Reapers revive 1860s 'base ball'

The Champion City Reapers are one of about 100 teams nationwide that play a vintage version of the game.

By Andrew McGinn

Staff Writer-Springfield News Sun

Monday, June 02, 2008

SPRINGFIELD — Considering it was a generation that fought a war by kneeling in front of each other and shooting, it's not surprising they didn't wear mitts when they forged the national pastime.

Whether on the battlefield or on the ball field, the guys of the 1860s were just that tough.

But on Sunday, June 1, in an afternoon of vintage, barehanded "base ball" — yeah, two words — the Champion City Reapers reminded a few spectators that civility once was part of the game, too.

"It's gentleman vs. gentleman," explained Mark Miller, the team's hurler (aka pitcher). "There's no spitting or cursing."

The Reapers, which opened their home season Sunday with games against the Wyandot County Ghostriders and Cincinnati Buckeyes outside the Davidson Interpretive Center, are one of 100 or so teams nationwide to play baseball, er, base ball like they did in the 19th century.

"It's historic re-enactments," Miller said, "where you don't know the outcome of the war."

Since forming in 2003, the local club has traveled as far away as St. Louis to return the game to — the whole Civil War thing aside — a simpler time.

"We play to win," said Steve Fifer, a history teacher at Northridge Middle School who serves as the team's behind (aka catcher). "But we're here to have fun and spread the love of the game."

The most notable difference between the baseball of today and the base ball of yesterday?

Well, besides the fact the umpire was wearing a top hat?

Guys playing without gloves is the biggie. Gloves didn't come along until the 1880s.

Then there are the long sleeves of the uniforms. "It wasn't appropriate," Miller said, "for a gentleman to show his bare arms to a lady."

But with each crack of the bat, the enthusiasm is unchanged. Actually, Miller thinks this way is, "The way the game was meant to be played."

He might be right. There were no performance-enhancing drugs.

Not as we know them.

"We might take some horse elixirs," he joked.