The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Vintage base ball stops in Painesville
The Association was created by individuals with an affinity for the history of baseball.
PAINESVILLE » The Vintage Base Ball Association has been in existence since mid-1980s, and it’s still going strong.
The Association was created by individuals with an affinity for the history of baseball. It has more than 100 clubs scattered throughout the country, mostly in the Midwest. On Aug. 5, three clubs made a stop at Painesville Recreation Park’s baseball diamonds to play a tripleheader amid 90-degree temperatures in full 1860s-style replica uniforms and gear.
It’s a re-enactment from more than 150 years ago.
Oh, and no gloves. Way, way back, baseball players played barehanded, the pitcher threw underhand with a slight arc, the pitcher’s mound was 45 feet to home plate, and balls hit in fair ground that rolled foul were still in play.
As for the fences at Rec Park? It was an added bonus for anyone trying to hit a moon shot.
“The only time there were fences back then was
when the sheep lined up,” said Kent “Crusher” Shane of the Wyandotte Ghostriders in Upper Sandusky.
Joining the Ghostriders in Painesville were the Whiskey Island Shamrocks and the Addison Mountain Stars of Pennsylvania.
The Ghostriders consist mostly of Shane’s family. The roster features the likes of his two sons, his daughter (who’s the catcher), a nephew, a cousin and his 72-year-old father Jim “The Butcher” Shane.
“We used to own a
slaughter house,” said Kent Shane.
The VBBA gathers about twice a month for games, and the stop in Painesville in conditions better suited for a visit to the neighborhood swimming pool proved one thing is certain
for these players.
“We love the game. That’s why we’re here,” said Bill “Moonlight” Grahame of the Whiskey Island team. “We also want to entertain and educate people about the infancy of the game.”
Rules were a bit sketchy back then. Fly balls caught with bare hands were outs, but so were balls caught on the first hop, but those playing Aug. 5 aren’t sure when exactly that rule went into effect.
Length of games among the three teams were seven innings, but back then pretty much anything was on the table.
“It was like a gentlemen’s agreement,” said Grahame. “Whatever they felt that day.”
Playing on a baseball field Aug. 5 was rare for the VBBA. The league usually plays its games on open fields.
“That’s pretty much where they played their games back then,” said Grahame.
On this day, it didn’t matter where the games were played — just that they were played.
Jesse Shane of the Wyandotte team began participating as the team’s mascot at age 5. He’s now 23, and still involved.
“We’re one big family, and that’s how this league is,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what team you’re on. We come out here, and have fun.”