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Bark Peelers Vintage Baseball Game
Hop Yard Classic
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 travelling 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 2016 Base Ball Schedule
Saturday, May 21st, 12:00 pm - Kalamazoo Continentals and Livery Brewers at Kids Corner Field, South Haven
Saturday, June 11th, 12:00 pm - House of David Echoes and Paw Paw Corkers at Kids Corner Field, South Haven
Saturday, June 18th, 2:00 pm – South Haven Bark Peelers vs Paw Paw at City Park, Paw Paw
Monday, July 4th – Bark Peelers vs. House of David and Livery Brewers at Eden Springs Field, Benton Harbor
Sat, Sun, July 23rd, 24th - Douglas Base Ball festival at Beery Field, Douglas
Saturday, August 13th, 12:00 pm – Bark Peelers vs Brewers and Peaches vs. Fillies at Kids Corner Field, South Haven
Saturday, August 20th, 2:00 pm – South Haven Bark Peelers vs Kalamazoo Continentals at Kalamazoo
Saturday, September 10th –Bark Peelers vs Brewers and Peaches vs. Fillies at The Hop Yard, Benton Harbor
Saturday, October 1st - 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 pmPeaches 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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Bark Peelers Vintage Baseball GameDate and Time
Saturday Oct 1, 2016
12:00 PM - 12:00 PM EDTLocation
The Hop Yard
Benton Harbor
