Essex Base Ball Club recreates 1800s game for Georgetown

Admission is free, the weather is perfect, and out on the Perley playing field, the boys of summer are playing base ball. That’s correct — base ball, 19th century style, before they put the two words together. The bats, the balls, the uniforms and the rules recreate America’s favorite pastime the way it used to be, in the 1800s.

Saturday’s exhibition by the Essex Base Ball Club, the Lynn Live Oaks of Danvers and the Boston Beaneaters has drawn an audience of 100 to enjoy an afternoon in the sun. It is soon evident that these guys from the New England Vintage Base Ball League can really play ball — no matter what century it is.

There are really long hits, expert base stealing in clouds of dust, and some fine fielding. What a different game they are playing as they recreate the 1860s. A batter takes as many swings as he wants to, and there is no strike zone. The only umpire stands at the plate and his decision is final — no arguing allowed, and he is usually the catcher, due to his bird’s-eye view of the game from home plate.

Besides the vintage uniforms, there are large cloth base bags, hand-sewn baseballs and large custom-made wooden bats. The players are not wearing gloves, and can catch a ball on the first bounce and still have an out declared, although “it is considered more manly” to catch these fly balls in mid-air before they bounce.

Oh boy, here’s a near-collision in the outfield as three fielders converge on an airborne fly ball. Fortunately, one player manages to field it. There is a collective humorous groan from the audience whenever a foul ball ends up over the fence and in the underbrush. Players hang out on the field as an extended search is held for the missing ball, and there is applause when it is finally found and returned to the playing field.

There is a comedy run-down as three base runners find themselves surrounded by the catcher and an infielder. When the frantic confusion lifts, somehow none of the runners are out.

First baseman Brian Sheehy of Methuen is playing with a broken index finger on his left hand and a dented ring finger on his right hand. Injuries sometimes go with this kind of play, and catching baseballs without a glove can be painful, says Sheehy. One player hurt his face running into a wall two weeks ago and another player is lying down between innings, recovering from a recent injury.

“Ask him how he’s feeling today,” suggests Sheehy.

Each baseball is hand-sewn by Sheehy, who starts his teaching career at North Andover High School in September. “I’ve got it down from four hours to two hours.”

Lee Smith of Lexington is an impressive left fielder for the Lynn Live Oaks, catching many long, hard-hit balls, and sometimes shaking his catching hand vigorously to fend off the pain. Smith notes what a nice afternoon it is, unlike the weather during some of their games.

As the game winds down, the Lynn Live Oaks are leading the Essex Base Ball Club 10 to 5. After the last out, the teams line up to salute each other, doffing their hats and yelling, “Hip, hip, huzzah!” Both teams then turn and salute the audience with a hearty, “Hip, hip, huzzah!”

The teams invite the audience to challenge them in a game, and a long row of youngsters lines up, making practice swings with the antique-style bats made by Pat Cook of Lynn.

Cook becomes the pitcher, as each youngster gets a turn at the plate. The adult players have a blast bobbling throws and catches so the youngsters won’t get thrown out. There are lots of comedy baseball moves with a real out thrown in now and then. The guys are great with the kids, giving them high-fives on the field.

Happy kids dodge this way and that to avoid being tagged out, and excited children jump up into the air to land on the base bags with both feet. At one point five adult players converge on one kid as he gets trapped between bases. Somehow he gets away anyway.

Five-year-old Daniel Buckley of Georgetown hits a short ball, and starts off to run the bases. Egged on by the crowd, Daniel makes it to each base, and finally to home plate to thunderous applause from the audience, including his parents, Michael and Dianne.

There is another big cheer after WWII Iwo Jima vet and Georgetown businessman Arthur Rauseo is persuaded to take a turn at the plate.

The Essex Base Ball Club tours New England with a full schedule of exhibition games. There will be local vintage games coming up Aug. 19 in Haverhill and Sept. 9 in Newbury.

Learn more about vintage base ball by contacting Brian Sheehy at 978-790-5707, checking out www.essexbaseball.org or emailing historyball@yahoo.com.

Saturday’s charming afternoon of olde-time base ball was sponsored by the Georgetown Historical Society. For more about the historical society, visit www.georgetownhistoricalsociety.com. Hip, hip, huzzah!