SUGARCREEK — Baseball players from Cleveland, Akron and Dayton came together Saturday in a cleared field next to the Age of Steam Roundhouse & Museum for three vintage games using rules, etiquette, and gear from the 1860s. All three teams are members of the Vintage Baseball Association.  

According to its website, the VBA formed on Feb. 11, 1996, when delegates from 13 clubs representing five states assembled in Columbus, Ohio. Their goal was to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first recorded ‘base ball’ match between organized teams. Using the National Association of Base Ball Players (c. 1858) as a model, the delegates formed the Vintage Base Ball Association. 

No. 12 steam locomotive:Staying alive in Sugarcreek's Age Of Steam Roundhouse Museum

Blue Flag Tour:Train enthusiasts receive hands-on look at operations

Dubbed the “Diamonds & Drivers” tournament by AoSR&M Executive Director Pete Poremba, the event Saturday reflects the interplay between the baseball playing surface in the shape of a diamond and steam locomotive driving wheels – drivers. It also set the tone for the museum’s hallmark summer re-enactment weekend, Steam to Victory, coming up on Sept. 9-10.  

Earl McDaniel, aka “Fireman,” right fielder from the Eastwood Iron Horses of Dayton said, “We’re here today playing a little bit of vintage baseball, playing with 1860s rules. The big draw was the train museum. The iron horses were railroad workers. We’re trying to simulate them from the 19th century.” 

He went on to give a brief back history of ‘base ball’ — two words back then. 

“Games didn’t really originate as much as baseball evolved. We’re learning more and more. There’s the old theory that Abner Doubleday invented baseball at Cooperstown that was completely made up when they created the Baseball Hall of Fame. So, baseball evolved from games like grounders, a previous game called townball, and a little bit of Crickett. And then baseball was officially codified in 1857 by a guy named Doc Adams who wrote things down.” 

Contact Andrew Dolph, Staff Photographer: adolph3@gaannett.com