It was poetic justice that out of the 50-plus cranks on hand for a recent vintage baseball contest, the longtime Cubs historian was there to enjoy the action. Cranks are what fans were known by back in 1858. Palos Heights native and Marist graduate Ed Hartig makes a few appearances a year as a crank, or fan, of the game.
The Cubs historian enjoyed watching the 1858-style of play as the Blue Island Brewmasters recently won a 25-19 slugfest over the Lemont Quarrymen on property that once housed Mount Assisi High School in Lemont. “So much of this game was about the social aspect,” Hartig said. “They didn’t pay players until the 1860s.
The home team would actually meet the other team at the train station and bring them out here and feed them lunch. “There would be a big celebration even if the final score was 52-2. At the end of the game, it didn’t matter because you had another meal.
” For the most part, area fan support for vintage baseball is limited to family members and some friends. There are not too many neutral observers. However, one Lemont resident taking in his first game as a fan may come back for a different reason.
Lemont’s Jose Orozco, a fan who is thinking of joining the Lemont Quarrymen vintage baseball team, shows his stance July 13, 2024. (Jeff Vorva/for the Daily Southtown) Jose Orozco, 53, plans on joining the Quarrymen, possibly as early as this season. “I love the nostalgia and I love baseball,” the St.
Rita graduate said. “I played in.