Abner Doubleday grew up early in the nineteenth century in Auburn, a small village in upstate New York. Like most villages in that area, Auburn had wooden sidewalks, dusty streets, and shady trees. In 1825, it was honored by General Marquis Lafayette, who stopped there while touring the country.

As a boy, Abner found many things to do in the village and surrounding country. He attended school, explored woods and fields, and swam and fished in the streams. At times he and some of his friends caught rides on stagecoaches that came through the town. Always, it seemed, he had things to do.

Abner was happiest when he played ball with other boys in the village. There were several ways of playing ball, depending on the number of players. A few players usually played one old cat, two old cat, and sometimes three old cat. More players usually organized opposing teams and played town ball.

Town ball was exciting to play, but there were no set rules for playing the game. Everyone had his own ideas about how the game should be played. Before a game could be played, the opposing teams had to agree on the rules, and always there was confusion.

When Abner was fairly well grown he went to school in Cooperstown, a short distance from Auburn. While there he became disturbed about the conflicting ways of playing ball and devised new rules for playing the game. He laid out a diamond with four bases and arranged for a set number of players.

Today Doubleday is generally considered the father of baseball, even though many others have made important contributions to the game. The Baseball Hall of Fame is located in Cooperstown, where he laid out his original diamond. The attractive field at this famous shrine is called Doubleday Field.

Besides making lasting contributions to baseball, Doubleday had a brilliant military career. He graduated from West Point, fought in the Mexican War, and became Major General in the War between the States. He is noted especially for his heroic efforts at Gettysburg, where he helped to turn back General Robert E. Lee in his invasion of the North.

The author, Montrew Dunham, has told the story of Abner Doubleday's boyhood with great clarity and charm. She has researched her materials thoroughly in order to make her story authentic. Young readers will recognize her as a popular author of other volumes in the Childhood of Famous Americans Series.

From the dust jacket