For one day, Columbia's Janson Field will transform into a living museum, bringing the sights, sounds and rules of baseball's earliest days back to life. On Saturday, Aug. 15, two vintage clubs will compete in a free doubleheader of 1864-style "base ball" (the original two-word spelling), a version of the game played by more than 400 teams across the country.

The games will begin at 11 a.m. at the park, 650 Cherry St. The event is possible thanks to the support of the Columbia Lions Club as part of the borough's yearlong tricentennial celebration, and admission is free.

The matchup will pit the Keystone Club of Harrisburg against the Mechanicsburg Zouaves. Both teams recently competed with a total of 26 clubs in the Gettysburg National 19th Century Base Ball Festival, held July 18 and 19.

Even the names of the teams are based in history, said Rich Heinick, who was a founding member of the Keystones when the team formed more than a decade ago.

"Both clubs have borrowed their names from actual teams that played in those towns during the 1860s and 1870s," he explained. "The Zouaves were re-formed recently, and this will be their inaugural game. There will be extra uniforms available if anyone would like to try their hand at 1864 base ball."

More than one sports historian has described this vintage sport as "a Civil War re-enactment with real bullets."

The game will look familiar to today's fans, except for two notable differences: Players compete without gloves, since they were not widely used until the early 1880s, and a ball caught after one hop - known as "on the bound" - counts as an out.

"The bound rule changes the way everyone hits, runs and positions themselves on defense," Heinick said. "It seems a little strange at first, but you can see how this made sense in the early days of the sport. After several years of debate, the rule was amended in 1865 to make the game more challenging. Even so, our players try to catch what they can on a fly, because we often play in open fields, and you never know which way a bounce will go."

The ball closely resembles today's baseball in size, weight and firmness, meaning players must rely on technique, and sometimes tolerate some pain, to field it bare-handed. Pitchers throw underhand, batters overrun first base at their own risk, and any ball that first lands inside the first- and third-base lines is fair, even if it later rolls into foul territory. That rule keeps the corner infielders on their toes. The games are fiercely competitive while maintaining a strong tradition of good sportsmanship.

Janson Field, a traditional baseball diamond built atop the borough's former reservoir more than a century ago, has a rich baseball history. It once served as the home field for several Columbia semipro teams, including clubs led by player-manager Jimmy Sheckard, who grew up nearby and, at various points during his major league career, led the league in home runs, stolen bases, walks and slugging percentage. The field also welcomed Black barnstorming teams throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

The Aug. 15 doubleheader marks the fourth straight year the Keystones have included Columbia on their schedule, and once again several borough residents will take the field. Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and a picnic lunch, and children will be invited onto the field to play between games. Portable restrooms will be available.

People who arrive early are invited to join the players for their annual walk across Cherry Street to Mount Bethel Cemetery to pay tribute to Samuel Young, the Columbia community leader credited with bringing organized base ball to the Susquehanna Valley in the early 1860s.

For more information, search for "Keystone Base Ball Club of Harrisburg" on Facebook.