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With three ducks on the pond and two hands dead, Mike Ciurej laid the willow on the onion to tally three aces in the bottom of the first inning.

That's what fans (or "kranks") of the Lockport Sleepers would identify as a base-clearing triple.

The Sleepers, who play "vintage base ball" -- that's right, two words -- by 1858 rules, pay tribute to the origins of America's greatest national pastime in every way possible, and in a way that teaches others about the sport's inception.

"This is intended to be entertainment as well as education," said Sleepers Manager Mark Harmon, of Willowbrook. "We consider this living history interpretation, not just reenactment. (The vintage base ball players) are supposed to be there for the crowd, for the audience."

Donning replica uniforms from the pre-Civil War era and speaking the lingo of the 19th century, the Sleepers play on a grassy field in Dellwood Park in Lockport. There's no diamond, no fence and no dugouts.

The whole setup certainly isn't fancy, but it's authentic.

"Most (historical presentations) forget an entire aspect of human life, which is leisure and recreation," Harmon said. "You go to most historic sites, and they're so used to telling you about candle dipping and spinning and weaving and blacksmithing. A lot of them forget what these people were doing with their off-time."

Vintage base ball is, essentially, a less complicated version of modern baseball. There still are three outs to an inning and nine innings to a game. But players don't wear gloves, hurlers (pitchers) toss underhanded and strikers (batters) can't be walked. The bats are thinner, the balls softer -- and harder to find, too.

In fact, the Sleepers order their equipment -- and uniforms -- from an online company that manufactures vintage base ball rarities.

But if orders are backed up, they're on their own.

"Sometimes if you dig up a time capsule you can find some balls," joked Patrick Boland, 21, of Lockport.

The sport, however, is rapidly expanding, especially in the Midwest. Seventeen states have vintage base ball leagues, and Illinois alone boasts 17 teams.

Harmon started the Lockport club last year, attracting its current members via news releases in local newspapers, flyers and mass e-mails.

So why play on a vintage base ball club?

While some members of the Sleepers are strictly baseball buffs, others admit they're enamored with the sport's history.

"Because it's a laid-back type of thing, not a real competitive thing, we can still play base ball and learn about history at the same time," said Ciurej, 28, of Lockport. "You'll notice around the league that some guys could care less about base ball. They've never played a day in their lives, but they're here for the history of it and having fun with it."

Harmon and teammate Dan Smaczny work at local museums and are history buffs, but the rest of the Sleepers -- lawyers, physical therapists, teachers and more -- find other motivations for playing.

Some play because it isn't as demanding as a competitive baseball or softball team.

"I like it because you don't have to slide," joked Peter Boland, 35, of Channahon.

Catering to some of the older members of the team -- and the busy schedules of others -- the Sleepers hold only one practice per week, on average.

But that doesn't mean they're not into making it authentic, especially when it comes to the lingo.

A good play, for example, might be greeted with cheers of "Huzzah!" or "That's the ginger!" A slow-moving baserunner might be referred to as an "ice wagon;" and a despised player -- someone like Ciurej, his teammates say in jest -- can be called a "lobster."

"The vernacular is pretty fun," Ciurej said. "You almost get that feeling like you're back in time. It's just fun."

Vintage base ball calls for gentlemanly conduct. Players are expected not to swear, spit, or engage in mean-spirited conversations with the umpire (or "arbitrator") -- otherwise, they might be fined up to "two bits" -- a quarter.

"You have to remember that, before the Civil War, social mores were much more formal," Harmon said. "It wasn't until after the Civil War until things got more relaxed, as far as how you interact with people. It was a very polite society."

The Sleepers, though they are competitive at times, are more concerned with putting on a good show for an audience than winning a game.

They even brought in Earl Fischer, a 73-year old member of the Joliet Drama Club, to recite the "Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner" before their game against the Elk Grove Village Bucks on July 7. Harmon said it would not have been unusual to open a base ball contest in the 1850s with the reading of a poem.

It would, therefore, be safe to say historical accuracy is just as important as playing the game itself.

"We are trying to have fun with it, but teaching people at the same time," Harmon said. "We're showing an authentic period of tradition."

Breakouts

Rules of "Base Ball"

 Baserunners are not allowed to steal, slide, lead off or overrun first base. Baserunners can run on anything, including fly balls -- tagging up is not required.

 Pitching is done underhanded (released below the belt). There are no balls, and a strike is called only if the striker (batter) swings and misses.

 The umpire does not call balls or strikes. He only determines if a better gets a hit or is out.

 Fielders can record an out by catching a ball in the air or "on the fly" -- a one-hopper.

 After a score, the runner must "tally his ace" by telling the scorekeeper and ringing a bell.

 Infielders play about a foot off each base. Each team is allotted a "rover," who usually plays where a shortstop normally would in today's game.

 Players can be fined for swearing, spitting, arguing with the umpire and displaying any ungentlemanly behavior.

Language of Base Ball

Huzzah! (Hurray!)

That's the ginger! (Well done!)

Show a little ginger! (Play harder, or play smarter!)

Peach! (A good play)

Wasn't that a corker? (Said of a surprising play)

Lay the willow on that onion! Knock the apple out of the orchard! (Hit the ball)

Sling that orb! Whip that onion! (Pitch the ball)

Drop a duck egg on 'em! (Hold them scoreless!)

Leg it! (Run!)

Run, you ice wagon! (Said to slower players)

Behind (Catcher)

Basetender (Baseman)

Scout (Outfielder)

Rover (Shortstop)

Striker (Batter)

Arbitrator (Umpire)

Muffin (lesser talented player)

Lobster (detested player)

Banjo (weak fly ball)

Hurler/Thrower/Bowler (Pitcher)

Stinger (hard hit ball)

Kranks/Rooters/Bugs (fans)

Ace/Tally (run)

Ballist/Hand (a base ball player)

Dead (out)

Dew drop (foul ball)

Lockport Sleepers players and their nicknames

Patrick "Hush Puppy" Boland

Peter "Camptown" Boland (Co-Captain)

Michael "The Cure" Ciurej (Co-Captain)

Robert "Lightning" Czoski

Steven "Mr. Lucky" Foli

Mark "Pooh-Bah" Harmon (Manager)

Tom "Prairie Dog" Olszta

Adrian "The Guillotine" Palimaka

Jon "Clayton" Schaefer

Dan "Chicken Legs" Smaczny

Jeffrey "Specs" Turnbull