Whether you are a history buff or a baseball fan there was ample action on Sunday at the Lake Middle School in Woodbury.
A vintage baseball game sponsored by the Woodbury Heritage Society featured a game between St. Croix Vintage Base Ball Club, the reigning champions in the Minnesota League, and the local team, the Woodbury Barnstormers.
The game is meant to mimic its pastoral origins, but it also retains its competitiveness. Reed Smidt, recreation operations manager for City of Woodbury, provided the appropriate setting among the trees & fields at Lake Middle School.
The players endured heat, humidity and wool uniforms. But nothing stopped them from fielding line drives, fly balls, and hard ground balls playing barehanded. Outfielders and infielders raced to try to snag a ball on the first hop or retrieve one that had bounced away.
Under 1860 rules, pitching was underhand. Balls caught on one hop were outs. Batters running to first pulled up to a stop, since running past the bag could result in an out, or “hand.” Catching a ball on one hop – no gloves allowed – was an out.
After a fast start, the Barnstormers succumbed to the veteran St. Croix team by a 13-6 score. Winning wasn’t the only goal. Living some history and building community, while entertaining Woodbury folks, were all accomplished.
“It was a lot of fun to have the opportunity to play baseball, having not done so since my youth, which was the case for most of our team!” said Mayor Anne Burt. “To be able to do this in a way that honored the historical version of the game at its roots made it even more fun.”
“Once you step on the field and you try it, then generally you’re hooked,” Dr. Bill Schrankler said of the vintage game. He’s the Woodbury Heritage Society chair of the Vintage Base Ball Committee. “I think the history part of it and love of baseball is kind of what draws people in. You must have a love for the game to stand out in the hot sun wearing a wool uniform.”
Cow Chip Bingo added to the festivities. The field was divided into 100 bingo squares. Fans wagered by selecting a square. The winner was determined by Leslie, a fine Simmental cow who deposited her “meadow muffin” in a specific square. Leslie was herded on the bingo matrix by Cow Rancher Paul Krueger, while his mother, retired teacher Cindy Krueger, educated the crowd on cattle facts.
After fifteen minutes, Leslie did her duty and made the much-anticipated deposit. The lucky winner was long-time Woodbury resident and community volunteer, Judy Scheider, who declared how “happy” she was able to be part of the fun.
“Based on the support and attendee comments, the goals for a triumphant event were exceeded. Making history in Woodbury, adhering to history – and, therefore, celebrating it, is what matters,” reported the Woodbury Heritage Society members.
