A quick swing of the bat sent the ball sailing into left field. The runner at second base took off at the crack of the bat.
A high fly ball, would it be caught?
The outfielder ran forward through the grass and positioned himself under the ball as it began its descent. Holding out his outstretched hands, it looked like he would make the catch.
A quick movement, and he had the ball. And then he didn’t.
The ball bounced out of his bare hands.
Bare hands? Yes.
This afternoon I watched the vintage base ball (yes, it’s spelled as two words) game between the Plymouth Red Rovers and the Wyandotte Stars at the Levan Knoll Recreation Area in Edward Hines Park.
I can’t imagine trying to catch a hit ball without a glove, but these players do it regularly, every season as they play vintage base ball by the rules of 1867.
No gloves, no first-base or third-base umpires.
If a player runs to first base and the first baseman has the ball, it’s the rule of honesty that says whether the player is out or safe.
Each time a ball was struck this afternoon, whether a fly ball or a line drive, I held my breath as players attempted to catch the ball without gloves.
And most of the time, the ball was caught.
It was a fun game to watch and a fun way to spend the afternoon!
For the past several years, I’ve watched vintage base ball games in the summer at Greenfield Village, when the Lah-De-Dahs team plays the Nationals team.
And I found out many of the players at today’s game play at Greenfield Village in the summer on their vintage base ball clubs.
I’m looking forward to the start of their season next month!
Oops, almost forgot the score, the Plymouth Red Rovers won over the Wyandotte Stars. Final score: 13-11.
Here are a few more photos from this afternoon’s game.