WINONA LAKE -ÊBreak out the peanuts and Cracker Jack.

The Village at Winona Blue Laws are about to take the field for their first home vintage base ball match.

Yes, that's base ball. Two words, just like in the 1860s, when the game was a bit different from the one that is played today.

"We take base ball back to its roots," said Bill Firstenberger. "This game is more about interpreting history than down and dirty competition. That makes it a lot of fun."

When the Blue Laws (named after the famous laws that used to restrict behaviors for religious purposes, especially in Winona Lake) take the field Saturday at 1 p.m. at Tabernacle Field, the site of the old Billy Sunday Tabernacle, spectators (known in vintage base ball as "cranks") will recognize the basics of the game; but a few things are different.

The players do not wear gloves or use other equipment that has become the norm in today's game.

"We have no gloves and no fielding equipment," said Firstenberger. "The catcher does not wear a mask, use a glove or have a chest protector.

"We use wooden bats like the ones traditionally used. In fact, all of our bats are made right here in Winona Lake by Tom Snow. We have five or six bats right now, and they are all named after blue laws that were in effect at the time. Dry Town. No Dancin'. No Spittin'. No Cussin'."

The ball also is a bit different from ones used today.

"The ball is made of leather, and it's a little bit bigger than the ones used today," said Firstenberger. It's also softer and has orange-peel seams. They are not as durable because of a weak spot where all the seams come together."

Another difference: A ball caught on the first bounce is an out. There is no sliding, leading off bases or free overruns of first base.

And the umpire does not call balls and rarely calls strikes (it's up to the striker - batter - to swing). And the umpire sometimes asks cranks for help with calls.

"It's up to the striker to swing," said Firstenberger. "The only time the umpire will call a strike is if he thinks the batter is stalling."

No balls? Rare strikes? Asking fans for help? That's right, and the umpire can hand out a fine on the spot for disorderly conduct, such as swearing, spitting, scratching, consuming alcohol or chewing tobacco.

Along with being polite and courteous, vintage base ball is a hitter's game. The ball is thrown underhand and must be thrown where the striker wants it.

"It's a very hittable ball," said Firstenberger. "Foul balls are not strikes. Unless they are caught on the fly or one bound, it's like they never happened."

Also, anyone was welcome to play base ball, even women.

"Before professional leagues were formed, anyone could play," said Firstenberger. "There were no rules regarding gender or race. Those barriers were put up later when the professional leagues became more popular."

In fact, the Blue Laws may have a female player this weekend.

"We will have a lady filling in on the team this weekend," said Firstenberger. "Traditionally, she would wear a long, ankle-length skirt to play. But since she is filling in this weekend, we may try to pass her off as a man and just have her wear pants."

When Village at Winona Blue Laws take the field Saturday, they will sport dark blue long-sleeved shirts and gray pants.

"We had our shirts made at a plain-dress Amish shop in Middlebury," said Firstenberger. "Our pants are gray with the Blind Justice logo on the leg. Of course she has baseball on her scales and a bat in her hand."

But how did the Blue Laws come to be?

"Billy Sunday played baseball, and I always wanted to do something with it," said Firstenberger. "I thought about sponsoring a church softball league or something like that, but then I saw a video article on the PBS show 'Across Indiana' about the team from Hobart, which is the oldest team in Indiana. I thought that would be a perfect fit for us. It just went from there."

After much research, the team was formed, and the Blue Laws played their first game in May. The Village at Winona team picked up a win over the Elkhart Bonneyville Millers May 18 to get off on the right foot. Saturday's game will be the second for the Blue Laws as they host their first three-game tournament in Winona Lake for the Billy Sunday Festival. Other teams participating will be the Elkhart Bonneyville Millers and the Hobart Grinders.

A few roster spots are still open. To join the team or for more information, contact Firstenberger at 268-0660 or 877-786-3292. [[In-content Ad]]