Baseball Played 1858 Style

            In this age of technology advances that change by the minute and million’s of dollars spent on salaries for professional sports players and the stadiums they play in, a group of men and their fans gathered in the community of Creston to play an old fashion game of base ball (yes it was two words back then) – 1858 style.

            It was a beautiful day to be outside as the Creston Regulators welcomed their Ogle County rival, the Oregon Ganymedes, to an afternoon contest of vintage base ball.  Played using 1858 rules, the game is way different then the games played today.  Here on this May Sunday afternoon, the Regulators and Ganymedes took the field behind Creston Grade School.  Opening day and first home game for Creston was a victory over Oregon, 17-1.  But this is not only a game about winning; it is a game of sportsmanship and just some plain old fun.  And after the game, not only the players from Creston and Oregon but also the fans are invited to a meal served up by the Creston Regulators (their wives and others).  While a tradition at most vintage base ball clubs, I will have to say Creston serves up the best grub.

Dan “Professor” Graber and Darrel “Swed” Anderson traded off as the team hurler (the pitcher) for the hosting Regulators.  A coin toss begins the game after the introduction of both team’s players.  Each player has a nickname.  Rob “Cardiac” Paulson served as catcher for the game for the Regulators.  Lesslie “Less is More” Erickson usually rotates with Rob but was not playing this first game.  Other players for Creston include Ken “Happy” Barnes, Jay “Moon” Engstrom, John “Big Daddy” Erickson, Don “Deadwood” Forrest, Paul “Dirty” Helser, Tom “Scoop” James, Dave “Oscar” Mayer, Robert “Sparky” Spartz, Tom “Medicine Man” Streitberger, Doug “Superfly” Dickman, Bob “Piano Man” Erickson, Josh “Bull” Brown and Eric “Wolfman” Wydick.  Tom “T-Beck” Becker is also a member of the team and serves as umpire for the game dressed in full costume from the period.

The Creston Regulators will play teams from Downers Grove, Somonauk, Lockport, Sharon, Elk Grove, Rockford, Milwaukee and Sandwich this season.  They will also participate in six tournaments in IL and WI.  There next game will be in Somonauk on May 17^th for games against the host Somonauk Blue Stockings and the Downers Grove Plow Boys.  Game time is 12:00pm.  They won’t be back at home in Creston until June 28^th.  For other scheduled dates, go to www.crestonboosterclub.org and go to the Vintage Baseball Page.  The Creston Regulators are a social activity of the Creston Booster Club.  For more information about The Creston Regulators, email info@crestonboosterclub.org.

Some of the rule changes you will see when watching a vintage base ball game include that the players do not use gloves (gloves are for sissies!), a ball caught on the first bounce is considered out, the pitcher’s hand must pass below the waist on the pitch and a ball is considered foul or fair depending on where it strikes the ground and does not have to pass first or third base.  So come on out to a vintage base ball game and cheer on the teams with the rest of the Kranks (the fans) as we holler huzzah (Hooray) and use other phrases like Wasn’t that a Corker (said of a surprising play) and Lay the willow on that Onion (hit it out of the park).  Come out and enjoy a great game of base ball in your own backyard.

Submitted by David “Press” Roinas

May 4, 2009