1880’s Vintage Baseball
Clark Field, the oldest baseball facility in California in continuous use will come alive again with Vintage Baseball.
The vintage baseball players will wear authentically researched uniforms and use equipment and rules from the 1880’s to play a demonstration game. Observers in costume add to the fun but costumes are not required.
The game starts at 1:00 a.m. at Clark Field located at 70 Beamer Street, a short walk from Beamer Park.
Vintage baseball teams follow the rules of 120 years ago playing with 10 member teams of men ages 18 - 50. Nationally, there are about 170 ball clubs in the association which was formed in 1997. A team was formed in the Bay Area in 2004.
Players wear antique uniforms with long socks and use unpadded gloves to catch balls from their 50 ounce bats. The umpire wears a top hat and frock coat presiding over the payers called “strikers” who are able to specify a “strike zone” either low or high. The pitcher throws them three strikes for an out, seven balls for a walk at a catcher who wears a face mask but no shin guards. A striker who connects with a ball races for a base filled with sawdust or sand that is not tied down to the ground.
Gentlemanly behavior and supreme sportsmanship govern player behavior but many of the rules were quite different then:
- The umpire’s command was “striker to the line.”
- Strikers specified their preferred strike-zone - either low or high.
- Being hit by a pitch did not entitle a striker to first base.
- The pitcher could fake a throw to any base
- Bases are filled with sawdust or sand and are not tied down.
- The same ball was used the entire game, no matter how scuffy or dirty.
- Gentlemanly behavior was expected at all times.
- Spitting or bad language drew an automatic $5 fine
- Criticizing the umpire was strictly forbidden.