Bonneyville Millers

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.

Bonneyville Millers 2011 Vintage Base Ball Schedule

All times listed are local Elkhart, IN time.

All Home Matches are held at Ox Bow County Park in Dunlap, IN.

DAY / DATE

TIME

EVENT

LOCATION

MAY
Thursday, May 26	6:30 p.m.	Iron Diamonds of Porter County	Portage, IN
Friday, May 27	8:00 – 3:30 p.m.	Civil War Era Base Ball Demonstration	Northridge MS
JUNE
Thursday, June 2	7:00 p.m.	Door Village Prairie Dogs	Laporte, IN
Wednesday, June 8	6:30 p.m.	Sturgis Biscuits	Sturgis, MI
Sunday, June 12	All Day	Tournament	Sylvania, OH
Saturday, June 18	All Day	Tournament	Gas City, IN
Tuesday, June 28	7:00 p.m.	Iron Diamonds of Porter County	HOME
JULY
Friday, July 8	6:30 p.m.	Embrace the Pace Day – Nappanee Embracers	Nappanee, IN
Saturday, July 9	1:00 p.m.	Doubleheader with Ohio Clubs	Huntington, IN
Sunday, July 10	1:00 p.m.	House of David Echoes	Benton Harbor, MI
Thursday, July 21	7:00 p.m.	Door Village Prairie Dogs	HOME
Saturday, July 30	2:00 p.m.	Chicago Salmon	Lincoln Park, IL
AUGUST
Thursday, August 4	6:30 p.m.	1867 Rules Match with Winona Lake Blue Laws	HOME
Fri-Sun, Aug. 12-14	All Weekend	World Tournament of Historic Base Ball	Dearborn, MI
Fri-Sun, Aug. 19-21	All Weekend	Six-Club Tournament	Douglas, MI
Sunday, August 28	1:00 p.m.	Round Robin w/ House of David Echoes & Munster Centennials	HOME
SEPTEMBER
Saturday, September 10	11:00 a.m.	Round Robin w/ Mississinewa Silverheels & Deep River Grinders	Westside Park, Nappanee, IN
Saturday, September 17	1:30 p.m.	Nappanee Apple Festival Tournament	Westside Park, Nappanee, IN
OCTOBER
Saturday, October 1	All Day	Hoosier Huzzah Tournament	Winona Lake, IN

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: john@elkhartcountyparks.org