion that future general had invented As happened, Colonel Mills was friend of Doubleday, and in 1893 had led honor guard at his funeral. Veteran sportswriter Will Rankin had answered report of commission with following blast, reprinted in Alfred Spink's National Game, in 1911:The latest of all fakes was one with Cooperstown flavor in which one Abner Graves of Denver, Colo., declared that late General Doubleday was its designer and christener. He said he was kidlet and was on ground when General Doubleday turned trick in 1839.2Rankin's argument was based on idea that attendance at West Point would have prevented cadet from appearing on ball field in Cooperstown. pity for him, he did not select some other year so that his air bubble could not have been pricked so easily. records at West Point and war Department at Washington, D. C. were means of exposing his fake. Conveniently overlooked was fact that Military Academy routinely granted furloughs students upon completion of their second year, and that graduates often returned home await their regular army assignments.The testimony of Abner Graves was gradually dismissed on grounds that he was too old and eccentric remember events clearly and that, having been born in 1834, he had been too young be involved in baseball in 1839. Without reputable witness, case for Doubleday's invention fell apart and substitute creator was apparently found in person of Alexander Cartwright. In recent years, however, has become clear that baseball had many fathers and that early versions of modern game were played in New York City and Rochester in 1820s and 1830s.Once assumption that baseball was invented by one man is disposed of, becomes possible take fresh look at stories told by Abner Graves and Abner Doubleday's actual contribution national pastime.As might be expected, dates were not significant young boy, and when urged positively name year of Doubleday's invention, Graves stated that it was either 1839, 1840, of '41, and in spring of year.3 What followed this remark was clearer:I remember well Abner Doubleday explaining base ball lot of us that were playing marbles in street, in front of Cooper's tailor shop, and drawing diagram in dirt with stick. We smaller boys didn't like as shut us out of playing while Town Ball let in everyone who could run and catch flies. …