Vintage Baseball Team Kicks Off Summer Season Sunday

Vintage baseball is back in Lemont.

The Lemont Quarrymen—one of several area clubs that play Civil War-era baseball—will play their first home games of the summer at 1 p.m. Sunday against the Munster Centennials.

The doubleheader will be held at Covington Park, located at 127th Street and Covington Drive.

Players not only dress in traditional 1858 uniforms, but they also follow the rules and style of play.

Unlike baseballs today, which measure about 9 inches in circumference, the Quarrymen play with 10-inch balls. Instead of playing on lined dirt fields, the team uses open, grassy areas. There is no age limit and the men do not use mitts.

Runners are not permitted to steal or slide, which was considered "ungentlemanly" in 1858. The team operates under a code of honor, which is often enforced by the umpire, who wears a suit and top hat during the games.

The Quarrymen, which is made up of 16 players ages 25 to 62, is sponsored by the . They have three home games scheduled this year.

Before heading to the game, brush up on your 19th Century baseball vocabulary with a short glossary of terms:

• Apple, onion, orb, hoghide: baseball
• Ace, tally: run or score
• Charming deadheads: female fans
• Garden: outfield
• Huzzah!: Hurray!
• Knock: hit
• Long fielder or scout: outfielder
• Muff or duff: error
• Rover: shortstop
• Striker: batter
• Whitewash: shutout

2012 Quarrymen Schedule

* designates home games

June 24: 1 p.m. at Covington Park vs. Munster Centennials (two games)*

July 21: 1 p.m. at Covington Park vs. Downers Plowboys (two games)*

July 28: 1:30 pm at Old World Wisconsin in Milwaukee vs. Milwaukee Eagle Diamonds 

Aug. 5: 1 p.m. Centennial Park in Munster, IL, vs. Munster Centennials (two games)

Aug. 18: 1 p.m. at Covington Park vs. Bloomingdale Bucks (two games)*

Aug. 26: 1 p.m. at Somonauk Community Park vs. Somonauk Blue Stockings

Sept. 15: 1 p.m. at Cantigny Parade Field in Wheaton vs. Red Oaks

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