Vermilion Voles: What to Expect at a Danville, Illinois 1858 Vintage Base Ball Game

The Vermilion Voles are a vintage base ball club based in Danville, Illinois, that plays by the rules and customs of 1858. If you want to watch a match, expect a game that looks and sounds different from modern baseball: bare hands in the field, period language, and a relaxed, crowd-friendly atmosphere. If you want to play, the club states that new players are always welcome. The sections below cover what the club is, how the 1858 game differs, what to know before joining, and how to find a game.

Who the Vermilion Voles Are

The Voles are a vintage base ball club — the two-word spelling is itself a period convention — that plays according to the rules and customs of the year 1858. Their home field is in Danville, Illinois.

Two things follow from that description:

• The rules are fixed to a single year. This is not a loose "old-timey" style; the club's play is defined by one specific ruleset, which keeps matches consistent from game to game.
• The customs matter as much as the play. Vintage base ball includes period manners, forms of address, and vocabulary alongside the athletic competition.

The club also welcomes new players, so it functions as both a playing organization and a public-facing attraction for the Danville area.

How an 1858 Match Differs From Modern Baseball

The differences show up in equipment, fielding, and conduct. The table below summarizes the main contrasts.

The most visible difference for a first-time spectator is the bare-handed fielding. Without gloves, fielders must judge the ball and catch it cleanly with their hands, which changes how plays develop and how errors are judged. The second most noticeable difference is the language: players and umpires use period vocabulary and address each other in the manner of the era, which is part of the show rather than an affectation layered on top of it.

Because the rules are tied to 1858, you should not expect modern conventions to apply. The point of the exercise is fidelity to that year's game, not a hybrid.

What New Players Need to Know

If you are considering joining the Voles, the club's own position is straightforward: new players are always welcome. A few practical points follow from how vintage base ball works.

• You are learning a specific ruleset, not general baseball. Prior baseball experience helps with throwing, hitting, and reading the ball, but the 1858 rules and customs are the actual subject.
• Expect to field bare-handed. This is the defining physical demand of the game and the part most new players have to adjust to.
• Expect period conduct. Manners, vocabulary, and deportment are part of participation, not optional extras.
• The home field is in Danville, Illinois. If you are local to the area, that is where the club's activity is centered.

The most useful first step is to contact the club directly and ask about practice or an upcoming match, since the club's own materials emphasize openness to new members rather than a formal tryout process.

What Spectators Should Expect

A vintage base ball match is designed to be watched and enjoyed, and the period customs are part of the appeal. When you attend:

• Listen to the language. The vocabulary and forms of address are period-specific and are one of the clearest signals that you are watching something other than a modern game.
• Watch the fielders' hands. Bare-handed play produces catches and misplays that look nothing like modern defense.
• Expect a different pace and tone. The emphasis on gentlemanly conduct shapes how players and umpires interact.
• Bring questions. Because the ruleset is fixed to 1858, the reasoning behind unusual plays is usually explainable in period terms.

If you are new to vintage base ball entirely, the fastest way to follow a match is to pick one or two differences — bare-handed fielding and period language — and track those through the game rather than trying to absorb every rule at once.

Finding the Schedule or Contacting the Club

The club's website, hosted at vermilionvoles.wixsite.com, is the place to look for schedule information and contact details. Because schedules and contact methods can change, check the site directly rather than relying on secondhand listings.

When you reach out, be specific about what you want:

• As a spectator: ask for upcoming match dates and the home field location in Danville, Illinois.
• As a prospective player: ask how new players get started, when the club gathers, and what you should bring to a first session.

The club's stated position that new players are always welcome means a direct inquiry is a reasonable first move whether you want to play or simply watch.