Enjoy Civil War-era ‘base ball’ in Grayslake

The Grayslake Heritage Center will stage a Civil War-era baseball game at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19, at the Grayslake Aquatic Center Softball Field at Central Park.

The type of baseball that will be played, or “base ball” as it was then called, will hearken back to the earliest years of the sport, with wildly different rules.

This is the national pastime as Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War soldiers would have known it. Players did not use gloves, a ball caught on the first bounce was considered an out and a ball was considered fair or foul based only on where it first touched the ground.

Grayslake Heritage Center Executive Director Dave Oberg will umpire and serve as master of ceremonies, explaining the rules and teaching the audience to cheer and jeer in proper 19th-century fashion. Fans are encouraged to dress in 19th-century costume for the museum’s inaugural period fashion show.

Visit the Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum between noon and 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, to make a pennant to bring to the game. In addition, collector Bill Rose will display models of 19th and 20th century Major League Baseball stadiums at the museum Aug. 18. The museum is at 164 Hawley St., Grayslake.

Members of the public who would like to play in the Aug. 19 game are welcome to attend quick practice sessions at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, or 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, at the Grayslake Aquatic Center Softball Field at the south end of Central Park.

For information, contact Dave Oberg at doberg@villageofgrayslake.com or (847) 543-1745.