The Pittsburgh Franklins - Vintage Base Ballists

For the second year in a row, Marilyn and I, along with fellow SABR members Alan Steinberg and Joe Elinich (much to his consternation, Fred and Susan Shugars had a prior commitment and were unable to make it) traveled to Murrysville, PA to watch an exhibition vintage base ball (yes, it is two words) between the Pittsburgh Franklins and the Somerset Frosty Sons of Thunder.  The games were held as a part of the Murrysville Community Day celebration that took place today at Murrysville Community Park.

Vintage base ball, as played by the Franklins, is base ball played as it was played under the rules that existed in the 1860's.  Pitches from the hurlers to the batsmen are thrown underhanded, and the batsman is out if a struck ball is caught both on the fly or after one bounce.  This latter rule is perhaps the primary difference between vintage base ball and the game we watch today, and it adds an amazing amount of strategy, skill, and judgement to the game.

Watching these fellows play by these rules, strictly for the pleasure of playing, is very entertaining and a lot of fun.  And if you are thinking "beer league softball" as you read this, I can tell you that that is most definitely not the case.  These are very competitive games played by skilled "ballists".  The teams split their double header today, the Frosty Sons of Thunder winning game one, 3-2, and the Franklins bouncing back in the nightcap, 5-2.  We modern day "cranks" enjoyed it immensely, and look forward to being there next year.

Be advised that you will have another opportunity to take in some vintage base ball next month when the Franklins host what they are calling a "Scrambler" event.  Players and fans from five different cities throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio will gather at White Valley Park in Export, PA on Saturday, September 29, for an all day event featuring vintage base ball, food, beverages, live music and other events.  I will write more on this as the day approaches, and you can also check out the the Franklins' website at www.pittsburghfranklins.com.

I also want to pass on a "huzzah" to the folks in Murrysville for staging their Community Day events.  Murrysville is a long way from the North Hills, but it was worth the ride, not only to see the Franklins play, but to take part in such a fun, wholesome event, that really seems to be a product of a bygone age.

I'll leave you now with some more scenes from the day.

Base Ball As It Was in the 1860's

This afternoon, five members of the Pittsburgh SABR Chapter, Alan Steinberg, Fred and Susan Shugars, and Bob and Marilyn Sproule, attended Vintage Base Ball matches featuring the Pittsburgh Franklins. A round robin tournament was hosted by the Franklins and featured vintage teams from Somerset and Altoona, PA.

We were treated to base ball (not baseball) as it was played when Abe Lincoln was occupying the White House. We were not sure quite what to expect from a game where no gloves were worn, where the ballists (players) acted as their own arbiters (umpires), where the striker (batter) was out if a ball was caught on one bounce, and where the hurlers (pitchers) delivered the pitches underhanded. To be honest, I expected to see something akin to a beer-league softball game with scores of 22-18. Instead, we saw a very entertaining game, certainly a different game from baseball as we know it in 2011, played by very skillful ballists. Scores of the two matches that we watched were 3-2 and 4-0, both victories for the host Franklins.

If you are a baseball fan have not seen or are completely unfamiliar with Vintage Base Ball, I would urge you to go to www.vbba.org to see if there is a vintage team in your area and check it out. The men – and women – who play vintage base ball are doing so for the sheer love of the game, and are keeping alive a part of sports history that is worth saving. They deserve your support and attention. You can also learn more about the Franklins at www.pittsburghfranklins.com.

The matches that we saw today were held at the Murrysville Community Park as a part of Murrysville Community Days. As you know, Pittsburghers are a provincial lot who like to stay close to home, so to travel from the North Hills all the way out to Murrysville, well, that is a HUGE step, but all of the events at the celebration and the participation of the Murrysville community, made for an absolutely delightful day.

I am hoping that the Pittsburgh Chapter of SABR will continue to support the efforts of the Franklins. There were five of us at the match today. Next year, I am planning to make this a formal Chapter Event with expanded attendance from the Forbes Field Chapter. I am also hoping that non-SABR readers of The Grandstander will consider taking in a vintage match as well. You will be kept well informed via this forum.

Huzzah to the Franklins and the other teams that participated!!