Although baseball has been played for centuries in some form, it took a war to make it “America’s pastime.” It evolved from rounders and cricket, which were brought to America by England. In 1845, the Knickerbocker Code was established in New York City. These rules were the first to govern modern baseball. Union soldiers adopted this version of the game during the Civil War and spread it across the West and South. It was very common for soldiers to play the game during wartime, and thousands took it with them. After the war, soldiers brought their improved version of baseball home to share with others. Savannah’s Fort Pulaski was not immune to the baseball bug. Fort Pulaski was actually the location of one of the first photos of a game of baseball in 1863.
The photo shows Company H of 48th New York Regiment posing for pictures. However, you can also see other soldiers playing baseball in the background. It is possible to assume that the Knickerbocker style was brought south by the origins of the regiment. However, there were some differences to the game we know today. Rules required that the “hurler” pitch the ball, not throw it. It had to be an underhand throw like a horseshoe. Players could heat up their pitches with an overhand pitch only in 1884. Although baseball gloves were not yet in use, they may have been unnecessary since the balls were made from bits of wood wrapped with rags. Ground balls were called “daisy cutters” and batters were known as “strikers”. A fly ball or one bounce could catch a player out.
