Category: Vermilion Voles Base Ball

The Vermilion Voles Base Ball Club’s 2006 season is only two month’s away. Not only that, they have a new website. They’ve done a bang-up job in redesigning it and it looks fantastic. Stop by, check it out, and say hi.

For those not familiar with the Voles or the concept of vintage base ball, we posted a few articles about the team last year complete with photos. For those in the East Central Illinois area, watching them play is a great way for the family to spend the afternoon.

I hear they’re always looking for participants so contact them via the web site if you’re in interested.

Vermilion Voles 2006 Schedule

Vermilion Voles take on the Deep River Grinders

I finally made it out to Kennekuk Park to see an honest to goodness vintage base ball game on Saturday.  For those not familiar with vintage base ball, check out the Vintage Base Ball Association’s web site.  It was close to 90 degrees and my first thought was that while the uniforms looked very authentic, they also looked very hot.

Never mind.  The game was fun to watch and there were 20-30 spectators (“cranks”) on hand to cheer their team. 

A Deep River Grinder striker takes his turn at the plate.

A Vole player waits patiently to bat.

I’m not sure what what a Grinder is but they sure “ground” the Voles today.  I kid, I kid. :)

Final score: Grinders 15  Voles 3

A striker gets a hold of one.  I was quite impressed how hard these guys hit the ball.  They obviously practice a lot at this.  We also witnessed more than a few good plays in the field, too.

The Vermilion Voles line up after the game to wish their opponent well.

An exchange of “Huzzahs!” after the game.  This is the Deep River Grinders team.

It was a great way to spend an afternoon.  Unfortunately, this was their last home game this year.  Please check out the team’s web site next year for their 2006 schedule.  For anyone who is interested in participating, I think they are looking for more team members.  Contact them through their web site. 

Today was August 20, 1858. At least that was the date at Kennekuk Meadows in Danville, IL. I made a second trip there to see the Vermillion Voles play two against the Rock Springs Ground Squirrels. Check out my post, with pictures, from my last visit. The crowd was sparse. There were no more “cranks” (fans) than you would see at a little league game, which actually helped make for another personal “Field of Dreams” experience.

My family and I grabbed our own shade tree right behind home plate and enjoyed a pleasant afternoon watching baseball as it was originally played in 1858. The Voles dropped the first game 3-2 and had a 4-2 lead in the second game going into the final inning. The Ground Squirrels really “put the willow on the onion” and displayed some incredibly aggressive baseruning to tally six aces and make the score 8-4 in their favor. The Voles were not discouraged, loading the bases with “no hands dead” (no outs) and tallying two aces to make the score 8-6. But the Ground Squirrels held on for their second victory of the day.

Afterwards, the two teams lined up and the team captains and umpire congratulated each other on the day’s fine competition. Then both teams shed their wool uniforms into clothing more appropriate for the summer heat and enjoyed a picnic dinner together. The Voles next home game is September 10 at 2pm against the Deep River Grinders. If you are fan of the game of baseball, I guarantee you will enjoy this. Huzzah!

I finally had the chance to check out vintage baseball and see the Vermilion Voles in action on Saturday.  Unfortunately, their opposing team couldn’t show up due to a variety of reasons but the Voles didn’t disappoint and played a split squad game.

Despite it not being an official game, I enjoyed seeing the Voles in action.  Here are some photos:

Jim Knoblauch makes the lineup for his side.

 

Ringing the bell after tallying an ace.

 

Most of the players were in full uniform even in practice.

There’s a game this Saturday (Aug. 20) in Danville.  Check out their web site for more details for when and where. 

The Vermilion Voles who play Vintage Base Ball (according to rules and customs of 1858) had a game on Sunday.  I was out of town visiting my mom but my friend Shawn and his family went.  He was nice enough to pass on his photos and write something up for me.  It sounds like he had a really good time I almost wish I stayed in town and gone to the game instead.  Haha.. just kidding, Mom. 

Anyway, here’s Shawn’s report:

Wow, what a fun time that was.  First of all, the setting was idyllic.  I’d never been to Kennekuk County Park or heard of it for that matter.  It’s an absolutely huge place, where the road just winds around for what seems like miles.  There were markers along the way letting us know that we were heading in the right direction.  Finally, we pull into this gorgeous, tree-lined meadow.  The game was already in progress, but we found out there were three games being played that day with three teams in attendance:  the host Danville Voles club, the Indianapolis Blues, and the Mackville Mudcats.  There were only a couple dozen fans (or “cranks” as they were known in 1858).
 

