Wyandotte Vintage Base Ball Begins a New Season

Well before the days of multimillion dollar salaries and big downtown stadiums, baseball was a simpler game. Men gathered in open fields to play strictly for fun and friendly competition.

The Wyandotte Stars Base Ball Club attempts to recapture some of that original spirit.

The team plays vintage base ball, representing how the game was played (and spelled) in the mid-late 19th century.

Uniforms, rules, equipment, nicknames and even behavior are all consistent with the era. For example, gloves are not used, pitches are thrown underhand, sliding is prohibited and cursing is not allowed.

“(We) play baseball the way it was meant to be played,” Brian “Peanut” Holdren said.

A team known as the Wyandotte Stars played in the city during the 19th century, according to the historical archives of the . However, only a scorecard dated Oct. 5, 1867, remains as proof of the team’s existence.

The Stars opened their fifth season of vintage play with a home match at Memorial Park against the Fort Wayne Early Risers on Saturday. The Stars won 13-7 against The Early Risers, which represents a team formed from soldiers who protected Detroit’s Fort Wayne following the Civil War.

Other Star opponents include vintage teams from Mt. Clemens, Ypsilanti and Saginaw. All games are played on grass, as opposed to today’s dirt baseball diamonds.

Vintage baseball has also adopted the terminology used during 19th century play.

A batter by today's terms was a “striker.” A pitcher was known as a “hurler,” a run was a “tally” and a player was a “ballist.”  

The Stars play by rules set forth in Haney’s Base Ball Book Reference, written in 1867 by Henry Chadwick. Chadwick was a sports journalist of the era and also is credited with helping to develop the game.

Zac “Professor” Holdren, son of Brian, said the game had not reached widespread notoriety in 1867.

“We are a couple steps ahead of when baseball first became popular in America,” he said. 

The original purpose of creating the Stars, Zac Holdren said, was to only play one game per year. Instead, interest quickly grew among those participating and additional games were scheduled.

“Our club basically said ‘We love this, we want more,’” he said.  

Greg “Stumpy” Meyering is in his third season with the Stars. He said he enjoys the camaraderie of playing more than anything else.

“It’s just fun (to) get out here with the guys,” Meyering said.

Zac Holdren, however, took it one step further. He said his favorite aspect of playing for the Stars is getting a chance to help people understand the roots of modern-day baseball. 

“I like being able to represent the past and being able to educate people who are used to watching professional baseball now,” he said. “We want to be able to truly represent the way baseball originated.” 

The Stars next game is Saturday in Rochester Hills against the Rochester Grangers. The next home game for the Stars will be played at Memorial Park on May 28. 

For more information about the Stars, visit the Wyandotte Museum’s Stars page or the club’s Facebook page.

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