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How to Cheer!
You are encouraged to cheer (or razz) the Welkins and their opponents with historic huzzahs and sayings:
"Huzzah!"
Hooray or hurrah
"Leg It!"
Run Fast
"Show A Little Ginger"
Play harder or smarter
"Beat the devil around the stump"
To evade responsibility or a difficult task. "Quit beatin' the devil around the stump and ask that girl to marry you."
"Muffin"
Inexperienced Player
"Daisy Cutter" or "Bug Bruiser"
Low struck ball, a grounder
"Muff"
Error
"Corker"
Well struck ball
"Stir your stumps!"
Run fast/hustle
When did the "fly rule" go into effect?
Until 1864 fair-struck balls could be caught on the fly or one bound for the striker to be called out. Starting in 1865 fly balls in fair territory needed to be caught before touching the ground for the batsman to be out. Before 1865 there was still an advantage to catching on the fly. If caught on the bound the base runners could advance once the ball touched the ground.
How can a ball be fair AND foul?
Until 1886, a ball was determined to be fair or foul by where it first struck the ground. Some highly skilled (or highly irritating) strikers will take advantage of this fact and strike the ball low and hard so it first lands in fair territory and quickly bounds into foul. This is known as a Fair-Foul hit.
These balls are difficult to retrieve and disliked by the fielding club.
These balls are difficult to retrieve and disliked by the fielding club.
The 1867 World's Tournament
In August of 1867, the Detroit Base Ball Club hosted the "World's Base Ball Tournament." With 24 clubs participating, the matches began at the grounds of the Detroit Base Ball Club on August 13, 1867, with the fans paying 25 cents each and 50 cents for each vehicle that entered the property.
The original Welkin Base Ball Club participated in the tournament. They traveled the long distance to Detroit on the train. Unfortunately, the train was delayed, and they arrived a day after their scheduled match against the Maple Leaf Club (pictured above) from Hamilton/Guelph Ontario. Discovering they had lost the match by forfeit, they asked the Maple Leafs to not accept a win by forfeit, but play the game. The Maple Leaf Club agreed.
Thursday, August 15 the Welkins played their match-game against the Maple Leaf Club. In the third innings, the Welkins were forced to withdraw from the match when pitcher, Blennerhassett was hit in the back of his hand by a struck ball. The Welkins would have probably lost the match as the score stood 19 to 10 when the Welkins withdrew. The Maple Leaf Club went on to win one of the third prize awards in the tournament.
The original Welkin Base Ball Club participated in the tournament. They traveled the long distance to Detroit on the train. Unfortunately, the train was delayed, and they arrived a day after their scheduled match against the Maple Leaf Club (pictured above) from Hamilton/Guelph Ontario. Discovering they had lost the match by forfeit, they asked the Maple Leafs to not accept a win by forfeit, but play the game. The Maple Leaf Club agreed.
Thursday, August 15 the Welkins played their match-game against the Maple Leaf Club. In the third innings, the Welkins were forced to withdraw from the match when pitcher, Blennerhassett was hit in the back of his hand by a struck ball. The Welkins would have probably lost the match as the score stood 19 to 10 when the Welkins withdrew. The Maple Leaf Club went on to win one of the third prize awards in the tournament.
When did overhand pitching start?
In 1884, the National Baseball League rules were changed to allow the pitcher to deliver the ball in any manner. The American Association of Base Ball Players rules still stated that the pitcher must deliver the ball "with his hand passing below his shoulder, and the ball passing over he Home Base at the height called for by the Batsman."
In June the following year, the American Association lifted their restrictions on how the pitcher may deliver the ball.
In June the following year, the American Association lifted their restrictions on how the pitcher may deliver the ball.
When did players start wearing gloves?
Early baseball was a game played without gloves. The earliest glove was not webbed and not particularly well suited for catching, but was used more to bat a ball to the ground so that it could be picked up.
Many early baseball gloves were simple leather gloves with the fingertips cut off. First baseman Albert Spalding, originally skeptical of glove use, influenced more infielders to begin using gloves. He later founded the sporting goods company Spalding. By the mid-1890s, most players were wearing gloves.
Many early baseball gloves were simple leather gloves with the fingertips cut off. First baseman Albert Spalding, originally skeptical of glove use, influenced more infielders to begin using gloves. He later founded the sporting goods company Spalding. By the mid-1890s, most players were wearing gloves.
What is a "Lemon Peel" Ball?
In the early 1860's baseballs were made from one piece of leather. They were usually hand made by each base ball club. In the late 1860's, a new design emerged, the familiar the two-piece "figure eight" began to be manufactured. The new design saved leather and could be mass produced.
Original 1867 Newspaper Article
This New York newspaper clipping has information about the 1867 World's Tournament and mentions the Welkin Base Ball Club (misspelled as "Wilkins") of Port Huron.
The original 1867 Welkins played in the World's Tournament in Detroit. They were forced to forfeit the match when pitcher, Blennerhassett, was injured when he has hit in the hand by a struck ball.
The original 1867 Welkins played in the World's Tournament in Detroit. They were forced to forfeit the match when pitcher, Blennerhassett, was injured when he has hit in the hand by a struck ball.
Who Were the Original Welkins?
Little is known about the original Welkin Club. Most of the Welkins went to the University of Michigan and were members of the University's Base Ball Club. One of the members was probably Herman W. Stevens. Stevens graduated from the University of Michigan in 1866 and from the Law Department in 1868. He served as a Circuit Court Commissioner, a Circuit Court Judge and in 1897 he was elected Mayor of Port Huron. More info on our History page.
Another Original Welkin?
Another original Welkin may have been John G. O'Neil. O'Neill was a prominent Port Huron resident and served as Mayor from 1883-84. More can be found on our History page.
Notice his stunning mutton chops!
Notice his stunning mutton chops!
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