When the call to “Play Ball” echoes across Veterans Memorial Field on May 16 as part of Sylvania’s America 250 celebration, fans expecting a modern baseball game may need a moment to adjust. There will be no gloves. The ball will look oversized. The uniforms, complete with a calligraphic “F,” will resemble something from a sepia-toned photograph.

That’s because the Great Black Swamp Frogs aren’t playing modern baseball. They’re playing base ball, the way it was in the 1860s, a gentleman’s game defined as much by sportsmanship as competition.

The Frogs will take on a team of local dignitaries, including Sylvania Schools Superintendent Veronica Motley, community members David Walker, Dani Fuller, Ken Wines and Sylvania Police Chief Danilynn Miller, in a matchup that blends history with hometown pride.

For the Frogs, preserving that history has been the mission since 1991, when John Husman organized the club. “I was affiliated with the Ohio Baseball Hall of Fame at the Lucas County Recreation Center,” Husman said. “I learned that the Ohio Valley Muffins Base Ball team was coming to town and needed an opponent. Fortunately, my volleyball teammates agreed to a game.”

What started as a one-time matchup quickly became something more. “The Frogs organizational meeting was held in my Jeffrey Lane backyard,” Husman said. “That launched the birth of the Black Swamp Frogs.”

From the beginning, the games were about more than just competition. Families joined in, dressing in period clothing, sipping lemonade and cheering from the sidelines. Afterward, the home team would provide food, turning each contest into a community gathering. Over time, the Frogs took their vintage game on the road and far beyond northwest Ohio.

“We were all good friends and traveled together coast to coast,” Husman said. “We played in major ballparks and had one memorable trip to Chicago, then on to Des Moines.”

One stop stood out above the rest: Field of Dreams. “We spent hours there playing defense while visiting kids took turns at bat,” Husman said.

Today’s roster may look different from those early days, but the spirit remains unchanged. The rules still reflect the 1860s game, no gloves, underhand pitching and an emphasis on honor, and the focus is still on fun.

On May 16, as the Frogs once again take the field, they won’t just be playing a game. They’ll be bringing a piece of baseball’s past back to life in commemoration of the nation’s founding 250 years ago.