Baseball's Doubleday is a reference to ABNER Doubleday, an American Civil War veteran who is widely credited with inventing the game of baseball in 1839. He was born in Ballston Spa, New York and attended West Point Military Academy. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War and was promoted to the rank of Major General. After the war, he returned to his hometown and became involved in local politics. His legacy lives on in the form of the ABNER Doubleday Award, which is given annually to the best player in Major League Baseball.