Ludington Mariners Base Ball

Ludington Mariners Old Time Base Ball Team

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 ten 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 White Pine Village against worthy opponents, the Ludington Mariners also travel to places like Heritage Day at Fayette Historic Townsite; John Ball Park in Grand Rapids; Greenfield Village in Detroit; Van Hoosen Farm in Rochester; and several locations in Indiana and Ohio. The Ludington Mariners were very pleased to represent Mason County in a match with the Kent Old Time Base Ball Club at Old Kent Park prior to a Whitecaps game May 25, 1997.

From the original charter members of the team to the members playing in 2003, 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 struggled, practiced, studied, and yes, matured into a valuable and recognized contributor to our study of history and the interpretation of our county’s past.

The Mason Co. Historical Society has been pleased to have the Ludington Daily News as a financial sponsor of the Ludington Mariners since the beginning. Another media, WKLA, joined the Ludington Daily News a year later and both have been instrumental in the success of the team. The sponsorships helped the Ludington Mariners equip itself with uniforms, bats, balls, and other equipment. They have also allowed the team to have one get together per year to say thank you to the volunteers and their families who make up the Ludington Mariners Old Time Base Ball Club. We also host each visiting team to a picnic or meal when they visit Historic White Pine Village. 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 purchased from a Victorian Clothing Store establishment and were designed in the likeness of the 1912-14 Ludington Mariners Minor League Team. Bats have been hand made for the team by a local woodshop teacher. A scoreboard and banner (large sail) were constructed and purchased by Ron Johnson, currently the Honorary Manager and one of the charter members of the team. Ron Johnson continues to maintain the field and dresses in period attire for game days as he oversees the “gentleman” requirements of the rules along with the umpire.

After ten years of wear and tear, the Ludington Mariners hope to sport new uniforms. In keeping with the 1860 period of time, and to be more attuned to the dress of the other teams playing vintage base ball, the Mariners are looking at a uniform more similar to the 1860 style, but maintaining the Ludington Mariners history by using an anchor along with the small “L” inside a diamond on the breast shield front. The uniform would consist of a shirt w/breast shield, necktie, trousers, belt, and hat. We would like to equip twenty-five players, eliminating the need to collect and distribute uniforms before each match to those players available on that particular day.

The current roster and mailing list for the Ludington Mariners reads as follows:

Louie Abrahamson Aaron Alley

David and Rick Bly Chuck Clark

Ray and Bob Cole John Cooney

Dennis Dunlap Bill Feyers

Bill Funk Les Johnson

Ron and Ann Johnson Jim Newkirk

Barry Pleiness Cliff Reed

Chuck Rueger Chris Schneider

Mike Slimmen Steve Strbich

Tim Tibbits Chris VanOosterum

Bill and Debbie Wahr Jeremy and Rob Williams

Adam Wolfe Ron Wood

David Jackson - LDN Roger Baerwolf - WKLA