‘Striker to the Line’ ‘Ballists’ play vintage base ball
The rules of, and even spelling of, baseball have changed a lot since the late 1800s when it evolved into its own sport from games like Town Ball, Rounders and Cricket.
Base ball, as it was originally known, began as a private game played mostly by the gentlemen of the upper classes. Legend has it, the game was spread across the country as soldiers on each side of the Civil War picked up what would later be known as the national pastime during our nation’s most divisive period.
The legacy of the early game is preserved by baseball re-enactors active in 200 clubs scattered across the United States.
Much like Civil War re-enactors, the “ballists” and their supporters dress in period uniforms and clothing, use period equipment, and follow the customs and language of the era. However, vintage base ball re-enactors are also playing real games. They are organized into leagues, follow season schedules, keep standings and player statistics — and have their own endof-season championships.
Most of the leagues play by the rules and customs of 1864.
In that time period, players went barehanded. Bats were longer and heavier than those of today and they played with a ball that was a half-inch wider in diameter than the modern ball. The ball was also stitched together in a crosswise or “lemon peel” pattern.
Pitchers stood in a box just 45 feet from home plate and had the job of “feeding” a hittable ball to the striker, who could stand at the plate until he got the pitch he wanted.
A ball could be caught for an out, either on the fly or on one bounce off the ground.
There was no base stealing, errors were not tallied, and balls were called only when the “arbiter” (umpire) felt the pitcher was delaying the game and only after issuing a warning beforehand.
One of the association’s non-playing volunteers, Lee “Rusty” Gates, is a guide and arbiter for the matches, now in his third season with the league. In addition to acting as the judge and official tallykeeper, he also explains the rules and customs of the 1864 game to the fans who come out for the day.
“My role is not necessarily to call all the plays,” he explains. “We leave that to the gentlemen and gentle ladies of the league to decide on their own. I’ll intervene if I need to. Out here, my role is much more as an interpreter. I’m here to make sure that people know what’s happening, (that) they understand what’s different about vintage baseball, and more than anything that they have a good time and make sure they come back.”