First American Title Co. hosts a pep session for the new Bay City vintage baseball team, including, from left, captain Jayme Johnson, Lloyd Fuller, Dan Decuf, Dennis Dinauer and Jeff Dinauer. Vintage Baseball Team Will Look Like, Play Same Rules as 1882 Bay City Team
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It all started with an elementary school project of teacher Jayme Johnson in Saginaw.
Mr. Johnson had the kids dress up like the players in a picture of his great grandfather's 1910 squad.
That led to more research into the Vintage Baseball Association, a concept fast becoming widespread in the nation.
The idea was embraced by many of Mr. Johnson's friends, including several other teachers, and pals from a variety of occupations.
The plot was hatched to have their own team after the conspirators watched an ESPN program on vintage baseball on July 4.
They found a model: the 1882 Bay City Baseball Club, formed under leadership of Judge Thomas E. Webster, the Shearer Brothers, James and William, and the publisher of the Bay City Tribune, a daily that later merged with the Bay City Times.
Sponsors came charging in, too, including S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., First American Title and others. The team was named the Independents.
The modern Bay Citys will play their first game May 21 at 2 p.m. at Carroll Park versus a second local vintage squad, the Bay City Uptons.
Special vintage baseball rules apply: no gloves, underhand pitching, no called balls or strikes, ball caught on one bounce is out. Terminology includes: ace, or tally = run; behind = catcher; scouts = outfielders; striker to the line = batter up; one hand dead = one out; huzzah = hooray; cranks = spectators.
The vintage teams used oldtime balls with hand-sewn seams and two inch thin bats like those wielded in the 1880s. Uniforms are "throw-backs," tailored with collars and laces to replicate the sartorialy correct Victorian era player. No "muffins," i.e., poor players, need apply.
The 1882 Bay Citys, as they were known, played first at a field at Sherman and Second and later in a 450 seat stadium erected by the Shearers at Woodside and Lincoln.
A stemwinder named Elias Mather put together the Northwest League and Bay City became one of the initial teams, others including Saginaw, Grand Rapids, Toledo and Quincy, Illinois.
Score another historic first for Bay City as in February, 1883, the league was recognized by the National League and the American Association, the first "minor league" so designated.
"Recognition by the major leagues meant mainly that the majors wouldn't try to steal players from the minors," said Mr. Johnson, nattily decked out in redand white uniform complete with striped vintage hat.
John Clarkson, later a major league star, played for Saginaw against Bay City. He also played for the Bay City team and liked the town so much he retired here, running a tobacco shop in the Phoenix Building for many years until his death in the early 1900s.
Pitcher Dave Foutz of Bay City from 1921-27 helped the Bay Citys defeat the Saginaws with Clarkson on the mound, according to Mr. Johnson.
Fouts did so well with the Bay Citys that he was purchased by the St. Louis Browns for $2,000. Soon afterward, the Northwest League folded.
The Toledo Blues were elevated to the major leagues with Moses Fleetwood Walker, catcher, becoming the first Negroplayer in the major leagues.
Mr. Johnson has documented the first Bay City baseball team as the Washington Club, 1865-66. That team, formed by lawyer A.C. Maxwell, defeated Lansing July 19, 1865, 42-31, in Lansing. The Washingtons also wona rematch here 30-29 on Aug. 24, 1865.
The following year the Washingtons of Bay City lost the state championship to the Detroits, 40-13. One problem the locals had was that their shortstop, W.H. Fennell, had accidentally been shot in the hand a few days before the game.
In 1869, the Washingtons were replaced by the Empires.
For the season schedule, list of sponsors and other information, access www.baycitybaseballclub.com.###
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