The Louisville Historical Museum and Louisville History Foundation recently hosted the fourth annual Vintage Base Ball Game at historic Miners Field on September 21, 2024.

Around 450 excited fans watched the Louisville Miners, a team of local community members and City staffers, hit, run, and throw their way to victory 13 to 6 against the Star Base Ball Club of Colorado Territory. Spectators gathered to watch the game, eat Cracker Jacks, take photos with cutouts of historic Louisville baseball players, and make historic coloring sheets and paper fans. Many spectators also arrived early enough to receive free Louisville Miners t-shirts, courtesy of the Louisville History Foundation. What a great way to celebrate Louisville History Month! More photos can be found below. 

The game was highlighted in the Colorado Hometown Weekly. 

Special thanks to the volunteer players for the Louisville Miners Team:

1. Team Capt. Dan “Wonderboy” Mellish
2. Garret “Harry Gary” Nicodemus
3. Scott “Stretch” Dooley
4. “Plain Ole Joe” Spanarella
5. John “Lanky” Honan
6. Mia “Mad Dog” Torrence
7. Phillip “Land Phil” Clain
8. Chris “Spectacles” Torrence
9. Marshall “Ragin Cajun” Jones
10. “Cuppa Joe” Teasdale
11. Everett “Skeeter” Weiss
12. Regina “Mrs. October” Miller

Additional thanks to the Colorado Vintage Base Ball Association for their great sportsmanship, and to our sponsors, without whom this amazing event would not be possible:

Louisville Miners and Star Base Ball Club of Colorado Territory kneel around the score board. (Photo: Summer King)

Miners Team Captain Dan "Wonderboy" Mellish talks with Ed "Not So Fast" Evans from the Star Base Ball Club of Colorado Territory (Photo: Joe Teasdale)

Miners' player, Marshall “Ragin Cajun” Jones hits the ball! (Photo: Joe Teasdale)

The Miner's newest player, Everett "Skeeter" Weiss, keeps an eye on the ball (Photo: Joe Teasdale)

Miner's player, Mia "Mad Dog" Torrence, rings the bell to signify a run (Photo: Joe Teasdale) 

The Bourbon Brass Band march through the Louisville Farmer's Market to "drum up" interest in the Vintage Base Ball Game (Photo: Gordon Madonna)

Louisville History Foundation Director Jeff Bradley holds up a Louisville Miners t-shirt for a line of guests (Photo: Summer King)

A young spectator in a Louisville Miner's t-shirt watches the Bourbon Brass Band play live music (Photo: Summer King)

Louisville Historical Museum volunteers, Rebecca Ferguson and Amy Marks help children create paper fans (Photo: Summer King)

Three young fans demonstrate their artistic skills with their Louisville Miners paper fans. The dog looks on. (Photo: Summer King)

Chris "Spectacles" Torrence poses with Louisville's own Major League Baseball player circa 1913-1918, Bert Niehoff (Photo: Gordon Madonna)

History Foundation Secretary Jennifer Levin, Co-Chair Cory Nickerson, Director Val Igler, Co-Chair Jen Henderson, City of Louisville Cultural Services Director Sharon Nemechek, Museum Services Supervisor Gigi Yang, Louisville History Foundation Treasurer Jane Coyle, and Directors Jeff Bradley and Gordon Madonna (Photo: Summer King)