Civil War Base Ball
The Brooklyn Excelsiors, Circa 1860
Public Domain
Come on down for Civil War "Base Ball" on Governors Island! Our next game will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 20th. See you there! Join National Park Rangers as we explore the historical significance of baseball to the United States, New York City, and Governors Island during the 1860s. The program will include a talk on exciting topics from the creation of baseball to the growth of the "Nation's Game" in the New York City area. The program will conclude with a discussion of 1862 National Association of Base Ball Players rules (No gloves! No helmets!) and a chance for a few lucky visitors to play a 3-inning exhibition game with our very own Rangers! The program is recommended for ages 12 and up, with all ages welcome. The program is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather; in the case of a rain or storm cancellation, join a National Park Ranger in the NPS Gazebo for a talk about the history of the origins of baseball. Please note that the program does engage the participants in a real game of baseball. While baseball is not a contact sport and we anticipate all games to be friendly in nature, participants will be required to sign a liability waiver prior to playing. |
Did You Know?
Fort Jay was named after John Jay, who served as the second governor of New York, an office he held during construction of the fort. Considered among the Founding Fathers of the United States, Jay also served as the first Secretary of Foreign Affairs and as the first Chief Justice of Supreme Court.