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Vintage Baseball: It's Back, It's Way Back

Throwback leagues bring the old hardball spirit to life

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 23, 2008 2:31 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Vintage has as much of a niche in sports as in fashion: Old-timey baseball leagues are introducing short-brimmed hats and hardball attitudes to athletes across the country, NPR reports. The most important difference between games of then and now? "Vintage is without a glove. Only sissies wear a mitt," says a member of the Brooklyn Athletics.

Throwback baseball is not to be confused with re-enactments: "If you're re-enacting the Battle of Gettysburg, you already know ahead of time who wins and who loses," says the president of the Vintage Base Ball Association. But when playing an 1880s-style game, "you can actually win this thing." But you can also break some fingers—and many players do.

First game of the 1865 championship series between Atlantic and Mutual, played at Elysian Fields.
First game of the 1865 championship series between Atlantic and Mutual, played at Elysian Fields.   ((Currier & Ives lithograph))
Jim Otto Walker of the Indianapolis Hoosiers. One of the draws of vintage baseball, as opposed to reenactments, is that you don't already know who's going to win.
Jim "Otto" Walker of the Indianapolis Hoosiers. One of the draws of vintage baseball, as opposed to reenactments, is that you don't already know who's going to win.   ((c) miraclebaby)
Rickwood Park in Birmingham, Alabama plays host to vintage baseball games, illuminating them with throwback (though not too far back) lights.
Rickwood Park in Birmingham, Alabama plays host to vintage baseball games, illuminating them with throwback (though not too far back) lights.   ((c) %u258CÇP%u2590)
An 1886 Baseball demonstration at Conner Prairie living history museum in Fishers, Indiana.
An 1886 Baseball demonstration at Conner Prairie living history museum in Fishers, Indiana.   (Derek Jensen (Tysto))
There's more to vintage baseball than dancing the jitterbug atop the dugout -- for one, it's much more dangerous, as many leagues don't let their players wear gloves.
There's more to vintage baseball than dancing the jitterbug atop the dugout -- for one, it's much more dangerous, as many leagues don't let their players wear gloves.   ((c) %u258CÇP%u2590)
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Vintage Base Ball Federation homepage
Vintage Base Ball Federation

Vintage Base Ball Association homepage
Vintage Base Ball Association

Another throwback: baseball board games
MLB.com

Greensboro game draws fans
WFMY (Greensboro, NC)

It's a rough job
Brown Daily Herald

 
sports • uniforms • baseball • vintage

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