St. Croix Base Ball Club Gives Fans a Look Into The Past

Bringing the game from the 1860s to today’s generation might not be the easiest thing to do, but the St. Croix Base Ball Club had a chance to do just that at Midway Stadium in a one-inning exhibition match against the Mankato Baltic’s.

It was a fitting night for St. Croix to do it because it was Night at the Museums at Midway Stadium, which went hand in hand with Stillwater, the birthplace of Minnesota, representing a game considered to be America’s pastime.

“It’s so nice to be a part of this because there is so much history to St. Paul, and Stillwater is the birthplace of this state,” team captain Brent Peterson said. “Washington County is the gateway and the other counties have so much behind them that it is truly is an honor to be here.”

Prior to the St. Paul Saints 13-9 loss to the Fort Worth Cats, St. Croix and Mankato gave a history lesson of its own in the game of baseball to the fans attending the game.

Using the rules that were established in the 1860s, the two teams showed the sportsmanship, fan interaction and an ages love for the game.

“There are guys on our team that are in junior high and high school and even some in their 60s,” Erik “Sugar” Sjogren said. “We have had more and more younger players on our team and it is really nice to see.

“They are the future of what we are doing and to have them on our team to keep this going is only going to help.”

The setting of Midway Stadium and Saints baseball could not have been better for fan interaction. Known for having activities for fans during half-innings of games, the Saints have always found a way to keep the entertainment going when the game has stopped for a brief moment.

With Major League Baseball, and some minor league’s beefing up security and having fans gated off, Midway Stadium offered a nice touch to what St. Croix does all summer.

“When they played this game back in the 1860s, there were no fences to block the fans from the field,” Sjogren said. “They were not too far away from the game and I think this atmosphere and the history of this ballpark can really show what it was like.”

More importantly, St. Croix showed fans that anyone can play the game the way it used to be played.

Rules can favor, but at the same time limit, a player's ability.

Players are not allowed to wear gloves as they are today, so an emphasis on good hands and accurate throws are at a premium.

If a player is unable to catch a ball in the air, it’s not the end for them because rules in the 1860s allows for one-bounce-and-a-batter-is-out play.

“I think somebody sees how we play and they say 'I can do that,'” Sjogren said. “They will see that the majors are pretty competitive, so is the minors, but here, they see an underhand pitch from 45 feet and they can get an out by getting a ball on a bounce.

“They see that they can do it and it’s fun. I think it gets people involved in this game, the history of the game and they want to learn more.”

Minus a few equipment improvements due to safety, the equipment used today is the same as it was when the game first began.

Cleats are rubber, different from metal in the 1860s, but that's about the only difference in the game today.

Balls, bats, distance of base paths in the Vintage Base Ball League are used by St. Croix and all the teams it plays.

“Minus a few, we play the game how it was first played,” Peterson said.

“It teaches everyone why certain rules were put in place,” Sjogren added. “Our new players are learning that and it has stuck with them.”

This was the third event St. Croix has played this season. The next match is scheduled for June 11 in Columbia Heights against the Quicksteps.

For May 23, although just a one-inning exhibition, St. Croix got to show the history of the game on a special night for vintage base ball.

“The Saints have been so good to us and with the history of St. Paul and baseball around here, it was so nice to be here,” Peterson said. “When Stillwater started playing base ball, they played St. Paul base ball teams. We got to display base ball, the Washington County Historical society and museums today.”