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What is Vintage Base Ball? |
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Vintage Base Ball is a program that showcases a small piece of history in a unique way. It allows people of all skill levels, ages, genders, races and ethnicities to participate in America's pastime, with a emphasis on teaching the rich history of the early game in the Central Valley, good sportsmanship and appropriate behavior. Vintage base ball champions the principles of fairness, honesty, courtesy, respect, honor and virtue by setting a good example for the community and educating the public about the culture and customs of the region in the mid-19th Century.
Though vintage base ball looks a lot like the modern game, there are a few key rule differences. For example:
Though vintage base ball looks a lot like the modern game, there are a few key rule differences. For example:
- The pitching is underhanded, and generally slower than your typical college-level softball hurlers, though "swift pitching" is sometimes exercised.
- We do not wear gloves in this game, but we allow one bound of the ball for the fielder to retrieve the ball if needed. If the ball is caught in the air or on one bound, or bounce, the striker is called "dead" (out, by modern vernacular).
- Any ball that hits the ground fair is a fair ball, regardless of where it rolls after it touches the ground initially. So you could hit the ball straight down and watch it roll backwards past the catcher and run towards first base.
From the Vintage Base Ball Association:
"Vintage Base Ball is a pastime, with its beginnings and progressions mimicking those that occurred in America over 160 years ago. Teams competing today wear period reproduction uniforms, use period authentic equipment and follow baseball rules from the 19th century in order to accurately present the history of baseball to the public. Matches can be seen almost 12 months out of each year at open-air museums, living history villages, Civil War re-enactments and city parks and is played in over 20 states including Canada.
The mission of the VBBA is to preserve, perpetuate, and promote the game of base ball as it was played during its formative years in the nineteenth century and other historic eras. Proper rules interpretation is an important aspect to our game. VBBA member clubs have access not only to vintage rules with interpretation but also to game historians and more.
In order to achieve its goals and sustain the traditions and values which it seeks to honor and emulate, the Association and all of its members will conduct all matches, meetings, and other activities–both on and off the field–according to the highest standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, and respect for others which characterized the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club, established September 23, 1845."
The mission of the VBBA is to preserve, perpetuate, and promote the game of base ball as it was played during its formative years in the nineteenth century and other historic eras. Proper rules interpretation is an important aspect to our game. VBBA member clubs have access not only to vintage rules with interpretation but also to game historians and more.
In order to achieve its goals and sustain the traditions and values which it seeks to honor and emulate, the Association and all of its members will conduct all matches, meetings, and other activities–both on and off the field–according to the highest standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, and respect for others which characterized the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club, established September 23, 1845."
For more information, visit vbba.org.
