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The Welkin Base Ball Club is based on the original Welkin BBC of Port Huron from 1867. The Welkins played only for the one year. Port Huron's earliest Base Ball game took place on Wednesday, June 12 1867, between the "Welkins" and the "Regulars" of Mount Clemens. It is not known how long the match lasted, or the exact score, but the Welkin Club was victorious and out tallied the Regulars by 29 aces. They also participated in the World Base Ball Tournament in Detroit in August of 1867. They withdrew from the tournament and forfited the match to the Hamilton Maple Leaf Club after Welkin pitcher, Mr. Blennerhassett, was injured by a struck ball. The reason they chose the name "Welkin" to represent their club is lost to history. The word welkin means "heavens" or "sky." "Make the welkin ring," was a common saying in the late 1860's. The familiar Christmas carol, "Hark, the Herald Angles Sing", was originally "Hark, the Welkin, it Doth Ring." It is believed one or more of the original Welkinites served in the 1st Artillery in the Civil War. The artillery would certainly have made the "welkin ring." The current Welkin Base Ball Club, is a vintage team based on Port Huron's first "club nine," and attempts to recreate the play and customs of that earlier time. Volunteer players, dressed in period uniforms and using a hand-stitched base ball, play by 1860 and 1867 rules. 2008 marks the second year of play for the re-created Welkin Base Ball Club of Port Huron. Contact |