Vintage Base Ball

We are often asked, How does the vintage game differ from real base ball? The answer is simple. The vintage game is real base ball. It is a game played for fun and exercise by lady and gentlemen ballists (players).

Sadly, many of today's cranks (fans) remain familiar only with modern "baseball." The national pastime now stands under the control of its "owners" who hire tramp athletes that migrate from club to club in search of ever richer booty.

In 1867, the first match in Talbot County recorded with a box score was played between the Fair Plays and the Choptanks of Trappe. The Fair Plays enjoyed much fun and exercise that day, sending forty-seven runners across the home base (home plate). Unfortunately, the Choptanks tallied (scored) eighty-five times and thereby won the match. Such scores did not always indicate poor play. They resulted from the differences between real base ball and the modern game.



The differences included the following:
1) The pitcher must toss the ball across the plate so that the striker (batter) may hit it. The throwing of speedballs or the deceitful curve ball shall result in a swift twenty-five cent fine from the umpire. How can ballists have fun and exercise if they cannot hit the ball and run the bases? The more they hit the ball and run the bases; the more times runners tally (score).
2) The striker is dead (out) if the ball is caught on the fly or upon one bound off the ground. The vintage game is played the way base ball was intended to be played—bare-handed. Caps or objects of clothing may not be used to catch the ball. The enormous leather mittens worn by modern namby-pamby ballists are not allowed.
3) A base ball field is just that - a field. The base ball diamond is preferably laid out upon a field of grass, such as the Elysian Field that served as home to the great New York Knickerbockers. Sometimes the field resembles an undulating meadow. Occasionally, there might be a tree or a building out in the garden (outfield). There are no manicured infields to eliminate an errant hop of the base ball. In the vintage game, a ballist’s skills are truly tested

The Fair Plays
The Fair Play Base Ball Club takes its name from a club nine (team) that played in Talbot County in the 1860s. For more information about the original Fair Plays, see baseballhistoryblog. The re-created vintage club plays according to the rules of 1864.


Vintage base ball is now played around the nation at open-air museums, re-enactments and in city parks. We extend an invitation to those interested in learning the vintage game to join the Fair Plays. We are recruiting both gentlemen and lady ballists. We need young legs out in the garden (outfield) and former soft ballists often make excellent sack tenders (infielders). We accept players of varied skill levels. Base ball clubs arranged themselves into a first nine (best players) and a second nine. They also often maintained a muffin nine. In the 19th century, if you committed an error, it was a "muff." If you were prone to making a number of errors, you were a "muffin." In order to give everyone a chance to play, clubs staged "muffin matches." We intend to carry on in the spirit of fun and exercise for all.

In addition to ballists, the Fair Plays need tally keepers (score keepers), umpires and people to interpret the match for fans in the bullpen (spectators' area). If you love base ball but do not wish to play, the Fair Plays offer opportunities to participate in the vintage game.

Finally, the Fair Plays need spectators at their matches. Our goal is to demonstrate that the Eastern Shore is just full of fans. Prior to matches, our interpreters will offer an overview of the rules of 1864. Fans participate in a match by learning appropriate cheers. For the first time in over a hundred years, shouts of "Huzzah! The striker is dead" and "Well fielded sir!" echo across the Eastern Shore.

Base Ball on Ice
The End of Hockey Season and the Start of Base Ball Season
Saturday March 21, 2009
In the 1860s, base ball teams missed playing ball so much that they sometimes played a game in midwinter on a frozen lake. Talbot County's vintage team, the Fair Plays, re-created this very silly game at the Talbot Recreation Center's Ice Rink.