STATEHOUSE NEWS

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Columbus, OH–The Ohio Village Muffins and Lady Diamonds will face off against the Capitol Cannons, state senators and representatives, in an old-fashioned game of “base ball” on Tuesday, May 12. The match will go from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the Ohio Statehouse West Lawn.

A blast from the 1864 cannon will start the event with help from the Statehouse’s 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery A.

The event is free and open to the public. Food and beverages will be available from Momma’s Burger Bites food truck.

This exhibition game involves rules and regulations from the 1860s, so some of them might appear unconventional. There are a few major differences between “base ball” and baseball that the audience should be aware of:
· The ball is pitched underhand from anywhere behind the pitcher’s line.
· If a ball is hit and caught on a bounce, it is an out.
· Base runners may not steal nor slide foot-first.

Experience the entertaining seven-inning affair, enjoy an outdoor meal and witness cannon firings all in one night.

To view photos of the 2024 “base ball” match, visit Vintage Base Ball 2024.

About the Ohio Village Muffins and Vintage “Base Ball”
Formed in 1981, the Ohio Village Muffins were the first vintage “base ball” team in the United States to play a set schedule of games. They also hosted the initial meeting of the Vintage Base Ball Association (VBBA). The uniforms are standard to the 1860s: plain pants, a white shirt with a bright shield containing the team emblem, a vintage cap, a leather belt and a red tie. Recreational activities for men and women, especially “base ball,” were becoming more ingrained in American society during the middle of the 19th century, so the Muffins represent a changing America. They highlight a game that would transcend all others and become America’s favorite pastime.
Support for this event is provided by the Ohio Lobbying Association, the Ohio Village Muffins and Lady Diamonds, and the 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery A.
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