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Bark Peelers adn Peaches Vintage Baseball Games
South Haven Bark Peelers Vintage Base Ball Team plays the game by the 1850s-60s rules.
Vintage Base Ball History
Vintage Base Ball refers to the game as it was played in the 1850s and 1860s. Although many of the rules at that time are similar to today’s game there are many significant differences:- Players did not wear gloves
- The ball was slightly larger than a today’s hardball but not wound quite as tightly
- The ball is delivered underhand to the batter similar to slow pitch softball
- Any fly ball caught on one bounce is an out
The most important difference though did not relate to rules but instead to the philosophy of how the game was played. Because traveling from one town to the next was so difficult, it was considered the sacred duty of the home team to extend every courtesy to the visitors including finding lodging and hosting meals. This attitude carried over to the actual play of the game where sportsmanship was emphasized and “ungentlemanly” play was discouraged.
Some examples of ungentlemanly play include:
- Cursing, fighting, name calling
- Calling a close play untruthfully (players made the calls back then, the umpire was there to ensure the players acted as gentlemen)
- Sliding, diving, leaving your feet
Players were encouraged to give the opponents a mighty “Huzzah” or “Well Played” if they made an exceptional play in the field.
Vintage Base Ball in South Haven
Many Vintage Ball Teams have sprung up around the country dedicated to recreating the style of play and the atmosphere that surrounded the old time ball teams. In 2009, the South Haven Bark Peeler men’s team was formed and has been playing teams from Benton Harbor, Douglas, Paw Paw and Kalamazoo.
2014 saw the formation of the South Haven Peaches Women’s Ball team, only the fourth women’s vintage ball team formed in Michigan. In 2016, the Peaches will return with matches in both South Haven and Benton Harbor.
South Haven Bark Peelers Men’s Vintage 2017 Base Ball Schedule
Saturday, May 20th , 12:00 pm - Kalamazoo Continentals, Livery Brewers, House of David Echos and Lil Fillies of Benton Harbor/South Haven Peaches Tournament at Kids Corner Field, South Haven
Saturday, June 3rd, 12:30 pm - Douglas Dutchers and Paw Paw Corkers vs. South Haven Bark Peelers at Kids Corner Field, South Haven
Saturday, June 17th, – Livery Brewers/South Haven Bark Peelers/Chelsea Monitors and Lil Fillies/South Haven Peaches/Chelsea Merries - All day tournament at the Hop Yard, Benton Harbor
Tuesday, July 4th – 11:00 am - House of David Tournament at Eastman Field, Benton Harbor
Saturday, July 8th –South Haven Peaches vs. Lil Fillies at Kids Corner, South Haven
Saturday, July 29th, 2:00 pm - South Haven Bark Peelers vs. Paw Paw Corkers at City Field, Paw Paw
Saturday, August 12th, 2:00 pm – South Haven Bark Peelers vs Kalamazoo Continentals at Kalamazoo
Saturday, August 26th, 2:00 pm – South Haven Bark Peelers/Chelsea Monitors and Lil Fillies/South Haven Peaches/Chelsea Merries - All day tournament at Chelsea, MI
Saturday, September 10th –Bark Peelers vs Brewers and Peaches vs. Fillies at The Hop Yard, Benton Harbor
Saturday, October 7th - Hop Yard Classic, Benton Harbor
South Haven Peaches Women’s Vintage 2016 Base Ball Schedule
Saturday, May 14th – 1:30 pm South Haven Peaches vs Lil Fillies at the Hop Yard, Benton Harbor
Saturday, July 9th – 1:00 pm Peaches vs Fillies at Kids Corner Field, South Haven
Saturday, August 13th, 12:00 pm – Bark Peelers vs Brewers and Peaches vs. Fillies at Kids Corner Field, South Haven
Saturday, September 10th –1:00 pm Bark Peelers vs Brewers and Peaches vs. Fillies at The Hop Yard, Benton Harbor
For more information on the Bark Peelers and Peaches call 269-208-4433 or
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Date and Time
Saturday May 20, 2017
11:00 AM - 11:00 AM EDTLocation
Kids Corner Field
Corner of Monroe Blvd. & South Haven St.
