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Bonneyville Millers

Vintage Base Ball Club

 

 

Bonneyville Millers

When settlers chose a place to live, they usually chose a place that was close to a gristmill. People create communities because they need one another. Places become communities when the people who live in an area share food, work, buildings, and social and leisure activities. In 1837, the seed for the community of Bonneyville was planted with the construction of Bonneyville Mill. To keep the spirit of the community of Bonneyville alive, the Bonneyville Millers Vintage Base Ball Club was formed. The Club plays Civil War era Base Ball matches using the 1860 Rules and Regulations of the Game of Base Ball adopted by the National Association of Base Ball Players.

 

 

Click Here for the Bonneyville Millers Newsletter

 

BONNEYVILLE MILLERS VINTAGE BASE BALL CLUB
2007 MATCH SCHEDULE
HOME - Monday, February 26, ALL DAY, Fund Raiser for Bonneyville Millers at HACIENDA, Linway Plaza, W. Lincoln Ave., Goshen, Indiana. Contact 574.825.9324 or pick-up a coupon from any club member or the Elkhart County Parks office at 211 W. Lincoln Ave., Goshen, Indiana.
HOME - Tuesday, March 13, ALL DAY, Fund Raiser for Bonneyville Millers at BACKYARD BBQ, Linway Plaza, W. Lincoln Ave., Goshen, Indiana. Contact 574.825.9324 or pick-up a coupon from any club member or the Elkhart County Parks office at 211 W. Lincoln Ave., Goshen, Indiana.
HOME - Sunday, March 18, Bonneyville Millers Vintage Base Ball Club display at the Elkhart County Historical Museum Authors and Artist’s Day, Bristol, Indiana, 1:00-5:00 p.m. Millers will be on hand to answer questions about vintage base ball and the Club.
AWAY - Friday-Sunday, April 13-15, 12th Annual Vintage Base Ball Conference, Douglas, Michigan, hosted by Douglas Dutchers. Visit www.douglasdutchers.org/3.html for registration and conference details.
HOME - Wednesday, May 9, 6:30 p.m., Warsaw Fleetfoots vs. Bonneyville Millers at Ox Bow County Park - Chapel Field, Dunlap, Indiana.
HOME - Sunday, May 13, 1:00 p.m., Ludington Mariners vs. Bonneyville Millers at Ox Bow County Park - Chapel Field, Dunlap, Indiana. Bring Mom out to the park for a picnic and enjoy an afternoon of vintage base ball.
AWAY - Sunday, May 20, 2:00 p.m. at Huntington Champion Hill Toppers, Huntington, Indiana.
AWAY - Tuesday, June 5, 6:30 p.m., at Warsaw Fleetfoots, Warsaw, Indiana.
HOME - Sunday, June 17, 1:30 p.m., House of David Echoes vs. Bonneyville Millers at Ox Bow County Park - Chapel Field, Dunlap, Indiana. Bring Dad out to the park for a picnic and watch a vintage base ball match.
AWAY - Sunday, June 24, 1:00 p.m., at House of David Echoes, Benton Harbor, Michigan.
HOME - Wednesday, June 27, 7:00 p.m., Winona Lake Blue Laws vs. Bonneyville Millers at Ox Bow County Park - Chapel Field, Dunlap, Indiana.
AWAY - Saturday, June 30, 12:00 (Noon), at Ludington Mariners, Ludington, Michigan. Four team tournament.
HOME - Saturday, July 14, 2:00 p.m., Douglas Dutchers vs. Bonneyville Millers at Ox Bow County Park - Chapel Field, Dunlap, Indiana.
HOME - Sunday, July 22, Elkhart County 4-H Fair Parade. Watch for the Bonneyville Millers in the parade.
AWAY - Sunday, July 29, 2:00 p.m., Family Day at the Cabin, Leeper Park, South Bend, Indiana. Bonneyville Millers will be participating in a day filled with fun family activities.
AWAY - Saturday, August 11, 2:00 p.m., at Douglas Dutchers, Douglas, Michigan.
AWAY - Sunday, August 19, Vintage Base Ball All-Star match. VBB All-Stars will be playing after the South Bend SilverHawks game. Be sure and come watch the SilverHawks and then watch base ball as it was meant to be played.
HOME - Saturday, August 25, 2:00 p.m., Indianapolis Blues vs. Bonneyville Millers at Ox Bow County Park - Chapel Field, Dunlap, Indiana.
HOME - Sunday, September 9, 2:00 p.m., Huntington Champion Hill Toppers vs. Bonneyville Millers at Ox Bow County Park - Chapel Field, Dunlap, Indiana.
HOME - Saturday - Sunday, September 15-16, 25th Bonneyville Mill Celebration. Watch for the Millers strolling the grounds to answer your questions about vintage base ball.
AWAY - Saturday, October 6, All Day, Hoosier Huzzah Tournament at Winona Lake, Indiana. Hosted by the Winona Lake Blue Laws.
AWAY - Sunday, October 7, Rain date for the Hoosier Huzzah Tournament, Winona Lake, Indiana.
*ALL HOME matches will be played at Ox Bow County Park located in Dunlap, Indiana, midway between Elkhart and Goshen on County Road 45, north of U.S. Highway 33.

