Doug “Boomerang” Burgett came to Champaign in 1998 to attend the University of Illinois. Since then, he’s gotten married and started a family while making Champaign-Urbana home. He currently works at the U of I and last fall he started the Champaign Clippers Base Ball team. His enthusiasm for the sport started back in 2008 in Douglas, Michigan. Burgett was kind enough to answer some questions for me about the club he co-captains and what makes vintage base ball so special.
(Editors note: For clarification, when we refer to base ball it is the vintage game and baseball is the modern game.)
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Smile Politely: What was the motivation behind creating a vintage baseball team?
Doug Burgett: I first saw the Douglas Dutchers play vintage base ball in Douglas, Michigan, back in 2008. I knew nothing about vintage ball, but it immediately captivated me. Seeing people in the old-style uniforms playing with no gloves was crazy! It was baseball, but it was also different. It was more casual, like a pickup game at recess. I came home, did some research and discovered that what I saw was called vintage base ball and there was something called the Vintage Base Ball Association, which had local member teams like the Vermilion Voles of Danville, the Springfield Long Nine, and the Rock Springs Ground Squirrels of Decatur. But, I was disappointed to see that no team existed in Champaign-Urbana. Why not, I thought? C-U should definitely have a vintage base ball team! I was pretty convinced I would start that team then, but I ended up starting a family instead. I knew Jed from the U of I and we always shared a passion for baseball. He and I finally played vintage ball in 2021 with a couple of different local teams and we got more familiar with the game itself. Finally in the fall of 2022 the time was right to get a team going in C-U.
SP: Your website touches on the history of baseball, which hasn’t always been welcoming to all groups. What is different about your club?
Burgett: I’m glad you asked this, because it’s something we always emphasize. The rules of base ball (it was two words then) in the mid-19th century were quite different from the modern game. There was underhand pitching, no gloves, a slightly softer ball, and no called balls and strikes. It was more casual and accessible than modern baseball, which requires a lot of expensive equipment and skill. In the early days of the game, people played for recreation and exercise. It didn’t matter how old you were, how much money you had, or what you looked like, you could play base ball. And most people did, although because of the time period, there was a lot of segregation. Women were the ones who played the least at first, because the game was viewed as too dangerous. Fortunately, we live in a time now where everyone can play together, regardless of your sex, race, ethnicity, or anything else. That is the beauty of our vintage base ball club. We honor a style of baseball that everyone can play, and we love playing alongside all the people in our diverse C-U community!
SP: What are some of the main differences between vintage base ball and modern baseball?
Burgett: In modern baseball the pitcher throws a fast, overhand pitch, with a goal of striking out the batter. In vintage base ball the pitcher throws a soft, underhand pitch with a goal of allowing the hitter to put the ball into play. There are no balls or strikes, unless the batter swings and misses. That’s a strike and you can strike out with three missed swings, but it doesn’t happen too often. Fielders do not wear gloves in vintage base ball. However, the vintage ball is slightly larger and softer than a modern baseball, making it more forgiving on the hands. Fielders can also catch the ball off one bounce for an out. It’s called a bound out. That, too, helps the hands. The other big difference is that vintage games are played on an open field of grass, not a baseball diamond. There are some things I’m skipping over, but these are the big differences.
SP: Was it hard to find uniforms and equipment to play the game?
Burgett: Well, we are very grateful for all the vendors out there that specialize in making vintage base ball equipment. If it weren’t for them, it would be difficult. We order our bats and balls through those vendors, and that’s really it for equipment. Our home plate is homemade and our bases are standard canvas bases. As far as our uniform goes, we went a very simple route for two reasons: (1) the uniforms in 1858 were simple (hat, shirt, and pants), and (2) it makes it easy for someone to join the club. Everything is available to order online and it’s clothing that can actually be worn apart from vintage base ball, making it a better investment. Every team does it different, but that’s our approach.
SP: How did you pick the colors, name, and logo?
Burgett: Jed and I researched the history of baseball in C-U and found that one of the first teams mentioned in the area was the Champaign Clippers. According to our research the first reference to the Clippers was in the Champaign County Herald on July 7th, 1886. The Clippers were the first minor league team in C-U in 1889. Although there were other team names referenced earlier, we liked the sound of the Champaign Clippers so we ran with it. We wanted to give a nod to the U of I so we chose navy blue as our primary color, with a neutral gray secondary. Orange appears as an accent on our website and in some of our merchandise and materials. As for our logo, we have two team symbols: our CC logo and our banner. Neither appear on our uniforms, but the CC would most likely make it there if we ever evolve our shirts. Both symbols are hand drawn, which we liked because it’s simple and something that could have been done in 1858.
