Deep River Grinders raise money and dazzle spectators at annual Shriners Benefit Game

On Sunday, August 2, Shriners Children’s Hospital worked with Lake County Parks to put together a vintage baseball charity match, raising money for Shriners Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

Hundreds of spectators gathered at Deep River County Park to watch the Deep River Grinders face off against The Shriners in a game of vintage baseball. Concessions, such as hot dogs and nachos, were available at the field’s entrance, while people dressed in 19th century outfits gave out cookies and sold ice cold bottles of sarsaparilla throughout the game.

Vintage baseball is quite different from the analytical, modern day game we know today. Ryan Trisler, the manager and captain of the Deep River Grinders, views the game as a fun, more inclusive variant of baseball.

“We started about 35 years ago, and we play vintage baseball which is based on the rules of the original baseball from 1858,” Trisler said. “We don’t play with any gloves. We play with wood bats, and we use a little bit softer of a ball.”

The Annual Shriners Benefit Game started in 2012, and its origins are inspiring. Anthony Rogers was a former Deep River Grinders player, and his son was a patient at Shriners Children’s Hospital.

“The money that was spent on him for surgeries, we would have paid it out of our pocket. We’d have been in debt our whole lives, so for the Shriners to be able to do that and not have us pay, we just try to give back to their mission,” Rogers said. 

The benefit match has raised over $54,000 for families like the Rogers since it started in 2012.

Shriners Children’s hospital provides a unique and incredible service. They give quality healthcare to families regardless of their insurance status or whether they can pay right away. Their generosity changed the lives of Rogers and his family, and the proceeds garnered from the Annual Shriners Benefit Game helped the hospital continue to do the same for other families in need.

“We’ve raised a lot of money over the last decade plus,” said Ross Bailey, the oriental guide at Shriners’ Orak Shrine. “I think at this point we’ve raised an excess of $25,000 over the decade plus that we’ve been playing this game against the Grinders.”

The Annual Shriners Benefit Game is a unique experience. They play a historically fascinating variant of one of America’s most popular games, providing residents of Northwest Indiana with a fun and special piece of afternoon entertainment. All the money earned from donations and raffles goes to a noble cause- affordable child healthcare. It’s a special event that’s been around for over a decade, and if the Region is lucky, it’ll be around for many more.

For more information on Shriners Children’s Hospital, visit shrinerschildrens.org.

For more information on the Lake County Parks & Deep River Grinders baseball visit lakecountyparks.com