Brenda Bazan photo
The Oregon Ganeymedes and the Lockport Sleepers pose for a group photo after the vintage baseball game. The Ganeymedes defeated the Sleepers 10-4.

By Larry Peterson
Staff writer

The Oregon Ganeymedes defeated the Lockport Sleepers, 10-4, in a very entertaining 1858 gentleman’s Vintage Baseball Game Sunday afternoon, at Blackberry Farm in Aurora.
The players, clad in replica uniforms from the pre-Civil War era, played a nine-inning game that had rules quite different from modern day baseball.
There were no fences, no foul poles, no backstop, no dugouts; just a grassy field surrounded by pine trees and lines down the first and third base lines to determine if a ball was fair or foul. A ball striking a pine tree, a sign, or any other obstruction on the playing field was in play. A batted ball caught on the fly or on the first bounce was an out.
The only similarity to modern baseball was that a team was allowed three outs in an inning and a batter (called a striker) was allowed three strikes, although a striker could not walk.
Prior to the start of the game, the umpire (there was only one), who was dressed in formal attire, including a top hat and cane, introduced a catholic priest. The priest had to give permission to play on Sunday (that’s supposed to be a day or rest). He even allowed players to unbutton the top button of their shirts and to bare their forearms.
Following the priest’s blessings, the umpire introduced the teams and announced the rules: The home team was determined by which manager could toss the ball closest to the home plate line from the pitching line, 45 feet from home plate. The pitcher could toss the ball underhanded from anywhere behind the four-foot pitching line. There was no spitting, swearing or base-stealing—a gentleman would never steal. Players were not to look at the ladies attending the game.
This is what people did back in those days with their free time, and baseball was a big part of their leisure and recreational activities.
The ball, called a lemon peel ball, was one-piece leather, about one quarter inch smaller than today’s Major League ball and a bit softer. None of the players wore gloves. The baseball glove came into use in 1870.

Brenda Bazan photo
A Lockport Sleepers ballist (player) throws the onion (ball) towards the dish (home plate) during Sunday’s vintage baseball game at Blackberry Farm in Aurora.

If a striker could hit a “stinger” past the scouts (outfielders) to allow him to run all four bases to home, it was a home run.
However, an Oregon player hit a towering drive over the trees into Blackberry Pond. What looked like a long home run was ruled an out. The umpire ruled: “You lost our ball when you hit it into the pond. You’re out!”
A ball that rolled into the pond could be retrieved and was ruled a single.
The umpire was the final judge, but if there was a close play the umpire may question the players involved. They were expected to observe the highest standards of sportsmanship and assist the umpire. If there was still some doubt, the umpire may survey the audience (called bugs, kranks, or rooters) for assistance.
Once a decision was reached, players were expected to abide by the ruling and demonstrate gentlemanly behavior or risk being fined or be thrown out of the game.
One Lockport lad had to be reprimanded by the priest for his conduct. The player was thrashed with his hat several times by the priest. When the player repented and apologized, he was allowed to return to the game.
Where did the team names come from? The Oregon Ganymedes adopted the name of a stream that flows through the city of Oregon, Ill. The Lockport Sleepers’ name derived from a team in Lockport’s past that played surprisingly well. They weren’t expected to play as well as they did, so many people considered them a dark horse team, or “Sleepers.”
Several hundred spectators enjoyed a sun-kissed afternoon and an old twist to America’s favorite pastime.