A tale of cranks, yanks, and colored stockings!

[LWW1]

This weekend in the birthplace of professional base ball a recreation of the original game played by the original rules.

There were a few cranks (boo-birds of today) and the first game shown involved some Yanks from Massachusetts known as the Mudville Nine.

The Mudville Nine generally plays by 1858 amateur rules, whilst all other clubs are experienced in 1860 professional rules.

During the pre game meeting the Mudville captain plotted strategy with his club.

While the Champion City Hilltoppers manager exhorted his men to give their all.

The umpire did properly survey the field and explain rules to both team captains.

And equipment was laid out for the strikers.

LWW

 

[LWW1]

Although the men from Mudville did field brilliantly as experienced ballists are expected to do:

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[LWW1]

And they did pitch strikes consistently:

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Their strikers did swing and miss furiously at the masterful huler of the Hilltoppers:

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And even though they were obviously the best financed and most photogenic team invited to the tournament:

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They were constantly losing hands to the strong defense the Hilltoppers used to back up their hurler’s few mistakes:

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In the end the Mudville Nine were no match for the mighty men from Champion City who struck the ball often, high and far:

and the Hilltoppers were victorious in regulation by a score of 15 aces to the Mudville men’s single ace.

LWW

 

[LWW1]

During game 2 the Champion City Hilltoppers held off a valiant effort by the Wyandotte Ghost Riders who proved themselves to be worthy ballists:

Following the Hilltoppers win by a score of 11 aces to 10 aces, according to tradition the umpire did congratulate each player for their sportsman like conduct … with the exception of one Ghost Rider who was fined twenty five cents for the use of too strong language in the presence of women and children:

Followed by the two captains thanking their respective opponents for a match well played;

And the vanquished Ghost Riders did give their vanquisher a jolly “HIP HIP HOOZAH!”

Followed by the Hilltoppers granting a “HIP HIP HOOZAH!” to their gallant opponents:

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In game 3 the home club, and still champion, Cincinnati Red Stockings squared off against the challenging Somonauk BlueStockings who did strike the ball often and with a vengeance:

This one for a double base strike:

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In the end they were no match for the stiff defense of the RedStockings:

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In combination with their able hurling:

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And their fearsome strikers:

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And fell valiantly by a score of Cincinnati Red Stockings 13 aces to the Somonauk Blue Stockings 10 aces:

LWW

 

[250Gimp]

Wow...thats a pile of pics!!!

Nice shots, and a great story.

 

[LWW1]

Nine men. Nine innings. No gloves. Base ball the way it was meant to be played.

Games began at 10:00 AM and continued through the early afternoon.

Temperatures ranged from the mid 80's to low 90's.

All photos were taken handheld with matrix metering and aperture priority using a Nikon D50 and Nikkor 18MM-55MM f3.5 to 5.6 ED AF-S and Nikkor 80MM-200MM f2.8 EDIF AF.

Photos are unaltered other than quick cropping in Photochop to remove/minimize evidence of the year 2008.

If they are popular I might convert some to black and white.

As some of you know I am a huge fan of the Vintage Base Ball League and was a player in my younger days ... before MrsLWW threatened severe bodily harm if I suffered another sports related injury.

I hope these are enjoyed by the members as much as I enjoyed taking them and watching the festivities.

LWW