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, it is a proven fact that the game now designated "Base Ball," is of modern and purely American origin.

I have no intention, in this work, of reopening the discussion which waxed so warm a short time ago, as to the origin of the game. It would be an act of disloyalty to the Commission that was appointed at my suggestion in 1907, with instructions to consider all available evidence and decide the case upon its merits, were I ever again to enter upon the details of that vexed controversy—except in order to prove the righteousness of the verdict then rendered. It is quite enough here to say that the Commission referred to, after a long, thorough, painstaking investigation of all obtainable facts, unanimously declared:

"First—That Base Ball had its origin in the United States;

"Second—That the first scheme for playing it, according to the best evidence obtainable to date, was devised by Abner Doubleday, at Cooperstown, New York, in 1839."

The Commission rendering this important decision was composed of such able men and well-known friends of the game as

of New York, an enthusiastic ball player before and during the Civil War, and the third President of the National League.

(since deceased), ex-United States Senator from Maryland.

, ex-Governor, and later United States Senator from Connecticut, and the first President of the National League.