The annual vintage baseball game has become a popular tradition at the John Deere Historic Site, drawing hundreds of spectators each year. The event combines living history with America’s pastime, giving visitors a chance to see baseball played the way it was more than 160 years ago.
The historic site itself holds a special place in American history. Grand Detour is where John Deere, a Vermont blacksmith who arrived in Illinois in the 1830s, developed and built the first commercially successful steel plow. Visitors today can explore Deere’s restored home, view artifacts uncovered from archaeological excavations of his original blacksmith shop, and watch live blacksmithing demonstrations throughout the season.
The idea of hosting a vintage baseball game at the site grew from a desire to bring another piece of 19th-century life to the grounds. What started as a simple concept has evolved into an annual event that continues to attract larger crowds each year.
Vintage baseball traces its roots back to living history museums. Beginning in the 1980s, organizations started researching and recreating the earliest forms of baseball using original rule books from the 1850s. Today, more than 300 vintage baseball clubs exist across the country, preserving and demonstrating the game’s earliest traditions.
Unlike modern baseball, vintage baseball emphasizes action, sportsmanship, and historical authenticity. Players compete without gloves, catch balls barehanded, and follow rules from baseball’s formative years. Under the 1858 rules used by the Oregon Ganymedes, a batter can be called out if a fielder catches the ball on either a fly or the first bounce. Pitchers throw underhand, and the game focuses more on placement and strategy than power hitting.
The sport also relies heavily on honor. During baseball’s earliest years, players were expected to call themselves out on close plays. Umpires served primarily as mediators rather than enforcers, reinforcing the gentlemanly nature of the game.
Another unique aspect of vintage baseball is the playing field itself. Teams rarely compete on traditional baseball diamonds. Instead, games are played on open grass fields where natural features become part of the action. Trees, buildings, hills, and fences can all influence gameplay, creating a one-of-a-kind experience at every venue.
The Oregon Ganymedes have embraced that tradition since their founding in 2005. Representing the historic baseball heritage of Oregon, Illinois, the club has traveled to 15 states and played against approximately 60 different vintage baseball teams. Their schedule includes appearances at museums, historic villages, festivals, and even national tournaments.
One of the club’s biggest annual events takes place at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan, where teams from across the country gather to recreate a historic baseball tournament dating back to 1867. Thousands of spectators attend the event each year, highlighting the growing popularity of vintage baseball as both a sport and an educational experience.
At Grand Detour, spectators can expect more than just a baseball game. Throughout the event, players and officials explain the rules, equipment, and historical significance of what visitors are seeing. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, settle into the shade of the site’s large oak trees, and enjoy an afternoon of family-friendly entertainment.
The game will feature the Oregon Ganymedes taking on the DuPage County Plowboys, another club representing an authentic 19th-century baseball team. Admission is free, and concessions, including hot dogs, ice cream, and beverages, will be available.
Beyond vintage baseball, the John Deere Historic Site continues to host a variety of events throughout the year, including the Grand Detour Arts Festival and its annual Fall Fest celebration.
For those who have never visited the birthplace of John Deere’s revolutionary steel plow or experienced baseball as it was played in the 1850s, the event offers a rare opportunity to enjoy both at the same time. The combination of living history, local heritage, and America’s original pastime creates a memorable experience that connects visitors directly to the past.
The vintage baseball game takes place Saturday, June 13th at 1 p.m. at the John Deere Historic Site in Grand Detour.
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