06/16/2026
We're about a month away from the Life in the 1860s Day!
During this day, kids can play townball⚾️
Philadelphia townball circa 1860 was an early bat-and-ball game played in open commons and ball grounds, often by amateur clubs from neighborhoods and workplaces. Using a handmade ball and a smooth bat, teams scored by striking the ball and running a course of bases under locally agreed rules that varied from club to club. Fast, social, and competitive, the game helped build Philadelphia’s vibrant club culture and served as a bridge between informal folk play and the codified sport of modern baseball.
At 12:15pm, 1:15pm, 2:15pm and 3:15pm, Rich Heinick, current president of the Keystone Base Ball Club of Harrisburg, will conduct townball matches for children of ages 6 through 12. These matches will challenge the children to adapt their present baseball experiences to a different set of rules and playing conditions. Townball is sufficiently flexible to engage varying quantities of players, and players of varying ages and abilities.