Friday, May 05, 2000
Baseball 1860-style coming to Delhi Twp.
Fans can see game as gentlemen played it
By Lew Moores
The Cincinnati Enquirer
DELHI TOWNSHIP — The tradition and culture of baseball will reach back in time this weekend when the game is played as it was in the mid-19th century.
The Ohio Village Muffins, a team that plays “vintage base ball'' and is made up of volunteers from the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus, will travel to Delhi Township to play a couple of teams from the 20th century, but using rules from 1860. The game will be played at Delhi Park.
Sponsored by the Delhi Historical Society and Price Hill Historical Society, the game begins at 4 p.m. Saturday at Field No. 1 in the park, located off Foley Road. A parade at 3:30 p.m. will precede the ballgame. The event is free.
The game is for both education and entertainment purposes, and to promote the historical societies in both west side communities.
“There is the recognition.” “Our name will be out in front of the people,” said Doris Zeiser, development director for the Delhi Historical Society. “But it's also a lesson in history for the children. They'll see the game played quite differently and how it's evolved.”
Doug Smith, volunteer coordinator for the Ohio Historical Society and manager of the Ohio Village Muffins, said the game was quite different in 1860.
It was a gentleman's game — before it turned professional and players were paid — with no spitting, cursing or fighting.
The game was played without gloves, and the ball was pitched underhanded. The ball is outsized, smaller than a softball and larger than a modern baseball.
A batted ball caught on one hop was an out, and sliding into bases was not permitted. But stealing bases was, as was taking a lead off a base. The bases were 90 feet — or 30 paces — apart, and the pitcher's “point,” or mound, was 45 feet from home plate.
“There were no balls or strikes,” said Mr. Smith. “The pitcher is actually trying to let the batter hit the ball. We play it as a gentleman's game. The catch phrase for this type of baseball is "vintage base ball,' and base ball is two words.”
Since part of the Ohio Historical Society's mission is education, the Muffins demonstrate the roots of the national pastime.
The Muffins, who play in old-style uniforms, were formed in 1981. They are one of about 13 vintage teams in the state, and one of about 70 in the country.
They play about 60 games a year, with the season lasting from early April to October. They play other vintage teams, as well as softball and other organized teams. The Muffins, all men, range in age from 17 to 65.
“We're going to try and make it an annual event,” said Ms. Zeiser. “If we have a good crowd and there seems to be an interest, we will try to book them again next year.”
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