Baseball season has officially started. And no, I don’t mean in Arizona where you have to break the bank to go watch your favorite teams at Spring Training. I’m talking right here in San Francisco where the Bay Area Vintage Base Ball League is heating up and taking us back in time.
This Sunday, March 10, come on out to Golden Gate Park and watch the San Francisco Pelicans take on the San Francisco Pacifics from 12:00-2:00 p.m. The game will be played at Big Rec and is free to public.
What exactly is this Vintage League you ask? It’s a group of players who play ball as it was played in the 1880s – right down to the rules, equipment and the uniforms. Or as they like to say, “…the way it was meant to be played before $50M contracts, shoe sponsorships, and 25 man rosters.” When apparently baseball was even spelled as two words - base ball.
Before you go, it wouldn’t hurt to review the rules of the game as it was played back then to avoid some confusion. Here are a few big differences:
- You get 7 balls and 3 strikes as opposed to 4 balls and 3 strikes.
- The “striker” (batter) gets to express his desired strike zone preference to the “Hurler” (pitcher), who must meet his requests. Only low or high strikes are called.
- If the striker is hit with the ball, it is counted as a ball. Any hurler intentionally throwing at a striker will be fined $5.
- No intentional walks.
- No infield fly rule – you can drop all the “skyballs” you want and go for the double play!
The Bay Area Vintage Base Ball League is not only giving you a free day of America’s favorite pastime but a history lesson to boot. Enjoy your day and play ball!
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