Rochester Grangers Vintage Base Ball

History of the Rochester Grangers

Organized sports started in Rochester in the late 1860s.  There was a town base ball team as early as 1873, and by 1875 there was a merchant's league - in that year the Grangers beat the Mechanics 25-15.  Rochester supported a baseball club that played surrounding towns well into the 1930s.  A local team name also includes the "Independents." In addition, there was a woman's team called the "Bloomer Girls" which was known to play in 1902. The current Rochester Grangers Vintage Base Ball Club organized in 1999.

What is a Granger?

The Grange started in 1867 as a farmer's protest movement against powerful railroad companies that controlled everything from freight charges to schedules.  The crusade roared across the country, gathering members and political clout.  Within eight years of its founding there were 21,000 Granges across the United States with a total of 850,000 members.  Among the organization's numerous accomplishments was the passage of state laws regulating railroad monopolies (known as Granger Laws) eventually leading to the Interstate Commerce act of 1887 and, three years later, the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Oliver Kelley, a zealot for farmers' rights, founded the organization.  While working as a government clerk for the Bureau of Agriculture, Kelley toured America and came away fueled by stories like that of the farmer whose only profit from his crop after freight charges was enough money to buy a pair of shoes.  Kelley enlisted the help of a fellow employee and together they founded the Fraternal Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, the formal name for the organization that was to give farmers a united voice.

The Grange fathers took their radical concept and embellished it with nostalgic romantic trappings popular at the period.  For example, the organization is structured to symbolize old English farms known as granges.  The Grange Hall represents the entire farm estate and the person who heads each chapter is known as the Worthy Master.

Like the Masons, Grangers pursued a series of "degrees".  There are seven Granger degrees, each involving a phase of moral instruction.  Those who achieve them are able to participate in elaborate ceremonies.

From a biblical standpoint, the Grange movement followed the book of Ruth  the story of Ruth's fidelity to her widowed mother-in-law, and her humble gleaning of a wealthy man's fields expressed many of the ideals Grangers hold dear.

Although bordering the anachronistic, the feminine touch is another reflection of the Grange's pioneering history  the organization was one of the first in the country to admit women as full members.  In fact, three positions in the Grange are for women only.  These are named after figures from Roman mythology  Flora, goddess of flowers; Pomona, goddess of fruits; and Ceres, goddess of agriculture. Women have played leading roles in Grange history, often using the organization to forward feminist causes.  In Michigan, Mary Mayo, a state Grange leader in the 1870s pressed the Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University), to admit women.  Another state Grange leader, Dora Stockman, launched her political career as a Granger.  In 1938, while serving as a state representative, she helped draft the Michigan Hospital Service Bill to assure farm families, among others, medical coverage  this program became Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan.  The Rochester Grange, No. 257, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized with thirty-five members in March, 1874 with M.P. Newberry as its Master and Frank Thorpe, secretary.  There were sixty members in 1877.

Rules of the Game

A few rules for you to understand about how this grand old game was played in the nineteenth century are as follows:

 Players in the infield need to be within two strides of the base when the ball is pitched.
 No stealing unless there is a "muff" by the behind (catcher).
 For batters, there are no balls or strikes called.
 Pitcher's are obligated to pitch the ball where the striker requests it. There is no trickery. Vintage base ball is a hitting and fielding game.
 Batters can not overrun first base - they must stop on it.
 Base paths are 90 feet - the same as today.
 After crossing home plate, the player must approach the scorer's table, ring a bell, and politely request that the scorekeeper "tally your ace."

Remember - this is a gentleman's game. Sliding, spitting, wagering and getting your uniform dirty would disgrace your team! Appropriate fines by the team captain or umpire will be levied to maintain the dignity of the game.

The umpire represents one of the most trustworthy gentlemen in town  the minister, judge, or Mayor. Players are expected to resolve disputes as gentlemen. If they can not determine an outcome, the umpire will decide or he may ask for assistance from a local crank.

Spectators have been called "fans" from the word "fanatics" as base ball fever swept through the United States in the mid 1800s. The word "cranks" was used when admission was charged and fans turned crank stiles to enter a game.

2008 Home Schedule

Sat, May 18  vs. Port Huron Welkins
Sat, May 24  vs. Saginaw Old Golds at Halbach Field**
Sat, June 14  vs. Bay City Independents
Sun, July 13  vs. St. Pauls United Methodist Church  at 2pm*
Sat, July 26  vs. Royal Oak Wahoos 

 To learn more about the Rochester Grangers visit their website.