More than 120 people flocked to Malta's Lions Park on Sunday to watch the Oregon Ganymedes square off against their cross-county rivals, the Creston Regulators, in Malta's third annual Vintage Baseball Exhibition.
Sunday's game was played under rules from the 1860s that differ from the modern conventions of America's pastime.
Some notable distinctions include catching the ball without a mitt, recording outs on balls caught after one bounce and ringing a bell after every run scored.
Pitches are also thrown underhand using a larger, softer "lemon peel" baseball with distinctive X-pattern stitching.
Dressed in historically accurate uniforms, the Ganymedes defeated the Regulators in Sunday's exhibition, which included performances of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" by a quartet of Malta singers.
Players' uniforms do not include numbers. Instead, each player has a distinctive nickname, such as "Fireball," "Shifty," "Wolfman" and "Stringbean."
Oregon Ganymedes captain Mark Herman served as the game's umpire and wore formal, era-appropriate attire.
Herman also narrated Sunday's game, highlighting the rule differences and educating spectators about the sport's historical evolution.
Concessions, including peanuts, Cracker Jack and hot dogs, were provided by the Malta Lions Club.
The Oregon Ganymedes' next game will be Saturday, Aug. 8, at the World Tournament of Historic Baseball in Dearborn, Michigan. They are scheduled to face the Flat Rock Bear Clan at 11 a.m., followed by the Greenfield Village Nationals at 2 p.m.
The Creston Regulators will play the DuPage County Plowboys at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois, at noon Sunday, Aug. 16.
Copy Edited by Eryn Lent
