Ballist of the week 3/9- Smiley

Good people, please accept our humble apology for the absence of last week’s Ballist of the Week dispatch. Our faithful purveyor of news and correspondence had ventured westward and was, alas, laid low by a troublesome bout of dysentery upon the trail.

Yet fear not, for the presses once more turn and the tidings resume!

Without further delay, we are most pleased to present this week’s Ballist of the Week, a stalwart of the field and a credit to the noble game of base ball.

We are proud to present Smiley from Franklin Farriers Vintage Base Ball Club.

Huzzah!

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 (𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞)𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮?

During covid, I saw an ad online for a “vintage base ball game”. This was the perfect event to go check out and enjoy being outside. My wife and I sat behind the Franklin Farriers bench for a game against the Maroons at the Bicentennial Mall. When I spoke to a few Farriers players, we instantly had a connection. I sat back down and told my wife “I will 100% be playing for this team next year”. Thankfully I was able to do just that

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲?

I love playing in the outfield. I didn’t have much of a choice, they stick the young guys out there no matter what…the young legs give you an advantage! I love chasing down fly balls and playing the geometry/angles of the bounce to make the catch. Watching one get ripped your way and watching the wind push it 3 different directions before it gets to you is quite a sight.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥

100% the people who play it. The ladies and men of this league are some of the best you can ask for. I especially love the team I play for, the Franklin Farriers. Every year The Farriers have to turn away folks because our roster is full, I think that says a lot about how we treat people and how we approach the game. We play as gentlemen, and play to have a great time.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛?

If you hate fun, don’t join. If you like having fun, get out on the field with us! It’s such a privilege to get to know your fellow players. This league will change your life for the better…I guarantee it.

𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭—𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭?

For one thing, it is historically accurate. The game at the time was played for victory, but for victory in a fashion that you could be proud of and walk away with honor.

Additionally, it makes the game and league that much more enjoyable when you have a positive experience while playing. Giving it your all, and doing so with a spirit of camaraderie.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥?

The Sulphur Dell Cup is always the highlight of each season for me. This is our tournament at the end of the season when all of the teams get together and play multiple games a day. You can see team fortunes won or lost in the span of a few games, and the camaraderie is at an all time high.