Block:English Baseball in Cornwall on June 17 1886
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
 |
| English Baseball |
| Add a Block Game |
| Data | “Base-ball” was a popular game in Jacobean times according to a Penzance, Cornwall, newspaper article entitled “Whitsuntide Amusements.” The writer began with the claim that “when King James I ascended the throne, he encouraged the people in their Whitsun customs, including the drinking of the celebrated Whitsun ales, of which we have heard so much and know so little.” He then alleged that “outdoor amusements naturally predominated, and we read of gay picnic parties, and rude musical gatherings and games of every kind of sport were freely indulged, one of the most popular being base-ball.” |
|---|---|
| Sources | The Cornishman (Penzance), June 17, 1886, p. 7 |
| Block Notes | While the writer's claim is improbable, it is interesting that of all the games he could have chosen to highlight he picked on baseball. Stool-ball, for example, would have been a more logical choice. Still, there's little doubt that he had English-style baseball in mind as his nominee for a popular, Shakespearian-era sport. However, notwithstanding this and occasional similar claims by others, there is no evidence that baseball was played as early as the 17th century. |
| Comment | Edit with form to add a comment |
| Query | Edit with form to add a query |