Vintage Base Ball

LEMONT  – The McHenry County Historical Society's "Independants" base ball club will travel to  Lemont July. 22 for a round-robin tourney with the DuPage Plowboys and Valparaiso Lookouts – two experienced clubs with experienced strikers ... as opposed to our "mighty muffins." Suffice it to say, the outcome was less than we had hoped. The company, on the other hand ... The match begins at noon on the field at 13860 Main St, Lemont, IL 60439.

Formed in 2013, the McHenry County “Independants” (spelled that way in a newspaper article more than 150 years ago) follow 1858 rules. That means no gloves, lemon-peel baseballs (stitches meet at the top), no pitched balls from the “hurler” and called strikes only if “striker” swings and misses. A ball caught on the first bounce is considered an out and a ball is ruled fair or foul based solely on where it first touches the ground.

Those interested in playing should contact the office 815-923-2267. All we ask is that you are fit enough to run the bases (even slowly, for you “ice wagons!”) and commit to playing in a handful of matches throughout the year. Huzzah!