Vintage Base Ball

Using baseball rules from 1861, games feature underhand pitching, no gloves allowed. Hot dogs, snacks, baseballs, and cards are available for purchase. Grass field seating: bring blankets and lawn chairs, no reserved seating. Weather permitting, please call.

The Essex Base Ball Club revisits baseball’s earliest days with pre-Civil War rules. Learn about the customs, styles, and etiquette of baseball’s formative years. Players use equipment and uniforms appropriate for the period. Learn about “cranks”, “aces”, “cloud-hunters” and other period slang. Discover the origins of the game not through a book, but with a first-hand look at the vintage game in action. After the match, brave spectators have a chance to stand at bat. Learn more about the Essex Base Ball Club at www.essexbaseball.org.