Cleveland Indians fans are hopeful that 2018 will be their year. But for another baseball team, that year is 1860. The Ohio Village Muffins, a vintage baseball team (or base ball, if we’re sticking with the 19th century spelling) plays America’s pastime according to 1860 rules.
That means underhand pitches, no gloves and players can catch the ball on the first bounce to get an out. The traveling Columbus-based team takes the field in Galion, Wellington and Fremont this summer, where the main difference between baseball then and now is what team manager Jim Kimnach calls the “gentlemanly aspect.”
“We encourage the fans to cheer on both teams. There’s no arguing with the refs or complaining if a call doesn’t go your way,” he says. “We’re treating each other with common courtesy and cheering each other on.” Various locations, 614-297-2300, ohiohistory.org
Catch An Old-School Game With The Ohio Village Muffins
The team plays with the rules from 1860
