{"id":155862,"date":"2020-09-14T12:16:43","date_gmt":"2020-09-14T17:16:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/?p=155862"},"modified":"2020-09-14T12:32:47","modified_gmt":"2020-09-14T17:32:47","slug":"the-history-of-chicago-softball-16-inch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/the-history-of-chicago-softball-16-inch\/","title":{"rendered":"The History Of Chicago Softball 16-Inch"},"content":{"rendered":"

While it isn\u2019t well known outside of the city, 16-inch softball has deep roots in Chicago. The game originated on Thanksgiving Day 1887 at the Farragut Boat Club. The first game was played between a group of Harvard and Yale alumni. The men were waiting to hear the results of a college football game between the two schools. Once it was announced that Yale won, their alumni celebrated by tossing a boxing glove towards the Harvard alumnus, who then playfully hit it back with a broomstick. Chicago reporter <\/span>George Hancock<\/span><\/a> is credited with the game’s creation, after shouting \u201cLet\u2019s play ball!\u201d and wrapping up the boxing glove into the shape of a ball. The rest is history, literally!<\/span><\/p>\n

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#16inch Grant Park 1930\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by 16 Inch Softball Hall Of Fame<\/a> (@16inchsoftballhalloffame) on