Hutchinson Base Ball Club

Hey Ballists! Here's a reminder to come visit with us tomorrow night (Thursday, April 9) anytime from 6-9pm at AJ's at the Alley in Hutchinson for our 2026 preseason vintage base ball meeting. Bring your family and friends if you want. Order some dinner or snacks if you want, as well. I'll have schedules there for you as well as some vintage gear, and we'll talk about the upcoming season and anything else you want to discuss. Everyone is welcome! More details are given in my previous post.
-Doc

!!!ATTENTION ALL BALLISTS!!!
Are you a current participant with the Hutchinson Base Ball Club? Have you filled in during any of our previous matches?
Do you have a desire to learn more about playing vintage base ball?
If you answered "yes" to any of the above, I'd love to have you come to our 2026 spring meeting!

Thursday, April 9
AJ's Sports Grill at The Alley
6-9pm (come and go)

I will have 2026 schedules there as well as some odds and ends to help explain our game to any newbies. This will be a chance to hang out, enjoy some food and drink if you choose, and get excited about our upcoming season. Feel free to bring any of your friends and family. This will be informal, and I'll be there the whole time to make sure I have a chance to talk with all of you. Wouldn't it be cool if we had enough ballists to create a third HBBC team? Do you have some men or women in your life that love baseball or softball and want to play in a unique way? Invite your friends and let's do it!

Spread the word, and come out on April 9th!

"Doc"

Hutchinson Base Ball Club 2026 Schedule

May 2 Season opener @ Cowtown 10am and 1pm
Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita

May 23 Free State Vintage Base Ball Festival TBD
Ted Ensley Gardens, Topeka

June 6 Home Opener; Salt Packers vs Prairie Dogs 10am and 12:30pm
Rice Park, Hutchinson

June 27 Salt Packers vs. Prairie Dogs 10am and 12:30pm
Rice Park, Hutchinson

July 4 Independence Day Celebration @ Cowtown 1pm
Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita

July 18 vs. Cowtown Vintage Base Ball Club 10am and 1pm
Rice Park, Hutchinson

July 25 Czech Festival vs. Topeka Westerns TBD
Czech Festival, Wilson, KS

August 15 vs. Emporia Nine 10:30am
Rice Park, Hutchinson

Sept 5 Salt Packers vs. Prairie Dogs 10am and 12:30pm
Rice Park, Hutchinson

Sept 26 Salt City Vintage Base Ball Festival TBD
Rice Park, Hutchinson (featuring Cowtown, Emporia, and Topeka)

October 24 Emporia Nine @ Emporia (Location TBD) 10:30am

Hey everyone! It's been quite a while since I've posted anything here in the offseason, but since spring training is underway.....

I got the chance to take a couple fellow Salt Packers and meet with other managers of vintage base ball at The Hub in Moundridge this weekend to schedule our games. I'll get this out very soon, so keep an eye out!

We've also made Wizard Bat Company the official batmaker for the Hutchinson Base Ball Club. Check out their website (wizardbatco.com) to check out what our friend Carson "Lightning" Lee can do for you. He does amazing work!

In 1893, a batter fouled off a pitch and broke the last bat at the park, so he walked over to a woodpile and picked up and axe. Next pitch, he swung, cut the ball in half, and half of it went over the fence. He game ended 2.5-2.

I can’t believe I missed this clip from this summer.

The Cowtown Vintage Base Ball Club recreates baseball from the 1870s, playing only with wooden bats and bare hands at the Old Cowtown Museum. The volunteer team started in 2004 and follows rules from years ago. 📷: Jaime Green of The Eagle

Thank you so much to the Cowtown Vintage Base Ball Club, Emporia Vintage Base Ball, and the Westerns Base Ball Club of Topeka for coming to Hutch yesterday for our Salt City Vintage Base Ball Festival! It's always fun to play all of you, and we look forward to next year.
Also, thank you to the City of Hutchinson - Government and Justin Combs, Director of Parks for accommodating us at Rice Park. It was perfect!
Make sure to read the recap below...

Come out to Rice Park this Saturday to see what base ball was like in the 1860's! We're excited to have the other Kansas teams visit for a festival format. We'll have games starting at 10am, noon, and 2pm. We can't wait to see our friends from the Cowtown Vintage Base Ball Club, Emporia Vintage Base Ball, and the Westerns Base Ball Club of Topeka! Come cheer on your team!

What a great photo that captures the spirit of vintage base ball!

We told ourselves we wouldn’t post yet another shot of Dutch… but how could we not when the Washington Post caught this gem? In a valiant bid to snag a ball in right field, Dutch charged headfirst into a wall of pricker bushes. He came up empty-handed, bloodied, and somehow looking heroic all the same. A perfectly imperfect Guards moment, captured forever.

📸: Matt McClain/Washington Post

Thanks to Emporia Vintage Base Ball for hosting us at the Klumpe Blacksmithing Centennial in Olpe, KS yesterday! It's always fun to try to match up with the Emporia Nine. Read my recap, and make it a point to come to a future match!

With a heavy heart I must share that one of our former teammates Kaden Marcum passed away today from injuries sustained in a car accident. Kaden, the son of Woody and the brother of Stick, played several times with the Salt Packers, once diving safely across home plate with two outs in the final inning to secure a Salt Packers win! I also had the opportunity to coach Kaden on our high school baseball team, where we was a solid presence at 3rd base and held the 5-spot in my lineup. Kaden is pictured in uniform on our cover photo above the 6th inning spot on the scoreboard. Our prayers go out to Kaden's family and friends as they grieve his passing. He is now truly safe at home!