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A game changer
Three Addison Mountain Stars look for the baseball as it falls out of a tree, which according to the 1860s rules could still be an out, even after one bounce.
Two Pittsburgh Franklins players collide while going after a ball allowing the Addison Mountain Stars player, right, to reach first base.
Franklins striker Tony “Thud” Morinello fouls a ball from Stars hurler Jeff “Fingers” Jacquillard to behind Jeanette “Clink Clunk” Johnson in the second inning. Three vintage baseball teams, Pittsburgh Franklins, Addison Mountain Stars and the Frosty Sons of Thunder, slugged it out, according to 1860 rules, at Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village near Avella Saturday afternoon.
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AVELLA – He introduced himself as “Dirtbag” and his teammates with less-flattering tags, then addressed the fans.
“I can’t guarantee this will be the best game of baseball you’ve ever seen,” Adam Johnson proclaimed, “but I can’t guarantee it won’t be the best game of baseball you’ve ever seen.”
It didn’t rival Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, but the matchup between the Pittsburgh Franklins and Addison Mountain Stars was exhilarating and entertaining. And different, quite different.
The Franklins, Stars and the Somerset Frosty Sons of Thunder kicked off Vintage 1860s Base Ball on Saturday afternoon at Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village. Yes, that’s base ball – two words – as the theme of this round-robin tournament was to follow the rules, terms and uniform style of the game as it was played during the Civil War era.
This was the second of four history-related programs being offered at this mecca of history in June and July, the Atlatl Competition to follow next Saturday.
Meadowcroft director Dave Scofield eagerly anticipated this event, which drew a fine crowd of about 60 for the initial game despite ominous clouds and forecasts.
“We played 19th century base ball here a dozen years ago or so and did it a few times,” he said. “Last year, one of the men from the Franklins contacted me and asked whether we might be interested in having these games. I said, ‘You bet.'
“We’re really excited. This is unique and what’s more American than playing base ball on a hot afternoon?”
Craig Britcher was enthused as well. He is the baseball – and base ball – curator of Senator John Heinz History Center, which includes Meadowcroft in its museum system.
“This screamed out for historical perspective,” he said.
Hoss Radbourn, 19th century Hall of Famer, was smiling down as rules were announced. There would be nine innings and three outs per team per inning, but a batted ball caught on a fly or one hop would be an out. A fair or foul ball would be determined by where the orb first hit the ground, which could be taken to an extreme. A line drive, for example, could lodge in a tree in fair territory and if a fielder plucks it down, it would be a fair ball and an out.
Pitching would be underhanded, fastballs disallowed, and there would be no gloves. The ball was rubber-coated, but a hard smash would sting the hands nonetheless.
A catcher a century and a half ago was termed the behind and the pitcher, the hurler. Jeff Jacquillard was the Mountain Stars hurler, Jeanette Johnson – the only woman on either of the first two teams – was the behind.
The umpire was then known as the arbiter, but there would be no arbiter on this day. The bases were mere small swatches of material.
Meadowcroft’s makeshift field was reminiscent of many mid-19th century plots that sufficed for players who couldn’t be too particular about where their games were contested. The entire playing field went uphill from home plate, and a large tree played havoc with several shots to left field.
“It’s great to see them playing on a field like this,” said Britcher, ever the historian. “I think some players are wearing cleats. That’s probably not genuine.”
The first game began around noon Saturday, after all players were announced by nickname only. Jason Ramaley of the Franklins told the audience something that is never heard in MLB: “Please don’t hesitate to talk to players during the game if you have questions.”
Ramaley said he, his brother Will and a friend started the Franklins seven years ago as a vintage base ball team. Team members are mostly from the Monroeville-Murrysville area, and they include the Ramaleys and their father, Bill. The team participates in a number of events in the Pittsburgh region and out of state.
The other two squads vying in Saturday’s very friendly competition also are local. The Mountain Stars are from the Uniontown-Somerset region, and the Frosty Sons of Thunder are based in Somerset County.
Play was spirited, genial and ripsnorting fun throughout the afternoon – living up to a promise Ramaley made to the spectators:
“You will see the game the way we think it should be played.”
It was base ball.