Vintage base ball team’s home opener May 18

OREGON – It’s vintage base ball time in Oregon.

The Oregon Ganymedes Base Ball Club will play its first home games of the 2024 season beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at the Chana School Museum at Oregon Park East.

The Ganymedes will be host a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Grays Base Ball Club of Milwaukee.

The games are free to attend. Spectators should bring their own chairs or blankets to view the games under the shade trees at the park.

Vintage rules base ball (spelled as two words in the 1800s) is played with authentic wool uniforms, no gloves, underhand pitching and gentlemanly conduct. Other rule differences include outs for balls caught on one bounce, no called balls or strikes unless the batter swings three times and misses and a requirement that players call themselves out on close plays. Base paths are 90 feet, there are three outs per inning and games are nine innings.

Comprised of volunteer players, the Ganymedes have been playing vintage base ball with 1858 rules for 19 years.

The Chana School Museum will be open for tours, and guests are encouraged to wear mid-1800s clothing to help celebrate the Ganymedes 20th anniversary season.

For information regarding the 2024 season, visit the Oregon Ganymedes Base Ball Club Facebook page.