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2008
INFIRMARY INMATES VINTAGE BASE BALL SCHEDULE
Sponsored
by Alliance Venture Mortgage, LLC
and
All games are open
to the public.
HOME games are played at "Inmate Field"
at Wintergarden
Park in Bowling Green.
Direct questions to Michael McMaster
419-352-0967 or education@woodcountyhistory.org
PAST
PRESS:
• [Toledo
Blade, July 2005] Genteel base ball is a hit in B.G.: Vintage
pastime tips its cap to times past
• Vintage Base Ball Association
William “Red” or “Deacon” Wright
By Craig “Coldwater Jim” Lammers
Known in the baseball encyclopedias as Lucky,” William Wright was known as “Red” or “Deacon” during his playing days; the former because of his hair color and the latter because he didn’t smoke, drink, or swear; a rarity among early 20th century ballplayers.
Wright was born in Waterville, Ohio on February 21, 1880, but lived most of his life in Tontogany, Ohio. He began playing for Tontogany’s semi-pro team about 1897 and later played for Bowling Green’s team. He began his minor league career as a pitcher and occasional infielder for Decatur of the Three I League in 1903. After a successful season, he suffered an arm injury and was released early in the 1904 season. He returned to minor league baseball with Bloomington (Illinois) of the same league in 1906 and was drafted by Oakland of the Pacific Coast League.
After two outstanding years in Oakland, he was purchased by the Cleveland Naps (now Indians) and joined the team for the 1909 season. He began the year in the Cleveland starting rotation and pitched well in two losses to the Tigers and one loss against the White Sox. Other members of the Cleveland pitching staff were Hall of Famers Cy Young and Addie Joss. After an unsuccessful start at Boston and a relief appearance in New York, Wright was sent to the Toledo Mud Hens, Cleveland’s farm club in the American Association. Wright started the second game ever played at Toledo’s Swayne Field. Soon after, he suffered another arm injury which ended his professional career.
He was one of the most popular players with the fans on the teams he played for and was also a respected citizen of Tontogany and Wood County. Wright served on town council in his hometown and was a painter after his baseball days. When he died on July 7, 1941, The Sentinel-Tribune featured his obituary on the front page.
A comprehensive biography of Wright is available at:
http://bioproj.sabr.org |
Infirmary Inmates at Ned Skelton Stadium, 2007.
vs OHIO VILLAGE MUFFINS (Ohio Historical Society)
Sunday, April 20, 2008, 1:00 PM, HOME
vs SYLVANIA FROGS (Sylvania, OH)
Sunday, May 4, 2008, 1:00 PM, HOME
"Tournament"
vs CAREY CAYUGAS (Carey, OH)
Sunday, May 18, 2008, 9:00 AM, AWAY
"2nd Annual BG Cup "
vs CAREY CAYUGAS (Carey, OH)
Sunday, June 8, 2008, 1:00 PM, HOME
"Indiana Hilltopper Tournament" (Huntington, IN)
Saturday, June 21, 2008, Time and Teams TBA (AWAY) at Huntington, IN
vs SPIEGEL
GROVE SQUIRES (Fremont,
OH)
Sunday, June 29, 2008, 2:00 PM, (AWAY) at Hayes Presidential Home, Fremont,
OH
"TOURNAMENT"
vs NORTHVILLE
ECLIPSE BBC (Northville, MI)
Friday, July 4, 2008, Time and Location TBA, (AWAY)
vs SPIEGEL
GROVE SQUIRES (Fremont,
OH)
Sunday, July 13, 2008, 1:00 PM, HOME
vs SYLVANIA FROGS (Sylvania, OH)
Sunday, July 20, 2008, 2:00 PM, AWAY at Wildwood Park, Sylvania, OH
vs CINCINNATI BUCKEYES (Sharonville, OH)
Sunday, July 27, 2008, Time TBA, (AWAY) at Lebanon, OH
"OHIO FESTIVAL"
vs CAREY CAYUGAS (Carey, OH)
Sunday, August 3, 2008, 7:00 PM, (AWAY) at Carey
vs CINCINNATI BUCKEYES (Sharonville, OH)
Sunday, August 24, 2008, 1:00 PM, HOME
vs OHIO VILLAGE MUFFINS (Ohio Historical Society)
Saturday, September 13 , 2008, 2:00 PM, (AWAY) at Ohio Historical Society
"UNDER THE LIGHTS at NED SKELTON"
vs CAREY CAYUGAS (Carey, OH)
Saturday, September 27, 2008, 7:00 PM, (HOME) at Ned Skelton Stadium, Maumee Ohio
Today’s Vintage Baseball Team
The Wood County Historical Center & Museum has been involved in vintage baseball since 2004 as part of the museum’s adult educational outreach. The goal of the team is to involve the people of Wood County in activities at the Historical Center, to learn what life was like in the 1800s, to educate the public about the history of baseball in our community, and to have fun playing by the rules and customs of baseball as it was played in the 1860s.
The Wood County Historical Museum was once the County Home or Infirmary (1869-1971). Residents at the Infirmary were called Inmates, hence the team name Wood County Infirmary Inmates; they were NOT prison inmates. The modern Wood County Infirmary Inmates Base Ball Club is an active member of the national Vintage Base Ball Association (baseball was two words back then).
The Wood County Infirmary Inmates Base Ball Club is open to anyone, regardless of skill level, 16 years of age or older. Members wear reproduction uniforms reminiscent of those worn in the early 19th century. The club uses reproduction equipment, such as bats and balls, that would have been used in the 1860s. The team practices and plays at “Inmate Field,” located at Wintergarden Park in Bowling Green, Ohio.
For more information about the team or vintage baseball, contact Education Programs Coordinator Michael McMaster at the Wood County Historical Center: 419-352-0967 or education@woodcountyhistory.org. Also visit the Museum’s website at www.woodcountyhistory.org or the Vintage Base Ball Association’s website at www.vbba.org.
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