On May 18, 1860—157 years ago today—baseball and politics are said to have intersected. On that day, a delegation from the Republican National Convention in Chicago traveled to Springfield, Illinois to inform
Abraham Lincoln that he was the new party's presidential nominee. It may be just fable, but, at the time of their arrival, Lincoln is said to have been playing baseball—or a reasonable facsimile thereof for 1860. When informed of his good fortune, the future 16th President said, "
Tell the gentlemen, that I am glad to know of their coming; but they’ll have to wait a few minutes ‘till I make another base hit." How cool is that? Apparently, when you're raised in a log cabin as Abe was, you get your priorities straight.
