Vintage Base Ball Comes to Rockport
The Cleveland Blues Base Ball Club will host the Mansfield Independent Base Ball Club at the Old Stone House Field Base Ball Grounds in Lakewood Park on Saturday, June 20, 2009, from 2:00- 3:30 p.m. Both clubs are vintage base ball teams that play by the rules of 1867 and use period uniforms and equipment.
Many of the Blues' players are from the Rockport area or have lived in Rockport at one time or another. The Blues travel throughout the state, playing other clubs at historic base ball grounds. The club's home field is League Park, and this is their inaugural season.
The rules of base ball were very different from today's game. The ball was slightly larger than today's ball, and bats were much bigger and heavier. Players caught that ball with their bare hands, and catching the ball on a bounce was an out. The pitch was delivered underhand from 45 feet away. Players were fined for swearing, spitting and gambling. The game of base ball was considered a gentleman's game back then, and a club's reputation was just as important as winning or losing.
The match is free. Informational flyers will be handed out to fans, so come out and enjoy base ball, the way is was meant to be played.
