2019 Vintage Baseball Game a High-Scoring Competition

On Sunday, June 23, vintage baseball returned to Elmhurst as community leaders and volunteers played a spirited game by rules established in 1858. Elmhurst North met Elmhurst South on the mall at Elmhurst College for a spirited game that delighted kranks and kranklets (fans) of all ages. Andrea Prokrefke opened the game with a stirring rendition of our National Anthem, and Ken Bartels provided colorful commentary throughout the game. Captains Jim "Curly" Grabowski and Scott "Mouthpiece" Levin provided inspirational speeches to motivate their club nines. Players adapted quickly to some of the more unusual rules of the era. Learning that a ball caught on the first bounce was an out, fielders made some spectacular plays, dashing the hopes of many a striker. Both clubs delivered some spectacular hits in the highest scoring game Elmhurst has seen to date. Elmhurst South won in the ninth inning, 29 to 24, but a spirited, 7 run rally by Elmhurst North closed the gap decisively. Mike "Stretch" Grabowski of Elmhurst South earned MVP, driving in five runs. Huzzah to all of our participants, and to our fans.