Ridgefield's Talk of Our Town

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

BASE  BALL ~ THE OLD BALL GAME

Dave Scott, (a guy who by all accounts is Ridgefields leading authority on base ball) calls base ball “part of the fabric of this town.” Dave isn’t kidding. In fact, he has revealed many of baseball have hidden historical facts.

Did you know “The Father of Baseball”, Dr. Daniel Adams was a Ridgefielder? This base ball icon was president of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club, the first to establish the official distance between bases (90 ft.), initiate the “fly ball” rule, and create the important position of shortstop. “He actually made the baseball with his own hands,” says Scott. “Doc” Adams lived where Ballard Park is today, just steps away from Veterans Park Field where Ridgefields first vintage base ball game was played last summer.

The VBBA website (Vintage Base Ball Association) defines vintage base ball as “base ball played by the rules and customs of the 19th Century.” Ridgefield is the third vintage base ball club to be formed in Fairfield County, preceded by Newtown-Sandy Hook and Bridgeport which formed clubs in 2005 and 2007.

Ray Shaw, the founder of the Newtown-Sandy Hook Club says that  “You won’t see any Nike swooshes, batting gloves, water bottles, ‘high fives’ or other undignified celebrations. You may see players smoking cigars and drinking from their flasks, and a little wagering on the side lines during  vintage base ball.”  Mr. Shaw adds that, “The unique difference between today’s baseball and vintage base ball is that vintage ball is truly a gentleman’s sport.”  The ballists were fined for using profanity and relied upon to help the highly respected umpire (a known VIP from the town), make the appropriate call if the play was not in his vision. The spectators were also asked to call the ballist “safe” or “out” if the ballist had any doubt.

By the way, before you email me about the “base ball” typo, that is the correct spelling ~ circa 1847.

1867 base ball Rules and Regulations

• No Mitts

• Any ball that bounces once in fair territory is fair even if it goes foul

• Foul balls caught on the first bounce are an out

• Players cannot over run first base

• Catcher plays 20ft. behind the batter

• Baseball is softer and larger

• Umpire dresses in formal clothing and stands to the side of home plate at a 45 degree angle

• Home plate is the size of a dinner plate

• The pitcher is suppose to place his pitch where the batter asks him to

• The umpire will warn pitcher first and then call balls if the pitcher doesn’t put pitches where batter asks him to.

• Players are fined for using foul language

• If the umpire cannot see a play, he will defer to the ballists or fans as to safe or out.

• One umpire

• Significantly heavier bat

• One ball available; if lost all present will search for it.

Then                                Now