"You're only young once, but you can act like a kid forever."
Vintage Base Ball is base ball
played by the rules and customs of any earlier period. Ballists don period uniforms and recreate
the game the game as it was meant to be played. The activity of vintage base ball can be seen
at open-air museums, re-enactments, and city parks and is played
on both open grass fields and modern baseball diamonds.
The mid-nineteenth century game was considerably different than today’s game. Ballists played with bare hands until the 1880’s and balls caught on one bound were outs until the mid-1860s. Balls are considered fair by where the ball first touches the ground. That is, a ball hi in front of home plate that then spins into foul territory is still a fair ball. There are numerous other differences, but modern spectators would still recognize our game as base ball.
In February 1996 the Vintage Base Ball Association (VBBA) was formed to preserve, perpetuate, and promote the game of base ball as it was played in its formative years.
The Indianapolis Blues joined the VBBA beginning in the 2002 season. The Indianapolis Blues was originally a baseball team in the National League during the 1878 season. They were managed by outfielder first baseman/catcher John Clapp, and played their home games at South Street Park. Today the Blues play by the rules of base ball as accepted at the December 10, 1867 meeting of the National Association of Base Ball Players. The most noticeable differences between the game in 1867 and the game of the 21st century are no gloves and underhand pitching.
on both open grass fields and modern baseball diamonds.
The mid-nineteenth century game was considerably different than today’s game. Ballists played with bare hands until the 1880’s and balls caught on one bound were outs until the mid-1860s. Balls are considered fair by where the ball first touches the ground. That is, a ball hi in front of home plate that then spins into foul territory is still a fair ball. There are numerous other differences, but modern spectators would still recognize our game as base ball.
In February 1996 the Vintage Base Ball Association (VBBA) was formed to preserve, perpetuate, and promote the game of base ball as it was played in its formative years.
The Indianapolis Blues joined the VBBA beginning in the 2002 season. The Indianapolis Blues was originally a baseball team in the National League during the 1878 season. They were managed by outfielder first baseman/catcher John Clapp, and played their home games at South Street Park. Today the Blues play by the rules of base ball as accepted at the December 10, 1867 meeting of the National Association of Base Ball Players. The most noticeable differences between the game in 1867 and the game of the 21st century are no gloves and underhand pitching.