Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
NEWBURY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — It’s not your average game of baseball at the Spencer-Pierce-Little Farm in Newbury.
The Essex Base Ball Organization has been organizing games there for 20 years, but with 1864 rules.
“We try to bring some history to it, we’re obviously playing and competing, but we’re really trying to educate people too on the history of the game,” said Brian Sheehy, president of the organization and a history teacher at North Andover High School.
The “base ball” of 1864 is quite different from what we know today. There are no gloves, the ball is a bit softer, and fielders can either catch the ball in the air or in one bounce. There’s also no overhand pitching.
That means there’s fewer home runs, more line drives and quicker innings.
The “ballists” are also dressed in collared shirts and scally caps. Sheehy was donning an 1890s Baltimore Orioles uniform on Sunday.
The teams are modeled off actual New England teams that existed in the 19th century, like the Clamdiggers, Live Oaks and Rockinghams.
Even with all the odd rules, Sheehy said it’s no amateur hour.
“We have some good baseball here, like we have players who played college ball, minor league baseball,” Sheehy said.
Games are played on Sundays throughout the summer, and it's $5 to join a game. The events are pretty popular, with a couple hundred people attending the Father's Day game on Sunday.
The organization’s Facebook has more information on upcoming games.
WBZ’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.