Vintage base ball in Oakland on Sunday

by Wes7 on Feb 27, 2009 9:29 PM PST Comment 25 comments

I had no idea about this until my friend Abbey mentioned it to me tonight, but I figured I would pass it all your way. Apparently there's an organization called the Bay Area Vintage Base Ball League. Apparently the guys who plan in said league are like Civil War reenactors, only a) they prefer to glorify the likes of Wee Willie Keeler instead of Jubal Early and b) they don't try to glamourize (in an aw-shucks kind of way) the Western League as a "Lost Cause." (Sorry, my geek love for History is never far from my lips. Or, in this case, my fingers.)

ANYWAY, the point is that our very own Oakland Colonels of this here Bay Area Vintage Base Ball League will be taking on the Santa Clara Stogies on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is at 12:30 and the game will be at Mosswood Park in North Oakland. The cost is free. My love of all things baseball and historical means that I'll definitely be there (most likely with my head exploding from unrestrained glee every five minutes) and I'd love to see any and all of you who might be able to make it out as well.

If you want any further information, the league has a pretty good website at http://www.bavbb.com/

Wait a second, you mean that link's not going to show up as clickable? And I have no idea how to fix that? Hey, maybe I'm not as much of a geek as Pam keeps telling me I am! Awesome!!

By which I mean, um, so, well, yeah, there you go. Be well, everybody.

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If I recall correctly

AN’s own oblique plays in that league.

Here’s the league link.

"There is a sense of tragic destiny associated with people who have large noses." --Bucky Wunderlick

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Feb 27, 2009 9:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Schedule says it's canceled

due to rain. Although rain is just in the forecast, and we know how that goes around here. I’m pretty sure tomorrow hasn’t happened yet, either. So I suppose it’s canceled due to a prediction of rain, or they have a time machine too (and not just the old uniforms. Maybe this is an actual league from the 1880’s.)

Nonetheless, thanks for letting everyone know about this! Gotta get out to see a game, and they have some good looking shirts and other merch, too.

by Mark H on Feb 28, 2009 11:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, oblique plays with the San Jose Dukes

And you can see and hear them here…

by Englishmajor on Feb 28, 2009 8:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Very cool.

And it gives me an excuse to post this old time baseball clip.

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Feb 27, 2009 10:14 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

One of the all-time great late night segments.

Thanks for reminding me.

by NateHST on Feb 27, 2009 10:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I enjoyed that

way more than I should have.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Feb 28, 2009 6:58 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Me too also, as well.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Feb 28, 2009 11:23 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

So you agree?

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Feb 28, 2009 4:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh goodness, no.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Feb 28, 2009 4:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Whew.

That was close. I think.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Feb 28, 2009 5:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, don't drag me into this!

by pam5981 on Feb 28, 2009 12:40 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Wow

Cool. I can’t go this weekend, but I’ll definitely be at a future game to take some pictures.

The horse jumped over the f---ing fence.

by JLaff on Feb 28, 2009 8:18 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

It'd be fitting if I tried taking some one of these days with this

Kodak Jiffy Six-20, which my grandfather bought one of in 1940. It was recently given to me and it looks like it’s in great condition. I shot an 8-picture roll a couple weeks ago but need to get it developed to see how they came out.

I plan to take this with me for some minor league work and take a wide shot or two of each place.

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Feb 28, 2009 10:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice!

You should totally approach Jamie Moyer and ask if you can take a few photos. That would be fricking hilarious.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Feb 28, 2009 11:24 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He might respond with, "Hey, I remember these!"

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Feb 28, 2009 11:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

"...It's one of those new ones!"

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Feb 28, 2009 11:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

But seriously, this thing is pretty neat

It’s so different compared to today’s stuff. Getting the right film isn’t too hard but it takes a certain type of spool. I can use a different film and re-roll it onto the right spool and save a few bucks along the way.

If I went to a really old place like Sam Lynn Ballpark in Bakersfield and used this without really showing anything modern like the scoreboard and took a color or even B&W photo, it’d probably look like a throwback in time.

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Feb 28, 2009 11:36 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Good stuff, Wes

And quite a funny post, I might add. You should write more.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Feb 28, 2009 8:53 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

There's a good chance...

…this Oakland team won’t need to worry about stadiums and territorial rights and all that.

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Feb 28, 2009 10:14 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Your new job -

Keep us posted on the Vintage Baseball League.
SABR points.

"And sometimes, when it seems like all hope is gone, Life tosses you a special gift of a baseball game" . 7/10/08 BaseBallGirl headline

by LongTimeFan on Feb 28, 2009 12:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Game is cancelled due to rain tomorrow

Saw it on the bavbb website

by gojohn10 on Feb 28, 2009 9:36 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Wimps.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Feb 28, 2009 9:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Wes for your interest and for posting this!

I’m indeed on the San Jose Dukes.

For others who may not have made it to the website:
- We use 43-45 oz wooden bats and fielders gloves that are glorified gardening gloves (and definitely no batting gloves); no helmets, and baggy wool (blend) uniforms.
- We play 1886 rules: 7 balls, 3 strikes; fouls are not strikes, but all fouls are in play (if the catcher catches a foul tip, you’re out!); no windups, quick pitches are fine, the pitcher’s box (no mound) is 50 feet away. A HBP is just a dead ball.
- Games are 7 innings.

Any questions about the league, or interest in playing — contact me!

by oblique on Mar 1, 2009 2:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

7 balls, 3 strikes?

Josh Outman is interested.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Mar 1, 2009 3:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs