FAIRFIELD– Central Valley Vintage Base Ball Game

FAIRFIELD– In a cross-promotion exhibition between the Bay Area Vintage Base Ball and Central Valley Vintage Base Ball, the Oakland Colonels Vintage Base Ball Club will try their “hand” at 1864 style base ball against a mixed 9 from Central Valley Base Ball Club. *If* we’re all interested and able, CVVBB may also try a little bit of 1886 ball. We’ll see about that though. If you’re interested in coming to check it out, it is a 100% FREE event for folks to see. Players should arrive by 12:00 pm January 26th at Laurel Creek Park 1050 Cement Hill Rd, Fairfield, California 94533. Game starts promptly at 1:00. You get another opportunity to play baseball as it was meant to be played — its 1860s rules. You don’t need any experience. Remember to leave your glove at home. You won’t need it! We’ll teach you how to catch a ball barehanded with two hands. It’s not nearly as scary as it sounds. You can also catch it off one bounce and still get the striker out!  All are welcome to join regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation or skill level. Base ball in 1864 differs from the modern game in a few key ways. Instead of gloves, players simply used their hands to catch batted balls; pitchers tossed the ball underhand; the umpire stands off to the side of home plate instead of behind the catcher and does not necessarily always call balls and strikes. The early game also uses the “bound rule,” allows a fielder to catch a ball after it bounces only once, and still getting the out on the striker, making it easier to catch the ball without a glove. This event is part of a project supported by California Humanities through an Humanities for All Quick Grant.