What kind of "ball" did George Washington play? I'm reading Ron Chernow's biography of GW, and came to this note:
"In another sharp departure from European formality, Washington engaged in sports with subordinates and “sometimes throws and catches a ball for whole hours with his aides-de-camp.”"
Clearly, they were many years from anything at all like the sports we know today. But they were also many years from even the materials or manufacturing methods to create balls like we'd use in those sports. So what was he using? What were the games like that he and his aides might have played? Colonial era sports are not something I have ever even heard referred to before.
According to mtvernon.org he liked Archery, Swimming, and Pool, in addition to playing catch. But, he wasn't just chucking billiard balls at his buddies, right? What is this revolutionary war ball they were playing?
HaroldTheScarecrow t1_jdjqery wrote
Reply to Weekly History Questions Thread. by AutoModerator
What kind of "ball" did George Washington play? I'm reading Ron Chernow's biography of GW, and came to this note:
"In another sharp departure from European formality, Washington engaged in sports with subordinates and “sometimes throws and catches a ball for whole hours with his aides-de-camp.”"
Clearly, they were many years from anything at all like the sports we know today. But they were also many years from even the materials or manufacturing methods to create balls like we'd use in those sports. So what was he using? What were the games like that he and his aides might have played? Colonial era sports are not something I have ever even heard referred to before.
According to mtvernon.org he liked Archery, Swimming, and Pool, in addition to playing catch. But, he wasn't just chucking billiard balls at his buddies, right? What is this revolutionary war ball they were playing?