FORT SILL, Okla. (July 18, 2013) -- The Troop L Indians defeated the Fort Sill Cannonballs 24-20 July 13 at the Old Post Quadrangle during the post's annual vintage baseball game. The two-hour game was reminiscent of baseball played on post during the late 19th century between Soldiers and local Native Americans.
"It feels great to win," said David Wermy, who coached the Indians to their second consecutive win. "The old rules and the soft ball kind of threw us off, but we caught on and hit the ball really well."
The rules Wermy referred to were from 1860 and were very different from today's game. For instance, no gloves were used, a fly ball caught after one bounce was an out, and pitching was underhand. And, it was even spelled different: base ball.
Before the game, the hundreds of spectators were treated to old-time melodrama by volunteers from the Fort Sill museums. A couple of rowdies took over the ballfield. One of them (portrayed by Tim Poteete) shot his six-shooter into the air as he rode his horse, Rebel.
"What in the world is going on?" exclaimed game announcer Clive Siegle. "We'll never become a state or a territory if we continue to have riff-raff like this disturbing public affairs."
Fortunately, a U.S. Marshal (Alvie Cater) and a 10th Cavalry Regiment Buffalo Soldier (Ken Reese) were on hand to deal with the lawbreakers.
The re-enactment was based on a real incident involving rabble rouser William Wyatt, who rode his horse past the Cavalry Barracks while shooting up the sky, Cater said.
The vintage game represented 1890's ball games played between cavalry Soldiers of the Frontier Army and Troop L Native American Army Soldiers, said Frank Siltman, Fort Sill Museums director.
"We're preserving the heritage and the tradition of the Army, as well as Southwest Oklahoma and its tribes," Siltman said. "The history of Fort Sill isn't just about the Army, it's about the whole region."
The old-time game was resurrected at Fort Sill about 13 years ago by Towana Spivey, then-Fort Sill National Historic Landmark director and curator, Siltman said. This year's game featured active-duty service members from Fort Sill, and players from Commanche; Kiowa; Apache; Comanche/Kiowa; Kiowa/Fort Sill; Kiowa/Apache; and Comanche/Santa Ana Pueblo tribes and nations.
Dressed in traditional uniforms and with self-given nicknames, players like the Redlegs' Mike "The Demon Dentist" Roberts, Jon "Swattin'" Stephens and Dwight "Mayhem" Morrisey, took to the field. While the Indians, too, sported pseudonyms including Brandon "Masher" McNamar, Mark "Doomsday" Davis and Logan "Spitball" Sword.
THE GAME
The Indians held a 4-3 lead after the first inning, and increased their advantage to 9-4 after the second. At the top of the fourth it was 12-7 Indians, but the Cannonballs came up with a 7-run inning, the most runs allowed in an inning per the old rules.
During their hit-spree, Jeffrey "Fastball" Fleming had a hit that kicked up chalk just inside the baselines.
"Precision hitting at its best, literally on the line," Siegle said. "That man should be an artilleryman."
The friendly game was not without controversy, however.
During the sixth inning, there was confusion whether an Indian runner should be awarded one or two bases on an overthrow to first base.
Umpire Wendel Dickason endured the derision of the spectators as both teams argued their points.
"Baseball is harder to prognosticate than weather," Siegle said. " Everyone is arguing their point. Geometry is entering into this; soon calculus."
Between innings, products and services were hawked by Siegle, who, when not announcing, is a Southern Methodist University history and Southwestern studies professor.
"Shanghai Pierce's Horse Emporium invites equine epicures of equation to visit his establishment where horses are guaranteed to have all their teeth, no altered brands, no Comanchero stock, and no horses known to have consorted with mules," said Siegle, in his advertisement which drew laughter from the crowd.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Cannonballs trailed 24-19 and were only able to score one more run to end the game.
Cannonball player Rick "The Ripper" Royse was one of several Marines on the Redlegs 16-man roster. He said he chose to play because it seemed like a fun event and a way to bring back history for everybody to enjoy.
He said the team's only practice consisted of the warm-up before the game, and their strategy was simple: "not get hurt and to have fun."
"We had a blast. We made some really good community relations," said Royse, who is the executive officer of the Marine Artillery Detachment here. "This was a fantastic day."
Following the game, Dr. Scott Neel, Fort Sill National Historic Landmark director and curator, presented all of the players with medals. Fort Sill Cannonball's coach Donald "Fireball" Fryc, Air Defense Artillery School Commandant and chief of ADA, presented the Indians with Fires Center of Excellence ballcaps and T-shirts. And, Janis Wermy, a Troop L descendant, gave Fort Sill First Lady Connie McDonald a traditional Indian blanket.
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