SP: What makes vintage base ball exciting?
Burgett: There’s a lot of action in vintage base ball, which isn’t always the case in the modern game. It usually only takes a pitch or two to get something in play. Fielders aren’t wearing gloves so almost every play keeps you guessing. Will the person catch it? Will they drop it? Honestly, every play in the field is amazing because it’s people playing baseball without gloves. Often the games have high scores as well, because it’s difficult to field without a glove. The whole experience of a vintage base ball game is also entertaining and educational. People learn a lot about early rules, terminology, and how the game has evolved.
SP: Tell me a bit about the other teams.
Burgett: Every vintage team is unique. They have different types of uniforms, different customs, different levels of skill. Some teams are more competitive than others, but everyone is in it for the love of the game. The Clippers are keeping things very local to avoid heavy travel, so we play the Vermilion Voles of Danville, the Rock Springs Ground Squirrels of Decatur (who actually combined with the Springfield Long Nine), and the McLean County Prairie Chickens of Bloomington. It’s a wonderful collection of people and there’s nothing like getting together and playing baseball in an open field. Outside of the local area, there are vintage teams across the country, from San Francisco to Chicago to New York. There are also many festivals and multi-team events. In fact, the Clippers have been invited to several, including the annual St. Louis Cup. As our team builds and we get more established, we’ll likely participate in one.
SP: From my limited knowledge of baseball, there are generally a lot of superstitions. Are there any odd superstitions or traditions that you have?
Burgett: We don’t have any superstitions yet, at least that I’m aware of, but there are some traditions. A vintage base ball tradition in general is for each player to have a nickname. My nickname is Boomerang because I love to run around the bases and come back home. Jed is called Jester, because he loves to joke around, laugh, and have a good time. We also have High Pockets, Dutch, Hoodwink, Wildman, Grip, Sticks, and many others. Our team is developing its own set of traditions as well. For instance, we have numbered buttons that we draw out of a hat to determine our batting order each game. The buttons are a nod to the Clippers name possibly being linked to clothing clippers. We have some evidence that suggests a connection at one point between the Clippers baseball team and Jos. Kuhn and Co. There’s also a vintage tradition of ringing a bell when anyone tallies an ace (that means scores a run).
SP: What does a game day look like?
Burgett: Game day looks old timey. A bunch of people gather in a field and have fun. That doesn’t happen a lot any more, especially in such an organized yet casual way. We play at Weaver Park in Urbana, but the field is on the far south end of the park so the best way to get to there is to drive to Dr. Preston Williams Elementary School. Spectators bring their own lawn chairs or blankets, although we do have a small set of bleachers at Weaver. The Clippers are very fortunate to have a team umpire. His name is Happy and he usually kicks off the festivities by greeting the cranks (fans) and introducing the teams. Game time is usually 11 a.m. At this point the teams are lined up facing the crowd. The home club captain says a few words and then lets the home team introduce themselves, followed by the away club captain saying a few words and the away club introducing themselves. Then, the games start! If it’s a match between two teams we usually play two seven-inning games. If it’s a round robin with three teams, there’s three games with every team playing each other. Everything about the experience is simple and primitive. The matches are lighthearted and fun. Many times throughout the course of the day we let some curious spectators participate by batting or fielding. That’s one way we get new players. At the end of the game, teams line up again and give each other three mighty cheers of Huzzah! (Another tradition).
SP: How can people join?
Burgett: People can join the club in a number of ways. The easiest way is through our website. We have a sign-up form on the site and a page all about what to wear. Our goal is to make it as simple as possible. Another way is to show up and play. We love having curious people come check it out and then get into the action. It’s easy to fall in love with playing vintage ball. We’re also on Facebook and Instagram, so you can always reach out through those channels as well. We’ve had players as young as 12 and as old as 74 (although we don’t know everyone’s age so it could be older). We also have people get involved in other ways, like our umpire. We always need people to take photos. Researching local history is another way to participate. Being a fan is a great way to join in. It’s a fun way to gather community members and celebrate recreation, exercise, and friendship!
There is still time to join or watch the last game of the season.
Champaign Clippers vs Ground Squirrels
Weaver Park
2205 E Main St.
Urbana
Sa August 26th
11 a.m.
Free
