"The principle rule of action of our model base ball player is, to comport himself like a gentleman on all occassions, but especially on match days, and in so doing he abstains from profanity and its twin and vile brother obscenity, leaving these vices to be alone cultivated by graduates of our penitentiaries."
-from "Haney's Base Ball Book of Reference," 1867 by Henry Chadwick
Readers, I am falling all over myself with excitment! I am here to report on the most extraordianry of events, something that I am astonished to only be finding out about this very day: vintage baseball leagues! VBL's are an amazing phenomenon, they consist of a network of teams which include players anywhere from 20 to 60-something years old, and they play baseball the same way they did circa 1840: throwback uniforms, short-brimed caps, and no gloves!
Yep, in the olde days, the players, even the catcher, went mittless. These were burly guys, men who took it as a personal affront to their manhood if it was suggested that they might be more comfortable using leather gloves when trying to snatch a line drive out of the air. Not that the players were uncouth. When the game was first played, it was the providence of educated dandies--sort of like polo. There was no professional baseball, it was all unpaid amatuers, out to prove their athleticism in a healthful, gentlemanly fashion. They wore stockings, with their knickers pulled up to the knee in order to allow for full range of leg motion (I have always wondered why modern players insist on wearing their pants all the way down the ankle, not a sock in sight. Those pants can't be all that strechy, and what about the heat? kids these days...!)
Anyway, you can read more about this story at NPR. Oh, and guess what? I get to watch a vintage world series game tomorrow in West Baden, Indiana! According to a press release, the six midwestern teams participating in the series will play by the 1864 rule book, recreating the language and customs of 19th century "base ball." I'll be attending the free games and taking notes, readers, so you can look forward to a full report on this event.
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