Baseball has come a long way from the humble beginnings in the fields of 19th century America. For many of us, the introduction of team camaraderie, fair play, and athleticism first occurred on dusty sandlots, red clay diamonds, and neighborhood backyards. Referred to as “America’s Pastime” since the mid 1840s, baseball today is played by both men and women all over the world. Contrary to popular belief, American baseball was not invented by an individual but evolved from various European “bat and ball” games.
Yet, if you were
to mention “sports” in the Old West you’d probably get some strange looks. But
sports, particularly baseball, were as much a part of a town’s beginnings and,
in many cases, its growth as cowboys and horses. Often, cultivating a pasture
or vacant lot into a playing field was as important as establishing homes, a
mercantile, a school, a church, and a clean
water supply. While summer evenings and Saturday afternoons were prime times to
gather up the fellas for a game, playing on Sunday was soundly discouraged.
Teams in each town were comprised of friends, neighbors,
and co-workers. Everyone was welcomed to play regardless of race, color,
or country of origin. It was common to see teams comprised of African
Americans, those of Mexican origin, and those indigenous to the lands who
were passing through the area. Not to be left out, some women’s teams were
formed in the early colleges in Kansas.
Women also formed teams in their respective towns. Research showed that
a women’s league with five towns around Topeka was established, some even
included a male player or two in their lineup. Though some townspeople were startled
at this occurrence, others merely accepted the fact. (Hmm…wouldn’t this make a great series!)
Setting these books in the purely fictitious town of New Hope, Kansas, I did considerable research into baseball in Kansas following the war.
·
The
history of baseball by organized clubs grew from the experiences of former
Union and Confederate soldiers and spread across the prairie. The sport also
received a boost when settlers from the Northeast and Midwest, where they
played ball, arrived bringing their skills with them. The game became a great
unifier in the years that followed the war.
· 19th century bats were heavier and thicker in the handle with more of a gradual taper from the handle to barrel.
·
A
catcher’s glove began as a leather work glove, similar to the glove a brakeman
on the railroad would use.
· The more prominent clubs in the larger Kansas cities donned uniforms consisting of long woolen trousers, leather belts, flannel shirts emblazoned with the town’s initial, and woolen caps.
·
Early baseballs were
made from a rubber core from old, melted shoes, wrapped in yarn, covered in
some form of brown leather, and stitched in a style known as a “lemon peel”. Pitchers
usually made their own balls, which were used throughout the game.
· Pastures and open fields close to the town limits often served as baseball fields. Lime was sprinkled from baseline to baseline. The bases were linen squares or flour sacks stuffed with hay or sand.
In my debut sweet historical romance, Lessie-Brides of New Hope Book One, I briefly introduced the idea of a baseball game between the local New Hope Pioneers and the Topeka Prairie club. The game would go on to be a regular feature in New Hope’s Founders’ Day celebration. In Posey-Brides of New Hope Book Two, the game between the local team and the fictitious Leavenworth Mercantiles plays a pivotal role between Posey Campbell and Grayson Barrett.
