Abner Doubleday was born in Ballston Spa in 1819 on the corner of Washington and Fenwick.He was probably best known as the inventor of baseball. This was debunked however. He may have had some involvement in the sport, but certainly did not invent it. He was however, a well known Civil War General. He was second in command at Fort Sumpter in South Carolina when the first shot was fired that started the war. He went on to become a Brigadier General and fought in the battle of Bull Run, Antietam, where he was promoted to Major General, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. After the war, he was stationed in San Franscisco where he and his partners had a franchise for the first cable car line. He then commanded an all African American regiment, the 24th U.S. Infantry. He retired in New Jersey, where he died. He is buried in Arlington National cemetery.