Highlights Archives
Batter Up at Old World Wisconsin! 1860s Style
Baseball — America's pastime — has entertained generations of Wisconsinites since the mid-19th century. And, in true 1860s fashion, Old World Wisconsin will turn back the clock to the early days of base ball (yes, it was originally spelled as two words) on Saturday, June 24, when the historic site celebrates Base Ball History Day with a game of vintage base ball between the Eagle Diamonds home team and the Milwaukee Cream Citys.
In vintage base ball, ballists (as players of the game were originally known) play by the rules and customs of earlier eras. Most vintage base ball teams play the game according to rules in place during the 1850s, '60s and '80s, wearing uniforms appropriate to the period they're re-creating. Mid-19th-century base ball was considerably different than today's game, and most ballists played with bare hands. For an in-depth look at the sport of vintage base ball, visit the Vintage Base Ball Association's Web site.
Baseball's Wisconsin roots run deep. Organized baseball in the state began after the Civil War in towns like Baraboo and Beloit. Enterprising publishers began issuing baseball trading cards with pictures of star athletes in the 1870s. For a more in-depth look at baseball history in Wisconsin, see our feature on Major League Baseball's 2006 opening day.
:: Posted June 19, 2006
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