An ode to days gone by

By Mike Selecky
Posted Thursday, August 14, 2008

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By Michael Selecky
VIEW Sports Writer

GRAND BLANC — Gentlemen’s base ball was the featured attraction last Sunday as the Grand Blanc Heritage Association sponsored its third annual 1860s style vintage base ball contest featuring opposing squads from rival museums in a battle for area supremacy and yearly bragging rights.

Locally, the Heritage Museum has placed its hopes and dreams on the backs of the Grand Blanc Thrashers, a team that’s played this regularly-scheduled contest against the Rochester Graingers the past two years.

On the other side of the equation, it was the Saginaw Old Golds that arrived at the high school’s practice football field to compete with a 10-game experience advantage, resulting in an 11-2 victory.
Coming into the contest, Saginaw may have already had the upper hand, having competed in an Aug. 3 tournament at Greenwood Village in Southfield. The Old Gold reeled off victories over the Centerline, Ohio Clodbusters (17-16), the Bay City Independents (7-6 in 8 innings) and the Columbus Capitols (23-3) before losing the title game to the defending champion LahDeeDah’s, 11-7. The loss left Saginaw 7-3 for 2008.

A rematch is already scheduled for Aug. 23 in the Saginaw area and is open to the public as a part of Bridgeport Days

“We had about 150 cranks (fans) in the stands for the game, which is about the same as last year,” said Grand Blanc Heritage Museum Director Dan Harrett. “The game was simply designed as a fun way to recreate a classic atmosphere. We wish the score had been a little closer, but overall the event went pretty much as expected.”

In order to keep the event’s formatting appropriate to the times, games are played by old time rules, meaning players don’t use gloves but do use balls and bats from the period. Spectators are encouraged, but not required, to dress in period garb as well. Contests follow old-fashioned base ball regulations, with fly balls caught on a first hop counted as an official out and all pitches to the batter thrown underhanded. The batter can also request in which direction the ball is pitched.

“The people who come out to the games get to enjoy the uniforms, etiquette and the sport of it all, as well as a 19th century atmosphere of respect and goodwill,” Harrett said. “While we hope the rematch in Bridgeport is a little bit closer, the game should go much like the one here in Grand Blanc did.”
Some of the Thrashers’ notable roster members include Grand Blanc Mayor Mike Matheny, local business owner Lou Blessing, area law student Paul Scott, coach Robert Burek and team captain David Dohrman.

Saginaw also participated in an old-time base ball exhibition at Dow Diamond in Midland on July 23 before the minor league Great Lakes Loons took the field against the Quad City River Bandits. Other participating teams include the Mighty River Hogs of Midland County and the Bay City Independents.

Located at 203 E. Grand Blanc Rd. in the City Hall complex, the Grand Blanc Heritage Association began in 1972 as a state-incorporated, non-profit, educational public service organization. The group’s design was to discover, document, preserve, collect, exhibit and research materials that help illustrate the history of the community and its surrounding areas.

In 1976 the city gave the association one room to display items collected by its members. This has grown into two floors of exhibits donated for the community’s education and enjoyment. The museum is administered by the Grand Blanc Heritage Association Board of Directors, and is operated by volunteers. Details: Call 810-694-1118 or go to www.cityofgrandblanc.com. Memberships are currently available and range in price from $1-150 and the museum is open Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Details: Call 810-694-7274.