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A TALE OF MISCHIEF, A WEASEL, AND A BEAN FIELD
Cold temperatures and rain greeted the ballplayers on a day that was dull and gray, an omen of fall, not the end of July. This was the scene as the La Crescent Apple Jacks traveled to Rochester to face the Minneapolis Quicksteps and the Roosters of Olmsted County during a vintage base ball festival.
The weather proved secondary on this Saturday as the Jacks began the day contending with some chicanery from the Quicksteps, once heralded as the foremost vintage base ball club in Minnesota. In the 1860s game, men placed a high value on the camaraderie among players. Rivals often became friends, then as today, although Saturday’s first game tested the amity between the Jacks and Quicksteps.
The Minneapolis team jumped to a ten-run lead in a timed match-up, preying on the uneven defense of the Jacks. After each out, the Quicksteps exchanged defensive positions like children playing musical chairs. While the players could have been developing their skills, the spectators viewed the strategy as a mockery and not in keeping with gentlemanly behavior. The Jacks’ captain, Bill “Ho-hum” Ohm brought the shenanigans to the attention of the umpire, Sir Fines Alot. Disconcertingly, the arbiter dismissed the issue and did not levy any fines, and the chicanery continued.
By the third inning, the Jacks had had enough. Joel “Hefty” Affeldt got a hit and eventually scored. Following suit, Jim “Scoop” Schupbach, Andrew “Stinky” Pesta, and Steve “Whitey” Geronime reached base. In an event that Jacks’ fans have never witnessed, Jason “Weasel” Pericak hit an ace (home run) with his teammates on all three bases, thus scoring four aces. Unfortunately, the Jacks’ retort did not have a chance to continue as time ran out and the Quicksteps prevailed.
Later in the afternoon, both the Jacks and the Roosters found the rain and cold to be their fiercest
adversaries. Until the third inning. A Rooster’s daisy-cutter to right field meandered into the adjoining bean field, which had swallowed the ball. Nearly all the Jacks trod through the wet soil, scanning the neat rows of bean plants for the leather orb. Soon the Roosters joined in the hunt, peering under the plants, leaving only a few spectators and an anxious umpire to await the find. The ball was eventually located, and play resumed, but the bean field went on to vex outfielders for several innings. In the end, the Jacks tallied nine hits, but only 2 aces to the Roosters’ 13.
Grateful acknowledgement to Karen Geronime for the photos of Rook and a Rooster
and the bean field hunt.
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