These games were played according to the same rules used in 1858, or “gentlemen’s rules” as they are called.  Manners, civility, and proper etiquette come first before everything else.  There is no yelling or screaming or antagonizing the opposing team.  Arguing with the umpire is simply not tolerated by anyone, period.  Sliding and stealing is not allowed.  Cheering is done by yelling “Huzzah!”  Base runners are told to “Leg it!”  Teammates recognize a good hit by saying “Well struck, Sir!”  Even the pitcher apologizes to the striker (hitter) when a bad hurl (pitch) is made:  “Poor hurl.  Sorry, sir!”  Most sporting events I bring my kids to, I worry about the language being thrown around.  Here, the kids actually learn where sportsmanship was born.
 

Strikers are dead (out) when the ball is caught on the fly or “on the bound” (one bounce).  Runners may advance when the striker is dead on the bound, but are asked to return to their bases by the umpire when the striker is dead on the fly.  In other words, there is no penalty for leaving the base without tagging up.  Fielders are asked to “play their lanes”.  Play was actually delayed for a few minutes when one team noticed the center fielder was shading a little to the left of center and complained to the umpire.  Infielders may not stray more than a step from the base before the ball is put in play.  The shortstop played the normal shortstop position.
 

When a runner scores, the umpire reminds him to “tally his ace”.  The runner reports to the tally keeper and asks to record his ace.  The tally keeper obliges, the player thanks them and then rings a bell to signal to the cranks that an ace was just scored.  Runs do not count unless this procedure is followed.  At this game, the tally keeper was a woman dressed in clothing appropriate for the period.  I spoke with her for quite awhile as she schooled me on the rules and customs of vintage baseball.  The players were all friendly as well.  One player on the Voles had a cast on his arm, an injury suffered during a previous game.  Injuries are common since the fielders have no gloves.  The vintage baseball has a slightly softer cover than today’s baseball, and it’s slightly larger.  Otherwise, it’s just as hard as a modern baseball.
 

The neatest rule:  fans can help their team make outs.  If a ball is hit into the crowd and a crank catches it on the fly or on the bound and gives it to a player, the umpire can call the batter dead.  Foul balls don’t happen that frequently since pitching is underhand, but the kids in the crowd are always alert to help catch foul balls for their team.
 

Tom, you gotta check it out sometime!  Feel free to excerpt any of the above for your blog.  Pictures are attached.
 
–Shawn

Thanks to Shawn for the pictures and report.  I wish I could’ve been there.  For those who want to attend a Vermilion Vole game, here is their schedule.  Also, the Vintage Base Ball Association web site has lots of info on vintage base ball.

Tired of over-paid baseball players and billionaire owners making the scene in today’s baseball world?  Not into slugfests that baseball games have become as of late?  Looking for baseball of a different old-fashioned quality?

Maybe Vintage Base Ball is what you’re looking for.  According to the Vintage Base Ball Association web site, Vintage Base Ball is defined as such:

 Vintage Base Ball is base ball (yes, it was two words originally) played by the rules and customs of any earlier period. Ballists wear old-style uniforms, either the early long trouser and shield shirt, or a later style lace shirt and knickers, and recreate the game based on rules and research of the various periods of the mid-to-late nineteenth century. The activity of vintage base ball can be seen at open-air museums, re-enactments and city parks and is played on both open grass fields and modern baseball diamonds. Some groups consider vintage base ball to be a new sport, but at its core, vintage base ball is a reflection of how baseball existed at an earlier time.

The Vintage Base Ball Association has member teams in 18 states as well as Ontario.  Most clubs have adopted the rules of a certain time period.  For example, a club may play by the rules and customs that were in effect in 1858. 

But what are the rules?

Using the example of 1858, here is a link to an established set of rules used back in that year by the National Association of Base Ball Players.  What I think it pretty telling and what says a lot about the game of baseball is that, to be honest, with a few obvious exceptions, the rules of baseball have not really changed in 149 years. 

The Vermilion Voles

Those in the East Central Illinois area can enjoy the Vermilion Voles, a vintage base ball club based in Danville.  I took the liberty of emailing the team’s contact person Jim Knoblauch.  He was kind enough to respond and was very helpful with my questions.  Turns out he works in the building next to mine.  Small world…

Jim says that the demographic makeup of the Vermilion Voles runs the gamut.  Their team has teenagers, men in their 60’s and everything in between.  Officially becoming a team in 2002, they get most of their players by word of mouth.

The Vermilion Voles use the 1858 set of rules.  As for differences compared to today’s game, Jim says:

 The 1858 rules involve a number of variations of today’s rules.  Most
notably, players do not wear gloves (they hadn’t been invented yet).
Strikers (batters) can be called dead (out) if the ball is caught on
the first bounce or in the air.  It’s a slow pitch game.  The ball
has crossed seams instead of today’s figure eight seams.

He encourages anyone interested to attend a game.   Their schedule is posted at the Voles’ web site.  There’s a game this weekend.  Check them out!