Ortonville Village Manager Paul Zelenak is a fan of baseball as it was when the game first started.
Through his participation with the Rochester Grangers, a vintage base ball team (the word baseball was broken into two separate words during that era), Zelenak is going back to the future.
During the year, the Grangers take on several other vintage teams from throughout the state ? such as Ludington, Greenfield Village, and Sterling Heights.
‘It’s a bunch of baseball purists,? he said. ‘The object of the game is for exercise and play in a gentlemanly sort of way.?
The team is affiliated with the Rochester Hills Museum. Pat McKay, Supervisor of Interpretive Services for the museum, views the club as an extension of the museum.
‘We’re always looking for another thing to attract people to the museum,? he said.
The Grangers are a member of the Vintage Base Ball Association, a nationwide organization comprised of 47 full-fledged vintage base ball teams, including 10 in Michigan.
It was formed in 1996, when representatives of 13 clubs from five states gathered in Columbus, Ohio to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first recorded baseball game between organized teams.
Today, in addition to the full-fledged teams, there are 41 individual members of the association, as well as 11 associate club members.
Each player on the Grangers is given a nickname befitting the era when baseball was invented. Zelenak’s nickname is ‘Stonewall.?
The Granger Web site reported that Zelenak ‘received his nickname on the first day of Grangers? practice when he was retrieving a fly ball and almost became a part of a nearby stonewall at the Rochester Hills Museum.?
McKay said the team enjoys the chance to travel and visit other historical communities.
‘We’re willing to go there,? he said. ‘We play against village teams from other communities, as well as Chambers of Commerce.?
The game Zelenak and his teammates play hardly resembles the one millions of fans are familiar with today. For one thing, players are not allowed to wear gloves ? they must catch the baseball with their bare hands.
According to the Grangers? Web site, there are several other rules of vintage base ball:
‘Players in the infield need to have one foot on the base when the ball is pitched.
‘No stealing.
‘For batters, there are no balls or strikes called.
‘Batters cannot overrun first base ? they must stop on it.
‘Base paths are 90 feet ? the same as today.
‘After crossing home plate, the player must approach the scorer’s table, ring a bell, and politely request that the scorekeeper ‘tally your ace.?
‘The games reflect a small window in history when baseball was a gentleman’s sport, done for exercise and social opportunities,? he said. ‘We have to pay attention to be authentic as possible.?
Those who are interested in seeing what vintage base ball is all about will have the chance to do so, as the World Series of Historical Base Ball will be coming to Greenfield Village in Dearborn Friday, Aug. 27 and Saturday, Aug. 28.
This event is an invitation-only tournament featuring 16 vintage base ball clubs playing 35 games. Tickets are $18 for adults, $17 for seniors, and $12 for children between 5-12. Admission is free for children under age 5.
The Grangers will be one of the teams taking part in the series. Last year, they made it all the way to the championship game. McKay said teams from Indiana, Ohio, and Ontario will be represented at the tournament.
Details:
www.rochestergrangers.com (Grangers Web site) or www.vbba.org (Vintage Base Ball Association Web site).