A.G. Spalding was also the prime mover behind The Abner Doubleday Myth. He put together a bogus commission, comprised of like-minded cronies, to prove that baseball was a wholly American invention whereas it had actually evolved from English bat and ball games. Any one with even a mild interest in baseball history learns early on that Doubleday had nothing to do with the "invention" of baseball. The whole thing was debunked shortly after it's manufacture by Colliers magazine.

www.19cbaseball.com

and for a bit more depth into the matter-

NBC Sports