Looking at the Game of Baseball from all ends of the Spectrum
The vintage base ball team Vermilion Voles based in Danville, Illinois have released their 2011 schedule.
I am happy to see that not only is their schedule full (they have 15 days scheduled and 5 home dates) but it is quite imminent. They will start playing next month. Their first game is on May 8 at Springfield.
If you want to see them at their home park, you’ll only have to wait till May 22nd when they play their rivals the Rock Springs Ground Squirrels.
Good Luck this season, Voles!!
On Saturday, the family and i went to see the Vermilion Voles take on the Deep River Grinders in some vintage base ball action.
Seems to me that Voles’ captain Jim Knoblauch has been cracking the whip during practice because the Voles looked very sharp. They won Saturday’s game 9-1. They tossed the horsehide with ease in the field, making some really impressive plays.
Pitching for the Voles was Baseball Zealot bud, Shawn Lee. Known as “the General” (that’s funny to me given Shawn’s easy-going nature), he took advantage of the good defense and kept the Grinders to one ace, a four-bagger that got lost in the weeds.
No doubt, Shawn cursed me after that one since I probably jinxed him. Just the half-inning before, he and i were talking and I asked if any homeruns were ever hit. Not often, he said, “they would have to get lost in the weeds”
But that would be the only ace the Voles would give up and they would win handily 9-1. Shawn even contributed three hits to the cause.
The Deep River Grinders who hail from Hobart, Indiana are frequent competitors of the Voles and I’m sure there is a friendly rivalry between the two teams. That said, the important thing from the cranks’ (fans’) perspective was that a good game was played by both teams and a good time was had.
I have a few more photos from Saturday’s game between the Vermilion Voles and the Deep River Grinders on the Photo Gallery (not as many as I’d like though as my camera card became corrupt and some photos I took didn’t come out).
Great job by the Voles and good luck next time Grinders! For the Voles’ future schedule, see their website.
This weekend, the Vermilion Voles play their first two home game of 2010 at Kennekuk County Park. The Voles are the local vintage base ball team, playing by the rules of 1858.
Saturday’s game is against their rivals Deep River Grinders. On Sunday, they play the St Louis Unions. Their schedule doesn’t specify but I believe the games start at 1pm or so the games start at 2pm.
Check out the Vermilion Voles website for directions and other info. PS… they’re on Facebook too.
If you want to get a sense of what a vintage base ball game is all about, I did a pretty good write-up when I went to the Uncle Joe Cannon’s Jamboree Tournament in 2008 complete with photos.
So if you are in the East Central Illinois area, stop by for some good ol’ fashioned base ball fun.
[Update] I saw Voles captain Jim Knoblauch (pictured above) in the local paper today. They had him list his ten favorite baseball players. My favorite was Chuck Knoblauch “because his name looked so cool in the box score”.
To be honest, it took two seconds for that to sink in. I guess only because Jim pronounces the ‘K”.
[Update] On Sunday, it’s a doublehheader. Twice the fun!
I had lunch with Shawn Lee today. Shawn is the web person and occasional ballist for our local vintage base ball team, the Vermilion Voles.
Aside from discussing what’s ailing major league baseball today, we talked vintage base ball. Shawn reminded me that the annual Uncle Joe Cannon’s Jamboree Tournament is coming up. For those in the East Central Illinois area, it’s a great chance to see some great vintage base ball (and lots of it!).
This year, they’ll be having it at the Voles’ usual home park at beautiful Kennekuk State Park. The tournament will take place on August 22 at noon. The Voles will be hosting the Chicago Salmon, Rock Spring Squirrels, St Louis Perfectos (and no doubt their bright red stockings).
Some Chicago Salmon players taken at the 2008 Jamboree
I went to the Uncle Joe’s Jamboree in 2008 and had a blast. I did a write up and posted some photos.
If you’re interested, please come. The teams love a crowd and really make try to get the spectators involved by speaking to them and informing them about how the game of base ball was played in 1858.
You can find more info (including their schedule) on the Voles’ web site.
The Vermilion Voles, the local vintage base ball team, have come out with their schedule for this year. You can find it on the Voles’ web site.
The Voles’ season begins on the road on May 31 playing the Fort Clark Pioneers at Edwards, Illinois. Their first game at their home park at Kennekuk State Park outside Danville, Illinois, will be June 20 and will be against their friendly rivals the Deep River Grinders.
And mark your calendars for August 22. That’s the date for the annual Uncle Joe Cannon’s Jamboree at Kennekuk.
