Chip R
09-18-2014, 11:02 PM
If I may have a moment of your time, I would like to let everybody know that there are some baseball teams in this town that do not suck. ;) Unfortunately you have to go back in time 145 years to experience it.
Saturday, the Cincinnati Vintage Base Ball Club is holding the 14th annual Trophy Ball game between the 1869 Cincinnati Buckeyes and the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings at Heritage Village in Sharon Woods Park beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Back in the mid-19th century when teams would play each other in a base ball match, the winning team would get the game ball as a trophy. Sometimes it would be gilded and put on display in the team's clubhouse. We will not gild the ball. It is inscribed with the score of the game every season and kept in a plastic case for the winning captain to display in his home. This is basically our Super Bowl, Daytona 500 and World Series all rolled into one.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with vintage base ball (that's 2 words, not one) we recreate base ball as it was played in the mid 19th century. You may remember us from such events as playing before or after the Reds games on 4th of July weekend the past several years and the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade. In our case we play by the rules of 1869. The game should look similar to the modern game but there are a few differences. First of all, players do not use gloves in the field. The ball we use is a little bigger and a little softer than a modern baseball but, believe me, it still hurts if you don't catch it right - and sometimes even if you do. The ball is thrown underhanded from flat ground 45 feet from from home base. Balls and strikes are not called unless the batter or pitcher are warned first and it only takes 3 balls to walk. A strikeout in vintage base ball is rarer than a Reds victory. Another difference from modern rules is that a ball is foul only if the first bounce is in foul territory. If the ball bounces fair and then goes foul - no matter where on the field it is - it is a fair ball. However if a fielder catches a foul ball on one bounce, the batter is out. Players are expected to act like gentlemen and may even be asked by the umpire - of which there is only 1 - if they were safe or out on a close play and they are expected to tell the truth. Sometimes the umpire will even ask the spectators their opinion on a close call. Here's a place to go for some more information on the rules and customs of the game http://www.1869reds.com/game/ Or you could just ask RFS62. ;)
Heritage Village is also having their Harvest Festival with special activities that are intended only for people who purchase admission. It is free to enter the Village just to watch the base ball game. Bring a chair and your favorite cold beverage and get a close up view of base ball the way it was played after the Civil War. Unfortunately, this year, I will not be playing due to injury but I will be serving as umpire. If you come and have questions, you can talk to me or the players on the bench will be happy to answer them.
7933
Saturday, the Cincinnati Vintage Base Ball Club is holding the 14th annual Trophy Ball game between the 1869 Cincinnati Buckeyes and the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings at Heritage Village in Sharon Woods Park beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Back in the mid-19th century when teams would play each other in a base ball match, the winning team would get the game ball as a trophy. Sometimes it would be gilded and put on display in the team's clubhouse. We will not gild the ball. It is inscribed with the score of the game every season and kept in a plastic case for the winning captain to display in his home. This is basically our Super Bowl, Daytona 500 and World Series all rolled into one.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with vintage base ball (that's 2 words, not one) we recreate base ball as it was played in the mid 19th century. You may remember us from such events as playing before or after the Reds games on 4th of July weekend the past several years and the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade. In our case we play by the rules of 1869. The game should look similar to the modern game but there are a few differences. First of all, players do not use gloves in the field. The ball we use is a little bigger and a little softer than a modern baseball but, believe me, it still hurts if you don't catch it right - and sometimes even if you do. The ball is thrown underhanded from flat ground 45 feet from from home base. Balls and strikes are not called unless the batter or pitcher are warned first and it only takes 3 balls to walk. A strikeout in vintage base ball is rarer than a Reds victory. Another difference from modern rules is that a ball is foul only if the first bounce is in foul territory. If the ball bounces fair and then goes foul - no matter where on the field it is - it is a fair ball. However if a fielder catches a foul ball on one bounce, the batter is out. Players are expected to act like gentlemen and may even be asked by the umpire - of which there is only 1 - if they were safe or out on a close play and they are expected to tell the truth. Sometimes the umpire will even ask the spectators their opinion on a close call. Here's a place to go for some more information on the rules and customs of the game http://www.1869reds.com/game/ Or you could just ask RFS62. ;)
Heritage Village is also having their Harvest Festival with special activities that are intended only for people who purchase admission. It is free to enter the Village just to watch the base ball game. Bring a chair and your favorite cold beverage and get a close up view of base ball the way it was played after the Civil War. Unfortunately, this year, I will not be playing due to injury but I will be serving as umpire. If you come and have questions, you can talk to me or the players on the bench will be happy to answer them.
7933