OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - A Historical Perspective of Baseball in Normington

Hrycaj · 04-07-2021, 08:52 PM

Butcher Boys:

Butchers were a powerful organization in 19th century Norming society. This particular club was located in the original market district of Ipsen. As a club, they were responsible for regulating prices and keeping markets stabilized during rough times. Butchers were a well respected group that worked hard and liked to play hard as well. One of the more interesting rules from a butcher boy baseball game was the allowance of “pelting”. Pelting was the practice of the defender throwing the ball at the offensive player as they tried to advance to the safety of the base. This violent practice was not limited to the butcher boys exclusively, but they would be the group that would continue the practice the longest.

Crown Street Barbers:

Located along one of the oldest streets in Ipsen, this Barber’s club was known to be baseball enthusiasts. The nature of the Barber profession called for working late hours as many customers preferred to have their grooming done after working hours on their way home. For this reason, the Crown Street barbers were known to get together early in the morning (sometimes as early as 6 am) and play to a set number of runs (most times it was 20 runs) so they could open their shops on time.

Cherry Arch Educators Club:

Education in the 1820’s was still primarily a service for the children of the wealthy in city districts like Cherry Arch. The Cherry Arch teachers would routinely meet to discuss things like curriculum and teaching philosophy. The educators were another early riser group when it came to their baseball. As a group they seemed to be more analytic when it came to playing field measurements. Based on their notes it was insisted that the distance between bases should always be 50 paces. What constitutes a pace though is definitely up for interpretation.

Ipsen Legal Society:

What was interesting about the Ipsen Legal Society was that lawyers occupied a higher rung on the social ladder. This was important as it provides further evidence that baseball was a game that was catching on with more than a single social class. Interestingly enough, the lawyers preferred a very loose game where boundaries between fair and foul territory were not established. Was this possibly because a key element of the legal profession was built around sifting through legal minutiae to argue their respective cases? Or perhaps creating a mindset where a bit of chaos during recreation was appreciated and needed?

Various Fire Houses in Ipsen:

By the 1820’s firefighting had morphed from a volunteer group that was called into action based on need, to a full-fledged profession. The firefighters did not create a social club like the other examples, but a number of firehouses had enough members in a single house to support baseball matches. Each firehouse played a different version of the game but one house in particular did not have an “out” count to signify the end of a time at bat or in the field. Each player hit one time and teams compiled as many runs as they could in that time. Then the opponent would get the same opportunity and the game lasted for a set amount of attempts (The term inning was not yet in use). Also of note, more than a few firehouses would provide a food banquet after a match was completed.

Fish Harbour Political Club:

What was unique about the F.H.P.C was it’s membership. In the other examples that have been provided, club members shared a profession. The F.H.P.C. was a political organization that shared an idea. It’s membership consisted of people from various professions with the interests of the Fish Harbour district as the reason for the clubs existence. The F.H.P.C. had a unique rule where if a batted ball was caught in the air or off a single bounce the batter would be ruled out.

These examples give the reader a good cross reference of the types of clubs in operation that played some form of baseball. This isn’t to suggest that these were the only clubs that took up the game either. In fact, since none of these clubs played anyone but themselves, dozens of clubs took up the game as a recreational outlet as the decade continued. Then something very interesting happened in 1829.

04-07-2021, 08:52 PM	#6
Hrycaj All Star Starter Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,759	Early Clubs Butcher Boys: Butchers were a powerful organization in 19th century Norming society. This particular club was located in the original market district of Ipsen. As a club, they were responsible for regulating prices and keeping markets stabilized during rough times. Butchers were a well respected group that worked hard and liked to play hard as well. One of the more interesting rules from a butcher boy baseball game was the allowance of “pelting”. Pelting was the practice of the defender throwing the ball at the offensive player as they tried to advance to the safety of the base. This violent practice was not limited to the butcher boys exclusively, but they would be the group that would continue the practice the longest. Crown Street Barbers: Located along one of the oldest streets in Ipsen, this Barber’s club was known to be baseball enthusiasts. The nature of the Barber profession called for working late hours as many customers preferred to have their grooming done after working hours on their way home. For this reason, the Crown Street barbers were known to get together early in the morning (sometimes as early as 6 am) and play to a set number of runs (most times it was 20 runs) so they could open their shops on time. Cherry Arch Educators Club: Education in the 1820’s was still primarily a service for the children of the wealthy in city districts like Cherry Arch. The Cherry Arch teachers would routinely meet to discuss things like curriculum and teaching philosophy. The educators were another early riser group when it came to their baseball. As a group they seemed to be more analytic when it came to playing field measurements. Based on their notes it was insisted that the distance between bases should always be 50 paces. What constitutes a pace though is definitely up for interpretation. Ipsen Legal Society: What was interesting about the Ipsen Legal Society was that lawyers occupied a higher rung on the social ladder. This was important as it provides further evidence that baseball was a game that was catching on with more than a single social class. Interestingly enough, the lawyers preferred a very loose game where boundaries between fair and foul territory were not established. Was this possibly because a key element of the legal profession was built around sifting through legal minutiae to argue their respective cases? Or perhaps creating a mindset where a bit of chaos during recreation was appreciated and needed? Various Fire Houses in Ipsen: By the 1820’s firefighting had morphed from a volunteer group that was called into action based on need, to a full-fledged profession. The firefighters did not create a social club like the other examples, but a number of firehouses had enough members in a single house to support baseball matches. Each firehouse played a different version of the game but one house in particular did not have an “out” count to signify the end of a time at bat or in the field. Each player hit one time and teams compiled as many runs as they could in that time. Then the opponent would get the same opportunity and the game lasted for a set amount of attempts (The term inning was not yet in use). Also of note, more than a few firehouses would provide a food banquet after a match was completed. Fish Harbour Political Club: What was unique about the F.H.P.C was it’s membership. In the other examples that have been provided, club members shared a profession. The F.H.P.C. was a political organization that shared an idea. It’s membership consisted of people from various professions with the interests of the Fish Harbour district as the reason for the clubs existence. The F.H.P.C. had a unique rule where if a batted ball was caught in the air or off a single bounce the batter would be ruled out. These examples give the reader a good cross reference of the types of clubs in operation that played some form of baseball. This isn’t to suggest that these were the only clubs that took up the game either. In fact, since none of these clubs played anyone but themselves, dozens of clubs took up the game as a recreational outlet as the decade continued. Then something very interesting happened in 1829. __________________ Click on my signature to read about the great game of baseball in Normington.