The Mason County Historical Society (MCHS) organized an old time base ball team called the Ludington Mariners in 1993, with the help of Gordon Olson, then Grand Rapids City Historian and Dr. Bill Anderson, local historian and author of the book entitled The Ludington Mariners- Minor League Baseball In A Maritime Community. Once organized, the Ludington Mariners Old Time Base Ball Club joined the Vintage Base Ball Association, which at that time consisted of twenty-nine teams, mainly in the Midwest. The current VBBA website, vbba.org opens with this paragraph:

What is vintage base ball? Vintage Base Ball is base ball (yes, it was two words originally) played by the rules and customs of any earlier period. Ballists don period uniforms and recreate the game ‘as it was meant to be played’. The activity of vintage base ball can be seen at open-air museums, re-enactments and city parks and is played on both open grass fields and modern baseball diamonds.

The Ludington Mariners during the past nineteen years have become wonderful ambassadors for the Mason County Historical Society, Historic White Pine Village, Ludington, and all of Mason County. Playing home matches (games) at Historic White Pine Village against worthy opponents. The Ludington Mariners also travel to places throughout Michigan and several locations in Indiana and Ohio.

From the original charter members of the team to the members playing currently, it has always been an interpretation of America’s past time – baseball. Sure we all love to win, but interpretation of the 1860 rules and playing the game according to those rules has been the intent of the team. The Ludington Mariners have practiced, studied, and yes, matured into a valuable and recognized contributor to our study of history and the interpretation of our county’s past and very wonderful ambassadors for the area.

A field has been marked, equipped, and maintained on the northwest portion of the village grounds. It is typical for the period portrayed, because of trees in the outfield and a basic pasture setting. Civil War soldiers would play the game in open fields.

The original uniforms for the Mariners were in the likeness of the 1912-14 Ludington Mariners Minor League Team. In 2003 new uniforms were needed and the team decided to change to an 1860 style that still maintains the "mariner" theme with blue and white colors and an anchor along with the small “L” inside a diamond on the breast shield front of the shirt.