 


 

Goals of the Bonneyville Millers Base Ball Club

To demonstrate and interpret nineteenth-century base ball.

To strive for historical authenticity in order to accurately portray the game as it was played.

To promote interest in vintage base ball and encourage the formation of new ball clubs throughout northern Indiana

 

Vintage Base Ball Terminology
Club Nine...................Team
Hurler.........................Pitcher
Umpire........................Umpire
Adversary...................Opponent
Aces............................Runs
Player Dead...............Out
3 Hands Dead.............Side retired
Match.............Game
Behind.............Catcher
Cranks.............Fans
Foul Tic............Foul Ball
Striker..............Batter
Leg It!..............Run!
Huzzah!............Hurrah!

 

1858 Rules & Customs

Base Ball is a Gentleman’s Game:
* Matches are conducted according to the highest standards of sportsmanship, gentlemanly behavior, courtesy and respect for others.
* There is no swearing, spitting, scratching, consumption of alcohol, chewing of tobacco or wagering.
* Gentlemen shall forbear from commenting on umpire’s judgement.


The Umpire:
* Calls foul tics immediately.
* May ask players and cranks for assistance in making calls.
* Does not call balls, and may call strikes, if deemed necessary.
* Levies fines, on the spot, for ungentlemanly conduct.


In Hurling:
* The ball must be hurled underhanded, not jerked or thrown.
* The ball must be delivered as near as possible over the center of home plate.


A Striker is Out When:
* A batted ball is caught on the fly or on one bound off the ground.
* After three swinging or called strikes. Foul tics are not strikes.


Other Differences:
* Players do not wear gloves or other protective equipment.
* There is no sliding, leading off or stealing bases.
*Players crossing home plate safely must then proceed to the tallykeeper’s table, place one hand on the table, raise
   the other hand and ask the tallykeeper to please tally his ace for his team. He is then instructed to strike the tally bell.
   Only then does his ace count.
* A runner may not advance if the striker’s ball is caught on the fly. He will be instructed to return to his base and may
   not be put out.
* A runner may advance at his own risk if the striker’s ball is caught on one bound, fair or foul.

 

 

The Vintage Base Ball Association


On February 11, 1996 delegates from thirteen clubs representing five states assembled in Columbus, Ohio to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first recorded base ball match between organized teams. Using the National Association of Base Ball Players (c.1875) as a model, the delegates founded the Vintage Base Ball Association for the purpose of preserving, perpetuating, and promoting the game of base ball as it was played during its formative years in the mid-nineteenth century and other historic periods.

All matches are presented in accordance with the rules and customs of the time period being portrayed. Through its efforts the Vintage Base Ball Association is working to support the formation of new clubs, encourage research of base ball history and educate the public on the early years of base ball. Memberships are available for both clubs and individuals.
For more information on the Vintage Base Ball Association, visit their web page at www.vbba.org.
The Bonneyville Millers Vintage Base Ball Club is a full member of the Association and supports the mission of the Vintage Base Ball Association.

The Bonneyville Millers Vintage Bade Ball Club is sponsored by the Elkhart County Park and Recreation Department. For more information about the club contact:

Bonneyville Millers

Elkhart County Parks

211 W. Lincoln Avenue

Goshen, IN 46526

(574)-535-6458

E-mail: bonneyvillemill@elkhartcountyparks.org