Saturday, my friend Brando and I went to the Uncle Joe Cannon’s Base Ball Jamboree at Danville Stadium. We saw five hours of glorious (and maybe not so glorious) vintage base ball. Either way, we had a blast!
It was Brando’s first time at a vintage base ball game. It does take some getting used to some of the rules. The most prevalent ones being:
The Jamboree Participants
The four teams participating in today’s event were (links go to the team’s respective web sites):
It was a round robin tournament where each tournament where each team would play the other once. The tournament began on time at 11;00 with the host team Voles taking on the Salmon.
I’ve never been much good for remembering scores at vintage base ball events. To me, that’s not the attraction of the game. I suppose that’s a good thing when the Voles, the hosts and the team I follow, give up 17 runs in the first three innings of the first game against the mighty Chicago Salmon. The Salmon had a knack for hitting line drives that just wouldn’t bounce up so the Voles fielders could catch them on the first bounce. The game was thankfully called via the mercy rule. To their credit, the Voles were playing with many of their squad gone. More Voles showed up later for their games against the Juniors and the Unions.
Before we get to more photos, I would like to thank Brando for coming with me for the day. It made the day that much more fun. Also thanks to host team captain Jim Knoblauch who doubled as arbiter for much of the day. It’s my guess that a lot of the planning for the day fell on him, too. Great job!
Also, thanks to tally-keeper Ed “Hambone” Hamilton and alternate arbiter Robert Hous both who did a excellent job. Oh, and thanks to Jim’s wife Joyce who scored me a tournament pin (you see a scanned image of it at the top of this post). The pins were handed out to the players but she was real nice and gave me one too.
And thanks to the players too!
Some more photos (you can see a whole bunch more at the Photo Gallery):
The two faces of Voles’ team captain Jim Knoblauch
Ballist… |
…and later, arbiter. |
A few grim faced gentleman who were members of the Chicago Salmon. They were actually nice and were a heckuva ball team. They won all three of their games.
The Chicago Salmon men were a great team and all but they don’t fool me. This woman was the real boss. She would sit in their dugout and fan herself. With her sharp tongue, she would yell encouragements to the Salmon players and sometimes tell the arbiter how she thought things should be run.
My buddy Brando striking a pose with the bat they use in vintage base ball.
A close up of the bat label (click to enlarge).
Hey, there’s Zealot friend (and Voles’ webmaster) Shawn “General” Lee as hurler for the Voles against the New Baden Juniors!
He also drove in a run with a two-base hit in that game. When I gave him congrats on that after the game, self-deprecating Shawn pointed out that he was probably responsible for nine of New Baden’s eleven runs. oops. Nice hit anyway, Shawn!
The look of intensity on this Vole ballist as he runs to first base is amazing.
The Unions catch a New Baden runner in a pickle.
A Vole hurler was hit squarely on the chest by a hit ball during the New Baden contest. Within a minute, he was up and tossin’ the onion once again.
New Baden players salute with the traditional “Huzzah” at the end of the game.
Once more, there are more photos at the Baseball Zealot Photo Gallery. Tons of photos.
(8/25/08) As an added bonus, I’ve just added a (slightly jerky) video of the Vermilion Voles introducing themselves before their game with the New Baden Juniors. You can see it here.
Today my family went to see the local vintage base ball team, the Vermilion Voles, take on friendly rivals Rock Springs Ground Squirrels at beautiful Kennekuk Park outside Danville, Illinois. It seems lately, it’s hard to find a parking spot at their ball field. That’s a pleasant inconvenience because I know people are coming out to watch the Voles.
When we got there midway through the first game, the Voles were unfortunately down 9-3. They did mount a rally in the seventh and last inning and put three aces across the plate to make it interesting but lost 9-6.
We thought we might get a chance to see a Voles win in game 2 when they broke a 4-4 tie in the 6th frame and made it 5-4. Alas, the Rock Springs Ground Squirrels scored a run to tie it in the last inning. Playing in extras, Rock Springs won it in the bottom of the 8th on a single ace.
For a hurler, Rock Springs had a member of the fairer gender.
Lately, Voles captain Jim Knoblauch who normally is the arbiter for the games, has taken to putting on a uniform and doing his part for the Voles.
A Rock Springs player crosses home plate and scores an ace.
Rita “Hustle” Hostetler may not be the best hitter on the Voles team but she’s probably the friendliest (even to the opposition).
Jim “Weed Eater” Knoblach knocks a two-base hit late in the second game.
Tally-keeper Ed “Hambone” Hamilton proves his versatility by singing “A Hurler’s Lament” between games to entertain the crowd.
A little girl asks the Voles players for their autographs. Don’t let it go to your heads, guys!
