It's The Little Things

On May 19th, our friends the Deep River Grinders, from Hobart, IN, came to Olde Republic Field in Huntington, and played a nine inning match with us.  Two weeks prior we added new flag poles and flags to our field, however, today, we celebrate having a neat, old time backstop.  These "little" things have provided our club with a new atmosphere at the field.  It is really starting to look more like a place for vintage base ball.

We started the game with the Grinders going back and forth, with the aces on the board.  This is very typical when playing the Grinders, because our teams are so similar.  This match also provided us with our highest crank total of the year, so far.  This made it extra enjoyable, because both teams love to play the game in a similar fashion and put on a good event for the cranks. 

During the seventh inning, one of the my fellow Hill Toppers was caught gazing at a cranks bare ankles, (or as my friend Cricket Fritz would call them Crankles), and our Judge doesn't take to kindly to these things happening in Huntington County.  The Judge went on to fine this Topper a quarter, as well as all the other Hill Toppers and Grinders that were looking.  It put a little bit of a fun, light touch to the day.

As always, the game came down to the last inning, with the Grinders scoring the final ace in the bottom of the ninth.  The final tally was 11 aces for the Grinders and 10 aces for the Hill Toppers.

We then took the opportunity to feast on some fine italian dishes after the game.  This, again, provides that opportunity to discuss ideas and the game with friends and provide some time for comaraderie.  This still has to be one of my favorite parts of the game.  I know it isn't the sport, per say, but this opportunity to catch up with friends is something that ends up making the day that much better.  Like the title says, "It's the little things".

Until next time!

The Vintage Ballist (Pops)

Honoring Old Glory, Playing Base Ball and Remembering a Friend

Last Saturday, May 5, 2012, my club opened our season at our home field, Olde Republic Field.  We have been working hard the last few years on adding a more historic look to our field, which as we all know, can be hard to do.  This year however, we installed two removable, 23 ft., flagpoles that are on the first and third baselines.  After speaking with the VBBA historian, Eric Miklich, and reading James Tootle's newest book, Vintage Base Ball: Recapturing America's Past-time, I found out that this was an historically accurate thing to do.  It is nice to look down the line, and see the 34 star flag waving in its beauty, and our team flag waving down the other line.

This day was not just about celebrating our new flag and poles, but it was a celebration of the game of base ball.  Before the match I took some time with both teams to respect our friend, Sweet Tooth Lyon, and we all vowed to play this match and future matches in his honor.  Along with this, we pledged to always play the game like true gentlemen and to love the game for what it is, a game.

Our first match was against our friends, the Rising Sun Belle Rivers.  These gentlemen played their first ever match against us, and we like to believe that our attitudes and love of the game, helped make them realize what the game was all about.  This game was back and forth, with the Hill Toppers prevailing in the end.  This, as you know, does not matter to me, the wins and losses that is.  The fact that we had an enjoyable, fun, gentlemanly, competitive game with friends was exhilarating.

We sat out the next match and watched the Belle Rivers play the W. Lafayette Couriers.  The Couriers are a newly formed team that we are also helping get started in the vintage base ball endeavors.  If I didn't enjoy playing the game so much, I truly believe that I would love to go around and help new teams start up and learn the game the way it is supposed to be played.  This was another well-spirited match with the Couriers prevailing.

We had our after-match meal after the second match, and had the opportunity to speak with both clubs.  The camaraderie was awesome.  We hadn't seen the Rising Sun club in three years, and you would have thought that we just saw them a couple of weeks before.  We talked about the clubs we will be playing.  They told us about the new uniforms that they will be getting, to look more historically accurate and discussed some of their future endeavors.

The Couriers also received a wonderful gift from our umpire, Judge Young.  Judge provided them with a picture from an old base ball club from W. Lafayette, that could help them to work towards getting more accurate uniforms.  It is amazing how many clubs that do not have the most accurate uniforms, work very hard to fund raise in order to get uniforms that are more accurate.  I believe that we can support them in these endeavors with encouragement and help with vendors.  So... if there are any clubs out there that have vendor suggestions for uniforms, please feel free to reply to this blog with the information.

The Hilltoppers ended the day playing the Couriers.  The teams battled back and forth and the Couriers were victorious.  It was such a great, spirited match, and it just reminded me of why I play this game.  We continue to enjoy the relationships that we continue to form and the assistance we are able to provide to all clubs, new and old.

This Saturday, May 19th, we will be playing our good friends, the Deep River Grinders.  We will thoroughly enjoy this day.  For those of you that are local to Huntington, come out with a picnic, and enjoy a free, fun day of base ball, the way it is meant to be played.


Until next time my base ball fraternity, have a great week and remember to always enjoy the game for the game.

Pops
(The Vintage Ballist)