1860's Baseball in NY - The OLD Ball Game indeed!

[KayForPresident]

I just got thru reading an article in the Oct 98 issue of Smithsonian magazine...it was sitting in our break room here at work. Apparently, there has been a resurrgence of "old-time" baseball in the past few years...and I mean OLD TIME. The writer was on location in Old Bethpage, NY covering this league up there that plays baseball the way it was played around the 1860's. They play with no gloves, have 4 strikes and 5 balls...lots of stuff like that. I have GOT to see this!

Anyone have any info?

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See Ya!

Dinologic.com

[Jim F]

I have heard about that! I read something in a magazine in like a waiting room or something. They don't use gloves, and it's all totally like "the way it was". Evidently, there is a league that plays...some out on the Island, some in the Cooperstown area, and there are even some out here in Jersey. I've always contemplated trying to do something like that...

[seahorse]

Not many long balls in that game - if they use an authentic old style ball. Lot of small ball - sacrifice bunts and such. I don't think foul balls were strikes back then. That's what ruined Wee Willie Keeler's career. He could "hit'em where they ain't", but only after ten foul balls.

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Seargent at Arms
Ansky39 Fan Club

Best. Go Yanks!

[KayForPresident]

You are correct, Seahorse...depending on the particular time period, sometimes foul balls did not count as strikes...nevertheless, the scoring was routinely high...40 or 50 runs was not uncommon. I'm going to "borrow" the magazine and post some of the info...maybe scan some pics.

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See Ya!

Dinologic.com

[KayForPresident]

Old Bethpage is actually out on Long Island...my mistake.

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See Ya!

Goto Dinologic.com

[UpstateYankee]

There's a place in Africa where they play old time ball. It turns out that some missionary form 1896 came to this part of Africa(near the Nile) and taught the kids and adults to play ball. To this day they still do. It really is neat. They play with a big stick and the balls are mad up of dry mud or rocks. The bases are usually leaves or snake skin. No joke!

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