Lots of People Were Talking Old Time Baseball on Main Street This Evening

Down on Main Street this evening, a lively crowd gathered for a reception marking the opening of historical society’s baseball exhibit.  Attended by nearly 150 guests and members, the place was almost transformed into an old-time baseball field.   The Elkton Eclipse, the county’s 1860s team, was there talking about the national pastime as they played it in the era when the umpires were addressed as sir and dressed formally.  Talk about the original rules of the game, stealing, sliding and such filled the room as the players mingled with guests.   The hot dog vendor and the peanut dealer were nearby, with treats we associate with a trip to the ball field.    On the sidelines, James Crothers discussed his new book, the “History of the Rising Sun Little League” while other people talked about playing the game in Cecil County as youngsters.  Of course, the center of all this bustle of activity was the new exhibit, showcasing items from the collection and lots of photographs from the sports earliest period in the county to the era of Little Leagues.