Batter up! Bluffton to host an 1860's-style baseball game
Note: Dan Groman provided us with the following information. We thought it best to print it the way he explained it.
As a part of the week-long celebration (in the summer of 2011), Bluffton will host a baseball game using the rules from 1860. No gloves allowed, no running past first base (or you could be tagged out), and you can catch the ball on one bounce in the outfield for an out.
Beware if you let the ball bounce, though, as someone on base doesn't have to tag before going to the next base. The pitch is a nice, lofting underhand ball. Of course, the ball itself is a little different from today's regulation baseball. Wooden bats are used as well.
There are about 18 teams from Ohio that play this type of baseball, and we are making some plans to hold a game in Bluffton.
More information will be coming out as we get closer to next summer's special event, but for now, we would like to see how much interest there is in putting together our own team to represent Bluffton.
If you would like to play (this is open to anyone who thinks they can hit a ball, run the bases, and can catch and throw the ball to the right base), please contact Dan Groman at (419)643-5255.
We'll get a list together, and we'll probably have a few scrimmages in early summer of 2011. If we don't have enough interested baseball players, we could have two teams come in that we would all enjoy watching.
Finally, if anyone is really interested in putting together some nice sesquicentennial jerseys and caps, that would be great. If you go to the vintage baseball association's website (vbba.org), and click on the VBBA member clubs link, you can see photos of lots of clubs across the USA for ideas on uniforms. Maybe we could come up with some possible designs for consideration.
Of course, we will need an impartial umpire as well.
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, May 2, 2025
- BHS seniors exhibit art at Gallery 323 through May 7
- What's in your weekend?
- Pirate softball blanked by Lancers
- Pirate baseball blanked by Lincolnview
- Laman Promoted to VP Retail Credit Manager by CNB
- Local land conservancy hires first Executive Director
- Steiner to present Swiss Family Migration program on May 21
- 850 Days of Caring volunteers will pitch in for Hancock County
Thursday, May 1, 2025
- Angel M. Langhals owned LFE/API Meters
- Allen Co. task force targets target sex and human traffickers
- Blessing of the Bikes, May 4
- Metzger honored at 2025 Black Swamp Council meeting
- Volunteer invitation for Bluffton Pathway Count in May
- Pirate tennis edges Ottawa-Glandorf
- Bluffton EMS station staffing goes 24/7 on May 1
- You are what you eat: Link to immune system
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
- Observation deck added to Motter Park cascading pools project
- Bluffton Women in Business meet May 15
- Four sportsmen stock 200 trout at Buckeye Lake
- Pirate girls, boys 2nd at Minster track quad
- Pirate baseball win vs. Riverdale
- Pirate softball loss vs. Riverdale
- Field reports from NW Ohio wildlife officers