Greenfield Village to Host World Tournament of Historic Baseball

Despite the baseball being played, there will be no performance-enhancing drugs, prima donna sluggers or million-dollar contracts at this weekend. There won’t be any gloves, either.

The outdoor museum will host the 9th annual World Tournament of Historic Baseball this weekend, bringing 16 teams from as far as Indianapolis to celebrate the national pastime-1867 style.

Games will run from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday at Walnut Grove Field. The championship will begin 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

The tournament aims to recreate the 24-team World’s Base Ball Tournament held by the Detroit Base Ball Club in summer 1867. As many as 5000 people–paying 25 cents each for admission–watched squads from Michigan to Pennsylvania compete for a grand prize of $300. The tourney’s worst team, on the other hand, was awarded a bag of peanuts.

This weekend, players will compete for the same prizes and a year’s worth of bragging rights, all the while dressed in period uniforms and playing by period rules. Last year, the Capital Base Ball Club from Columbus, Ohio took the crown.

In addition to 16 games, the weekend will feature baseball skills tests for fans, cricket instruction and live music.

Admission is free for Henry Ford members, $22 for adults and $16 for youth. For more information, visit www.thehenryford.org or call 313-982-6001.