The Old Ball Game

Story by Elaine Lang | Photo by Bradley E. Clift

In Simsbury, Vintage Base Ball Revives the Sport and Sportsmanship of a Gentler Time

On a sunny afternoon on Independence Day weekend in 2003, John Lucker was pressed to find an activity for visiting family. A search of area events revealed an intriguing sports tournament in Bushnell Park that offered a little something for everyone: local color, historical interest, and real live baseball.


Lucker and his relatives enjoyed watching the Hartford Senators and other local teams playing baseball old school….really, really old school. As in, old enough to call it “base ball” kind of old school. The tournament featured vintage base ball, an increasingly popular pastime that involves playing the game according to the rules that evolved after it was invented during the mid-19th century. Lucker sought out some of the Senators for information and advice about getting involved in the sport and was soon convinced that Simsbury needed a team of its own. A few weeks later at a barbecue, Lucker shared an account of the experience with his friend, Duncan Mackay. A few burgers and beverages later, the Simsbury Taverneers was born. After a winter of aggressive recruitment, the Taverneers started to practice in early March 2004, and the team played its inaugural games that summer. The rest, as they say, is history. And, baseball. History and baseball. What could be better?

In Simsbury and beyond, vintage base ball is a game with a growing following, attracting history buffs and sports fans alike. Teams adhere to the old-school rules of the game and use only the equipment that was accepted and available at the time. Most games are played either with the early rules in effect from 1868 to 1871 or by the slightly later rules of 1884 to 1886, which incorporate innovations such as overhand pitching and some protective gear for the catcher. Most notable from both eras’ play is the absence of such modern staples as batting helmets, protective padded gloves, sunglasses, and microphones for the announcers.

The growth of the vintage game parallels the emergence of the sport over 150 years ago. By the mid-19th century, baseball had evolved from a simple backyard game into “America’s Favorite Pastime,” and the sport’s development hinged in no small part on its popularity among encamped soldiers during the Civil War. The modern pastime of vintage base ball similarly grew out of the popularity of Civil War reenactments, where history buffs initially drawn to the fun of reliving the period soon found the simple pleasures of old-rule base ball to be among the highlights of the living history experience.

Simsbury High School history teacher Steve Patrina is a longtime Taverneers player, and he notes that every vintage game is like a lesson in the evolution of baseball. “As we have played throughout the different eras starting in the 1860’s, it has been fascinating to experience the numerous changes that have taken place, primarily in the balance of power between pitcher and batter. Each rule change was determined to keep the balance even.”

Players not drawn by historical interest in the game tend to be former baseball players thrilled to get back to a game they love, whatever the form. Many of the Taverneers played baseball at one time, they coach local Little League or Babe Ruth teams, and also enjoy competitive softball. So, what’s the appeal of a little-known historical version of the game?

“It’s baseball,” is the succinct reply from team co-founder Duncan MacKay, “real baseball, where hitting and fielding fundamentals are important because of the vintage equipment we use, and, when we play by 1886-era rules, the overhand pitching is very challenging. Softball is a fun sport, but it’s a lot different than vintage base ball. Most of us grew up playing baseball, and it is baseball [or base ball] that we like to play the most.”
Vintage base ball is unique in other ways, too. Games are won by more than brute strength or a powerful swing. The nature of the old rules emphasizes strategic elements of play, and, indeed, familiarity with the old rules can be an asset on the field. “Without the infield fly rule, sometimes it’s smartest to let a ball drop rather than try to catch it outright,” says co-founder Lucker. “And plenty of new players will forget that overrunning first base was not allowed in some versions of the rules in the 1800s and find themselves tagged out just a few steps past the bag.”

For players and fans alike, vintage base ball has a unique culture that can be in short supply in other competitive sporting groups. “We all play with a full effort,” Lucker says, “but it is definitely not a win-at-any-cost mentality.” The gentlemen who play vintage base ball generally behave like actual gentlemen, even by 19th-century standards. The sport’s “gentlemen’s rules” carry over into the spirit of the modern competitors and, in an era of trash talk and fan hooliganism, the 19th-century practices can be refreshing and relaxing. The camaraderie of the group is strong, as the vintage community is a small one. The honor system of genteel sportsmanlike conduct dominates the behavior of “ballists” at area matches and tournaments. When an umpire’s call is contested, for example, the other team will ask the player involved if they were out or safe. All of the Taverneers we spoke to were proud to say that the level of honesty in these situations has been impressive.

The community of players and the supporting cottage industry that produces vintage-quality equipment is a close-knit one, and many devoted spectators join in the historical fun, dressing and behaving as though it were the 19th century. Spouses, children, students and friends are regular enthusiastic attendees of the games. And, if one wants to consider that good times and good ball might inspire the Taverneers to spend some post-game time living up to their name, one might not be too out of bounds.

The absence of contemporary attitudes and manners doesn’t mean vintage base ball is devoid of devilish shenanigans, variations of which are permitted under old-school rules but forbidden in the modern game. Hidden ball tricks, quick pitches, fake tags, and intentionally dropped balls make every vintage game an adventure in the unexpected. Often, the more freewheeling aspects of the game are as entertaining as the straight play itself. Patrina recalls a match against a Boston team where he pitched to an unprepared batter. “He swung and missed and the bat went flying out of his hands towards our third baseman, who ducked, and then let the bat lie. Since we can quick pitch, I didn’t have to wait for him to get the bat, and I quickly got the ball back and threw another strike and had the ball in the air for a third as he raced back to the batter’s box with a new bat, and he desperately threw his bat at the ball.” Not surprisingly, the hapless Bostonian missed, but spectators and players alike were treated to the blend of sport and lively entertainment that makes vintage base ball what it is.

In an era where players from around the world collect millions of dollars for a few months of running the bases on an Astroturf diamond, vintage base ball in the Farmington Valley recaptures the sense of innocent fun that first inspired the hearts of players and fans across America. An afternoon at a Taverneers game embodies the summery joy of a gentler time and place, when nothing could be better than a sunny afternoon, a grassy field, and the humble satisfaction of a well-thrown ball, the sharp crack of a bat, and an umpire’s resounding cry of “Sir! You are SAFE!”

The Simsbury Taverneers are always looking for new players and spectators. Information and a game schedule are available at http://home.comcast.net/~taverneers/.

Elaine Lang is a freelance writer from Simsbury.