Baseball history will be celebrated when the Indianapolis Blues take on the Elkhart Railroaders in what will be one part competitive baseball and one part history lesson. 

Set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, at Lawton Park in downtown Fort Wayne, the Old Fort Baseball Co. will present the free inaugural Vintage Baseball Showcase to offer a glimpse into the past and origins of America’s pastime right where it all began — Fort Wayne, Indiana.

City’s spot in baseball lore

For those unfamiliar, Fort Wayne hosted the very first professional baseball game in 1871. 

Baseball was played as a club sport during the mid-19th century until 1869 when the Cincinnati Red Stockings declared themselves the first professional baseball team, meaning they began to pay players. 

The Fort Wayne Kekiongas, founded just a few years earlier in 1866, were a club that had gained a reputation as being a good team during their short existence. So they were invited to join the join the first professional league, the National Association of Professional Baseball Players, when it was formed in 1871.

According to Blake Sebring, author of Fort Wayne Sports History, Cincinnati was slated to make history May 4, 1871, as “the first game was originally supposed to happen in that city, but the game got rained out.” 

The next game on the schedule happened to be the Cleveland Forest Cities in Fort Wayne, later that afternoon. As a result, that first professional baseball game took place in the Summit City instead of Cincinnati, with the Kekiongas beating Cleveland 2-0.

Unfortunately, the lifespan of the Kekiongas lasted only a few years, not even completing their second season. However, they made their mark, and on May 4, 2017, a monument was unveiled on the site of that first game at Camp Allen Park, located at the corner of Camp Allen Drive and Center Street, just south of Main Street.

Time Warp

With this history in mind, it seems like an event of this magnitude is long overdue. 

The idea to host Vintage Baseball Showcase came from Old Fort Baseball Co. founder Logan Wiening and his absolute passion for the game of baseball. 

In a recent Whatzup interview, Wiening said he has wanted to engage with the community more by using baseball as the focus. He feels this is the perfect way to do that while offering something unique at the same time. 

“We wanted to bring a fun, family-friendly event to the community and let them experience this brand of baseball,” he said. “Having seen vintage baseball games taking place across the country, it seemed like a perfect fit.” 

The planning began six or seven months ago, Wiening said. Fort Wayne does not have its own vintage team, so the first step was “reaching out to teams to find someone to come play.” After a few calls, the Indianapolis and Elkhart teams agreed. 

Wiening’s first inclination was to host the game at Memorial Park where the Fort Wayne Daisies, a member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1945 until the league folded in 1954, had played.

“But Lawton Park was just logistically better,” he said. “It is near the location of Old League Park (Headwaters West) and only about a mile and a half from Camp Allen Park, which would have been played in a similar style to our event.”

The game will use the rules that were in place in 1864. The baseball they played in the 19th century was considerably different than today’s game, and those differences are what make this game extra fun. 

“A few key differences are that players do not wear gloves and pitchers pitch the ball underhanded,” Wiening said. “There are also three balls to a walk instead of the traditional four.” 

In addition, “this one-of-a kind event will showcase vintage style uniforms and period authentic equipment to allow the fans to step back in time to see how America’s Game began.”

Commemorating history

Additional fun surrounding the event comes in the form of a Fort Wayne Kekiongas pennant giveaway. The first 50 fans in attendance will receive one of these collectibles celebrating our historically significant team. 

Also, Wiening says he plans to hold raffles for the chance to win freebies from Old Fort Baseball Co., an apparel company he created out of “a love for baseball and the history of the game in Fort Wayne.” 

Commemorative posters will be available for fans as well, with plenty of opportunity to have them autographed by players.

As we all know, food plays a major part in any baseball fan’s experience, and Wiening has that covered. The Stand will be on site selling hot dogs, drinks, and other concession-type food while Major League Creamery, a baseball-themed ice cream truck from Ossian, will have some sweeter fares. Fairfax Coffee Truck will also be serving their own tasty specialty drinks.

Bring lawn chairs if you have them since seating is limited. It will be a great afternoon for family fun and baseball, the old-fashioned way. 

Whether a fan is a seasoned baseball enthusiast or a newcomer to America’s National Pastime, this event promises to be an unforgettable experience.