Finally, much thanks to Robert Hous who acted as arbiter for today’s games and did a great job!
Many more photos at The Baseball Zealot Photo Gallery. More info about the Vermilion Voles at their web site.
If you’re interested in seeing some vintage base ball and you are in the east central Illinois area, come to Uncle Joe’s Base Ball Jamboree next weekend.
If you’ve been waiting for the right weekend to go see a vintage base ball game in the east central Illinois area, next Saturday is the perfect time to go. It’s time for the annual Uncle Joe’s Base Ball Jamboree. I wasn’t able to make it last year and by god, if I have to walk to Danville, I’m going.
Here’s the scoop:
What: Uncle Joe’s Base Ball Jamboree, a tournament including some of best vintage base ball teams in the region.
When: August 23, 2008. The First game will begin at 11:00am.
Where: The Jamboree will take place at Danville Stadium, home of the Danville Dans. Map
What teams are playing? Teams that are scheduled to participate include the Chicago Salmon, New Baden Juniors, St. Louis Unions and of course, hometown favorites the Vermilion Voles.
Who is Uncle Joe? Joseph Gurney Cannon (photo above) was a Illinois-bred politician who at the height of his career served as Speaker of the House of Representatives in the early 20th century. An excellent orator, he had an colorful career to say the least. A little piece of trivia: He was first person to be featured on the cover of Time magazine. You can read more about him on Wikipedia.
Hope to see you there!
Voles game tomorrow!
If you can’t make it next Saturday, the Vermilion Voles are playing tomorrow at their normal digs, Kennekuk Park at 1pm . They are playing their popular rivals Rock Spring Ground Squirrels. Don’t miss the battle of the rodents!!
“One man dead!”
Today, the family and I headed out to Kennekuk County Park to see the Vermilion Voles play some vintage base ball. The St Louis Perfectos complete with their red socks and all, came to play.
It was a beautiful day and when we arrived, I was pleased to see that there was a good crowd, so much so that we needed to park out by the road. No complaints… I’m glad the Voles are getting some attention.
Speaking of attention, the Voles were getting some media attention today. A cameraman from the local news station (Channel 3) was out there getting some good footage of them.
Today they had a doubleheader and we were able to stay for the first game. As for the game itself, it was probably one of the best vintage base ball games that I’ve seen. When we arrived somewhere around the 3rd frame, it was 4-3 Voles. I heard later that the Voles had never beaten the Perfectos before so I bet the Voles were pretty excited.
The Perfectos tallied an ace in the 7th to tie the game to put it in extras. Captain Jim “Weed Eater” Knoblauch told me that was the first time they had a extra-inning game at Kennekuk Park.
Two innings later, the Perfectos hit a 3-run double in the top of the inning. The Voles managed to put to men on base in the bottom of the inning but were left stranded. Perfectos won 7-4.
A good game by all gentleman (and gentlelady)!
Here are few of the photos I got today:
One thing I remember about the Perfectos from last year is their insanely red socks.
Voles’ catcher Rita “Hustle” Hostetler gets friendly with the opposition.
I swear, this cigar never left the mouth of this Perfecto ballist. Whether he was batting or playing catcher, it stayed there.
This two-parter shows a dandy play by the Voles’ third-sacker.
I thought this gentleman bore a resemblance to Morrie from the Dick Van Dyke Show. I’m not laughing though. He was 5 for 5 with 5 rbis. Well done, sir!
Between games, Ed “Hambone” Hamiliton, who is the tallykeeper for the Voles, led the fans in a rousing song of “Buffalo Gals”.
When we got home tonight, I overheard my 8-year old daughter singing it to herself. Well played, Hambone!
Hambone at his normal station.
You’ll find lots more photos from today at the Photo Gallery.
Once again, we had a really good time. Unfortunately, the Voles couldn’t pull it out but it was a really good game with some really good defense (see the two photos above). Hopefully, the Voles came out the victor in game two.
If you’re in the East Central Illinois area, come out to a Voles game sometime. You’ll find their schedule on the Voles’ web site. If you don’t live in the area, find a vintage base ball team around you. A good place to start is the Vintage Base Ball Association directory. Maybe there’s a team around you and you don’t know it.
For those in the East Central Illinois area, take note. The Vermilion Voles will be hosting their first home game this Saturday. They will be taking on their rivals, the Deep River Grinders at Kennekuk Park, just west of Danville, Illinois. Game time is 1pm.
For those who haven’t been to a vintage base ball game, now’s your chance. Become a fan of the best vintage base ball team in the area!
You can find the schedule for the Voles on their fine website as well as directions to the field they play on.