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Coming back (for a rematch) will be "The Regular Baseball Club of Mount Clemens" taking on some local celebrities in the 1864 style baseball.

"Baseball as it is meant to be played."

That is the theme of the Mount Clemens team and everyone will find some great entertainment.

The game is set to begin at 3 p.m. Saturday at Gallup Park in Port Austin. The cost is only $5 per person and refreshments will be on sale.

"I think this is the third time we have done this, every other year," said Patty Finan. She added, "All the proceeds will go to the Thumb Arts Guild, the sponsor, for future projects."

Abner Doubleday was a general in the American Civil War and is widely credited with having "invented" base ball in 1839. In fact, General Doubleday had no hand in the creation of baseball nor the myth that credits him. Following Doubleday's death in 1893, a commission lead by Albert Spalding (yes, co-founder of Spalding sports equipment) intended to 'prove' that base ball was an American invention.

In 1907, the commission presented as sole "proof" of Doubleday's invention, a letter from an elderly gentleman's recollection of a day when he was the age of five. The myth persists today despite being disproved in 1939. Modern baseball is a splendid example of American evolution.

The English child's game of base-ball spread to early America, versions of which were called town ball, round ball and base ball. A variant called the Massachusetts game coexisted with American base ball as did the game of Cricket, which had evolved from 17th century ancestors of base ball.

In the early 19th century the "New York" version of base ball took form and with influences the other variants evolved to modern baseball. Several notable advances made in the early 1800's are frequently credited to Alexander Cartwright, but there is no documentation that he personally played a role.

They include; the establishment of fair and foul territory. A "diamond" shaped infield. Base paths approaching ninety feet, much longer than prior lengths. A game of nine innings, instead of being won by the first club to reach 21 runs. Three outs to a half inning and the elimination of "soaking"; the rule that allowed runners to be put out by being hit with a thrown ball! Baseball was two words through the end of the 19th century.

Baseball in 1860 was experiencing explosive growth with men's clubs of firemen, bankers, merchants etc, forming through the Northeast, particularly still in the New York area with over fifty clubs. In 1860 there were a dozen clubs here in the far "Northwest", as Michigan was known.

The number dropped to four during the Civil War and exploded to 240 in 1867. In the 1860's it was still forbidden by association rules for base ball players to be paid, yet in the Northeast, ball fields were starting to be enclosed and admission was being charged.

The best ball players were being paid under the table and many clubs ignored the existing gentleman's standards. Clubs were becoming more competitive with pitchers trying to strike batters out instead of the expected gentleman's standard offering them pitches to be hit! Some gentlemen's clubs chose not to accept challenges from some "win at all costs" clubs.

In the 1870's professional base ball was well established. The original Regular Base Ball Club of Mount Clemens was formed by returning Civil War "Regular" (vs. volunteer) soldiers in the 1860's. The current Regulars enact the early pre-professional game, in the waning years of the Gentlemen's Club era; played solely for recreation & exercise under the highest standards of sportsmanship. Baseball as it was meant to be played.

Early Base Ball Terminology vs. the Modern -- "Team" is a term first applied to high level clubs in 1868. A "team" is a hitch of horses. 'Hurrah', an 'American' cheer of the Civil War era came from the Colonial 'Huzzah.'

Matches are conducted according to the highest standards of Victorian
sportsmanship, gentlemanly behavior, courtesy and respect for others.
Fine play is cheered by both ball clubs.
Runners would leave the field when out without waiting for the umpire to rule.
The bottom half of the ninth inning is always played regardless of the score.

The Umpire:
Renders decisions on the bases only when appealed to for "judgment." May ask players and spectators for assistance in making decisions.
Began calling strikes after a warning in 1858, but only if the batsman is delaying
intentionally or waiting for runners to steal. Began calling 'balls' after a warning
in 1863.
Determines a ball fair or foul solely on where the ball first touches anything.
Must be an active member of a Base Ball Club

Pitching:
The pitch is underhand with a straight elbow and not thrown overhand. ('til 1884)
Must pitch from between two 12 long lines at 45 and 48 feet from home.
The pitcher is required to place the ball where the batsman requests it.

The Striker:
Must stand on a line through home base. The batter's box appears in 1874.
May not overrun first base without risk of being put out. (until 1871)
Is out if his batted ball is caught in the air or on one bound. (until 1865)

Equipment:
No gloves! Gloves didn't appear until the mid 1860's and then on just catchers
and first basemen. Initially just leather work gloves, worn on both hands, with the
fingertips cut off to ease throwing, they were not fielding aids and were worn
solely for protection.
Regarded as unmanly, they were slow to gain favor despite
the growing need as base ball became more competitive. Gloves became more
common in the 1880's.

By the late 1890's, a single full padded glove was in
universal use. The webbed glove appeared in the 1920's
Balls were hand wound and stitched with a one-piece leather cover.

1860's base balls were slightly larger, heavier and bouncier. The size and weight of 1872 is as today.

Home base is a round metal disc, a square in 1868 and as today starting in 1900.

"We hope to have some of the players together at the Port Austin Farmers Market in the morning to talk to spectators," said Finan. She added, "We encourage everyone to attend and have a day of fun."