1860.20
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Lincoln Awaits Nomination, Plays Town Ball?
| Salience | Noteworthy |
|---|---|
| Tags | FamousFamous |
| Location | IllinoisIllinois |
| City/State/Country: | Springfield, IL, US |
| Modern Address | |
| Game | Town BallTown Ball |
| Immediacy of Report | Contemporary |
| Age of Players | |
| Holiday | |
| Notables | Abraham Lincoln |
| Text | "During the settling on the convention Lincoln had been trying, in one way and another, to keep down the excitement . . . playing billiard a little, town ball a little, and story-telling a little." A story circulated that he was playing ball when he learning of his nomination: "When the news of Lincoln's nomination reached Springfield, his friends were greatly excited, and hastened to inform 'Old Abe' of it. He could not be found at his office or at home, but after some minutes the messenger discovered him out in a field with a parcel of boys, having a pleasant game of town-ball. All his comrades immediately threw up their hats and commenced to hurrah. Abe grinned considerably, scratched his head and said 'Go on boys; don't let such nonsense spoil a good game.' The boys did go on with their bawling, but not with the game of ball. They got out an old rusty cannon and made it ring, while the [illeg.: Rail Splitter?] went home to think on his chances."
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| Sources | Henry C. Whitney, Lincoln the Citizen [Current Literature Publishing, 1907], page 292. "How Lincoln Received the Nomination," [San Francisco CA] Daily Evening Bulletin vol.10 number 60 (Saturday, June 16, 1860), page 2 column 3. |
| Warning | Richard Hershberger and others doubt the veracity of this story. He says [email of 1/30/2008] that one other account of that day says that Abe played hand-ball, and there is mention of this being the only athletic game that Abe was ever seen to indulge in. |
| Comment | A political cartoon of the day showed Lincoln playing ball with other candidates. It can be viewed at http://www.scvbb.org/images/image7/. Thanks to Kyle DeCicco-Carey for the link. Edit with form to add a comment |
| Query |
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| Source Image | [[Image:|left|thumb]] |
| External Number | |
| Submitted by | Craig Waff, Richard Hershberger |
| Submission Note | 7/18/2007 |
| Has Supplemental Text |
1860.20 Lincoln Awaits Nomination, Plays Town Ball?"
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