A tale of cranks, yanks, and colored stockings!

[LWW]

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.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvillPregame001.jpg

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

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/HilltopperManager001.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/HilltopperPregame001.jpg

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

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/Ump001.jpg

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

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/Bats001.jpg

And equipment was laid out for the strikers.

LWW

[LWW]

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

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvilleField001.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvilleField002.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvilleField003.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvilleField004.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvilleField005.jpg

LWW

[LWW]

And they did pitch strikes consistently:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvillePitch001.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvillePitch002.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvillePitch003.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/Mudvillepitch004.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvillePitch005.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvillePitch006.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvillePitch007.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvillePitch008.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvillePitch009.jpg

LWW

[LWW]

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

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvilleMiss001.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvilleMiss002.jpg

LWW

[LWW]

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

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvillePregame002.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/MudvillePhotogenic001.jpg

LWW

[LWW]

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

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/HilltopperField001.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/HilltopperField002.jpg

LWW

[LWW]

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

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/HilltopperHit001.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/HilltopperHit002.jpg

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

LWW

[LWW]

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

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/Gm2-001.jpg

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:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/Gm2-002.jpg

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

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/Gm2-003.jpg

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

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/Gm2-004.jpg

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

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/Gm2-005.jpg

LWW

[LWW]

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:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/BlueSoxHit001.jpg

This one for a double base strike:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/BlueSoxHit002.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/BlueSoxHit003.jpg

LWW

[LWW]

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

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/RedlegsField001.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/RedlegsField002.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/RedlegsPitch001.jpg

LWW

[LWW]

In combination with their able hurling:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/RedlegsPitch002.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/Redlegspitch003.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/RedlegsPitch004.jpg

LWW

[LWW]

And their fearsome strikers:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/RedlegHit002.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/RedLegHit001.jpg

LWW

[LWW]

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

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/Game1-001.jpg

LWW

[LWW]

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a247/lww/Baseball/TeamPhoto001.jpg

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

[hondo]

Thanks. That was pretty neat.

[LWW]

Anytime bro.

LWW

[dg-in-centralpa]

Thanks LWW! This reminded me of the movie Cocoon, all these old men playing as if they were 20 years old. I love it.

DG

[sack316]

Pretty cool stuff, thanks for sharing

Sack

[Deeman3]

Nicely done.