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Vintage base ball teams such as the Sidney Stars will take to the Montcalm Heritage Village field on Aug. 2. — Submitted photo
SIDNEY TOWNSHIP — “Play ball” will be the call at the Montcalm Heritage Village field on Aug. 2, as part of the annual Heritage Village Festival.
Vintage Base Ball Teams will be playing in the field south and east of the train area (in the 1860s, base ball was two separate words).
There are a lot of other terms and rules that have changed over the years. At one time, none of the players would use a glove. Then some catchers would wear thin buckskin gloves to protect their hands from becoming raw from catching. Early pitchers were to throw a ball that was fairly flat and underhanded without a jerking motion, but a catcher’s bare hands could still become raw.
The ball was often called an apple, a pill, a horsehide, or an onion. Modern catchers need to wear a lot of protective gear. The pitchers of today often throw over 100 mph, as well as throwing a wide range of curveballs, sinkers, fastballs, and whatever else they feel will help them strike out the batter. In the early days, the batter was referred to as the striker, and a striker to the line was the batter on deck.
Other rules in effect in the early days included: no bunting, no sliding into base, and no stealing of bases. Runners could take a two-step lead from their base, but the first, second, and third basemen must be within a step of the base when the pitch is made. Outfielders need to play straightaway. There have been a lot of changes since the early days of base ball, but it is always a fun and exciting game to watch.
So come and enjoy Vintage Base Ball during the Heritage Village Festival on Aug. 2.
