Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 154, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1914 — WAS A BASEBALL FAN [ARTICLE]

WAS A BASEBALL FAN

PRESIDENT LINCOLN “ROOTED” AT GAME IN 1862.

Watched Soldiers Play During Civil War and Complimented Them— Army Men Responsible for Popularity of Game. “The recent appearance of King George of England at a baseball game, in a glass-fronted, steam-heated private stand, reminds me of the time, in 1862, when I saw President Lincoln at a baseball game In Washington,” said Winfield Scott Larner, former journalist, now of the St Louis office United States customs service, on the return of the Glants-White Sox world tourists recently; “It was at Sixth and K streets. The quartermaster’s department was playing the commissary department The Civil war, you know, Introduced baseball to people from all parts of the United States and spread its popularity north, south and west. Previous to the war baseball was restricted to the East ■ __ -- -- .

“This lot was an old circus grounds. The game was progressing merrily. There were no stands. Ropes kept the crowd back.

“The well-known black carriage drawn by two black horses came along. I saw the president get out of the conveyance and, taking his little son, Tad, by the hand, walk over to see the game. This was before the days when cavalry escorts accompanied Mr. Lincoln wherever he went..

“There was no inclosed stand, not even a seat. Unobtrusively and unseen by the crowd, Mr. Lincoln sat down in the sawdust left by the circus back of first base, crossed his feet, and sat his little son up on them, between hi* knees.

“He arrived when the game was young and stayed to the finish. It was the custom then for the teams to give three cheers for each other after the game was finished. The custom was observed on this occasion.

"Lincoln took off his hat and joined in the cheering. Then some one saw him and called for ‘Three cheers for Old Abe.’ Needless to say, they were very heartily given.

“The president thanked the crowd, saying, it was a very good game, and I enjoyed it very much.’ He took little Tad by the hand and walked back to his carriage.

"I have heard that Mr. Lincoln played a good first base. I do not think he ever played baseball. It was unknown in Illinois when he was a young man. Indeed, as I have said, the war spread baseball. The soldiers from New England and New York brought it to the camps and taught it to the soldiers from other states. These soldiers took it back to their homes after the war, and then baseball became the national game.

“But President Lincoln did like baseball.”