1870s Style Baseball

A couple of Saturdays ago our son Stephen played in a re-enactor vintage baseball game at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The post was erected in 1869 to keep an eye on the Comanches and Kiowas in the area.

In the 1870s the post had several teams, to include a team from Troop L, 7th Cavalry (yes, THAT 7th Cavalry). Troop L was comprised of Indian Scouts. They were wiped out at the battle of the Little Big Horn along with the rest of Custer's command. The troop was later reconstituted in the 1890s.

The Fort Sill Museum, arguably the best post museum in the Army, hosts a re-enactment every summer for the early days of the post. Most of the activities are on the Old Post Quadrangle. Many of the old officers quarters (still occupied) line the east and north portions of the quad. There are long stone buildings on the west and south sides; these housed the troopers and infantrymen. The museum hosts a re-enactment of 1870s era baseball, complete with period uniforms and play by the rules of the day.

Here's a flickr slideshow of the photos Marie and I took at the game.

Notice there are no gloves. The ball is mostly of rag content, wrapped around a rubber core, and covered by a stitched horsehide cover. The ball is a bit soft and is between a modern baseball and softball in size. The ball really goes "oblong" when hit, and quickly loses speed on a grounder.

The bats are a bit heavier than today's wooden bats, and are wider-necked at the knob. There are no lead-offs allowed. Upon scoring a run, it is not tallied until a bell is rung by the runner who has just crossed home, announcing "tally one score, sir."

There is one umpire. He sometimes will consult with members of the crowd, referred to as "cranks."

Sad to say, but Stephen's team, the Cannonballs, was thoroughly demolished by the Indians, by a score of 18-1. The umpire called the game over after six innings. The commanding general of Fort Sill was persuaded to play for the Cannonballs. He had ankle surgery earlier this year, so he played first base where he didn't have to move too much. Our son Stephen was used as his pinch runner when he was at bat.

Historical note: men of that era wore suspenders. Baseball players did originally wear suspenders, but it was too easy to hold back a baserunner by grabbing his galluses. To overcome this, belts were introduced to baseball uniform pants. It appears that belts were used to hold up britches only on baseball uniforms in that day. The pant-belt caught on with men's styles from that point on.