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What is Vermilion Voles?

Vermilion Voles is a vintage base ball club based in Danville, Illinois, that plays by the rules and customs of 1858. Rather than modern baseball, the club recreates an earlier style of the game, which typically means period-appropriate equipment, language and match-day customs. The club describes its home field as being in Danville and states that new players are always welcome.

Who it suits

• History enthusiasts and baseball fans curious about how the game was played before the modern era.
• Local residents of Danville and surrounding parts of Illinois looking for a recreational, heritage-oriented activity.
• Beginners, since the club explicitly invites new players rather than restricting membership to experienced athletes.

What to expect

Matches are played according to 1858 conventions, so the atmosphere is likely to feel more like a historical reenactment than a contemporary league game. Terms such as "huzzah" and "weedeater" in the club's own keywords suggest a playful, old-fashioned vocabulary and in-jokes tied to the vintage style.

The club's online presence is a Wix site: Vermilion Voles. Because no pricing information is given, it is unclear whether playing or attending involves any cost.

What are the rules of 1858 baseball that the Vermilion Voles play by?

The Vermilion Voles play "vintage base ball" using the rules and customs of 1858, a style often called "base ball" rather than the modern "baseball." The club's site presents this as a living reenactment: players dress in period-style uniforms and use 19th-century language and etiquette, including the familiar shout "huzzah!"

Key features of 1858-style play typically include:

• Bare hands in the field. Fielders generally did not wear gloves, so catching a line drive or fly ball was a stiffer challenge.
• One bound catch. A ball caught on the first bounce could count as an out, a rule that shaped how fielders positioned themselves.
• No called balls or strikes in the modern sense. The pitcher delivered the ball underhand to the batter's preference, and the umpire's role was more about fair play than enforcing a tight strike zone.
• Different field layout and terminology. Positions and distances may differ from the modern diamond, and players often used period nicknames.
• Gentlemanly conduct. Taunting, profanity and arguing with the umpire were discouraged; the emphasis was on civility and sportsmanship.

For spectators, this makes for a relaxed, family-friendly event with a historical flavor. The Voles' home field is in Danville, Illinois, and the club says new players are always welcome, so the rules are learnable by joining practices rather than only by study.

For broader context on vintage base ball, see Vintage Base Ball Association.

How can I join the Vermilion Voles as a new player?

To join the Vermilion Voles, the club's site indicates that new players are always welcome. Based at their home field in Danville, Illinois, the Voles are a vintage base ball club that plays by the rules and customs of 1858, so newcomers should expect a different style of play from the modern game.

Practical steps

• Make contact first. Reach out through the club's website, Vermilion Voles, to express interest and ask about the next opportunity to meet the team.
• Visit a practice or match. Watching or taking part in a session lets you see the 1858 customs, equipment and terminology before committing.
• Ask what to bring. Since vintage base ball typically uses period-appropriate gear and dress, the club can advise on what is provided and what you may need.
• Expect a welcoming, amateur setting. This is a living-history club rather than a professional organization, so enthusiasm and a willingness to learn the old rules matter more than prior experience.

Who it suits

The club is suited to people in or near Danville who enjoy history, community and casual sport, including complete beginners. If you are unsure about the rules, that is normal; veteran members usually help new players learn the 1858 conventions. The main trade-off is that matches follow historical customs rather than modern baseball, which is precisely the appeal for many participants.

Where is the Vermilion Voles' home field in Danville, Illinois?

The Vermilion Voles play their home matches in Danville, Illinois, and the club describes its field as being in that city. The site does not spell out a street address or a specific park name in the supplied information, so anyone planning to attend may need to check the club's schedule or contact the team directly for exact directions.

What the club does make clear is the experience: games are played by the rules and customs of 1858, which typically means period-appropriate equipment, language and match conventions rather than modern baseball. That format appeals to history enthusiasts, families looking for a relaxed afternoon, and local spectators curious about how the game was played in the mid-nineteenth century.

The Voles also welcome new players, so the field serves both as a venue for scheduled matches and as a practice and recruitment setting for people interested in trying vintage base ball. Because the club is based in Danville, its home games are naturally tied to that community, giving residents a local team to follow without traveling to a larger city.

For the precise location, the safest approach is to consult the club's own site, Vermilion Voles, where event details and field information are most likely to be posted.

What is a typical game or event like for the Vermilion Voles?

A Vermilion Voles match is less a modern baseball game than a living-history demonstration. The club plays by the rules and customs of 1858, so expect underhand pitching, bare hands in the field, and a ball caught on one bounce still counting as an out. Umpires may be addressed as "sir," and players typically wear period-style uniforms rather than today's synthetic jerseys.

H3 What to expect

• A single nine-inning contest usually moves at a relaxed pace, with plenty of between-inning commentary.
• Spectators are often part of the show: cheers, period slang and the club's "huzzah" spirit are encouraged.
• The atmosphere suits families, history buffs and anyone curious about early baseball, rather than fans seeking a high-intensity modern game.

H3 Where and who The Voles call Danville, Illinois home, and their field is the setting for most scheduled matches. Because the club states that new players are always welcome, events may double as informal recruitment: interested visitors can ask about practice and equipment expectations. Costs, if any, are not listed here.

For anyone weighing a visit, the trade-off is clear: you get an educational, sociable afternoon rather than elite athletic competition. More details live at Vermilion Voles.

What does 'huzzah' mean in the context of the Vermilion Voles?

In the context of the Vermilion Voles, "huzzah" is best understood as a period cheer rather than a piece of team jargon. The club plays by the rules and customs of 1858, and "huzzah" was a common exclamation of celebration in nineteenth-century America — roughly equivalent to "hurrah" or "hooray." Vintage base ball clubs typically use it to applaud a good play, welcome the opposing nine, or cap off a match, which fits the Voles' broader effort to recreate the sound and manners of an earlier era.

What this means in practice

• Audience: spectators, players and anyone new to vintage base ball who hears the word shouted from the sidelines.
• Function: it signals approval and good sportsmanship, not a rule, position or piece of equipment.
• Tone: deliberately old-fashioned; using it is part of the historical atmosphere the club cultivates.

The term also appears among the site's keywords, alongside "weedeater," which in vintage play often refers to a hard-hit ground ball — another reminder that the club's vocabulary is drawn from nineteenth-century usage. The Voles are based in Danville, Illinois, and Vermilion Voles notes that new players are always welcome, so learning the lingo is part of joining in.