{"id":6151,"date":"2019-08-24T16:04:49","date_gmt":"2019-08-24T23:04:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/?p=50000000175"},"modified":"2020-10-05T20:03:26","modified_gmt":"2020-10-06T03:03:26","slug":"vintage-baseball-league-takes-players-back-to-simpler-and-grittier-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/news\/vintage-baseball-league-takes-players-back-to-simpler-and-grittier-time","title":{"rendered":"Vintage baseball league takes players back to simpler\u2014and grittier\u2014time"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Vintage baseball league takes players back to simpler\u2014and grittier\u2014time\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5te9ZIcMYaQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Welcome to the baseball league where pitchers are hurlers, batters are strikers, umps are sirs\u2014and the uniforms are hot.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFeel that,\u201d says Skip, a Palmdale Blue Stocking, extending an arm clad in a loose-fitting jersey reminiscent of the Babe Ruth era. \u201cThat\u2019s wool.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10000003556\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10000003556\" style=\"width: 1110px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10000003556 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/BI5I1566-1110x740.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10000003556\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Long Beach Oilers player riding the pine during the Vintage Baseball game in Long Beach. Photo by Kelly Smiley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One other thing\u2014at least for those who are really into this\u2014players only respond to nicknames: Sugar. Kentucky. Sandlot. Ripper.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was easier to type up in the newspaper that way,\u201d Skip says of the late 19th century.<\/p>\n<p>This is the inaugural season of the Southern California Vintage Base Ball League, a consortium of ballists (players) who conform to old-time rules from 1886, when America\u2019s pastime was just finding itself.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10000003558\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10000003558\" style=\"width: 683px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10000003558 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/BI5I1377-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10000003558\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Long Beach Oilers pitcher Ryan Martin (L) gets ready for the Vintage Baseball game to start as &#8220;Sir&#8221;\u00a0 stares off in the distance. Photo by Kelly Smiley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The tradition\u2014akin to a Civil War reenactment, with period uniforms, rules and mannerisms\u2014is popular on the East Coast and Midwest. The San Francisco Bay Area has an active league, and SoCal is now getting organized.<\/p>\n<p>So far there are five teams, including the Long Beach Oilers, who hosted the Crestline Highlanders on their home turf at Wardlow Park Saturday. Three more teams from the desert are slated to join the league next season.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10000003559\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10000003559\" style=\"width: 1110px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10000003559 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/BI5I1546-1-1110x740.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10000003559\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Long Beach Oilers celebrate after a great catch during the Vintage Baseball game in Long Beach. Photo by Kelly Smiley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s challenging,\u201d said Joe Gianonne, aka \u201cCorporal,\u201d the captain of the local team. \u201cIt takes you back to how these old guys used to play.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>No play is a guarantee, he said: \u201cYou have to hustle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s in part a product of the equipment: The players use bats that are 5 ounces heavier, balls that are larger and softer, and mitts that look like something a gardener would use. (They chose 1886 in part because it\u2019s later in the 19th century, when players at least used <i>something<\/i> to cover their hands.)<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10000003560\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10000003560\" style=\"width: 1110px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10000003560 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/BI5I1643-1110x740.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10000003560\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The glove and ball the players use at the Vintage Baseball game in Long Beach. Photo by Kelly Smiley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Uniforms and caps are handmade by two ladies in Connecticut, and must be special-ordered. The umpire\u2014at least the &#8220;sir&#8221; at Saturday&#8217;s game\u2014wore suspenders, a top hat and a dapper pink dress shirt.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10000003561\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10000003561\" style=\"width: 1110px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10000003561 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/BI5I1651-1110x740.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10000003561\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Umpire &#8220;Sir&#8221; watches the pitch during the game in Long Beach. Photo by Kelly Smiley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>They play by <a href=\"https:\/\/vbba.org\/rules-and-customs\/beadles-1866\/\">Spaulding Rules<\/a>, which call for canvas bags as bases and other equipment specifications. Batters get seven balls and three strikes, foul balls aren\u2019t strikes and getting hit by a pitch counts only as a ball.<\/p>\n<p>The players swear there aren\u2019t many injuries, though Gianonne admits he broke his thumb in two places in his first scrimmage game.<\/p>\n<p>And yes, he says, catching the ball hurts: \u201cI tell the guys, \u2018If you\u2019re going to get under a ball, it\u2019s better to catch it. Either way it\u2019s going to hurt.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10000003562\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10000003562\" style=\"width: 805px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10000003562 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/BI5I1535-805x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"805\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10000003562\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shortstop Drew Winn catches the ball during the Vintage Baseball game in Long Beach. Photo by Kelly Smiley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The players say they enjoy the challenge, and the nostalgia for earlier times.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s just a new, exciting version of baseball,\u201d Giannone said. \u201cIt takes skill to do this. It\u2019s a fun challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The first season is coming to a close. The Long Beach Oilers and Crestline Highlanders are the two top teams, and will face each other in the playoffs in October.<\/p>\n<p>Learn more about the local team on its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lbovbbc\/\">Facebook page<\/a>; learn more about the Southern California Vintage Base Ball Association <a href=\"http:\/\/scvbb.com\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10000003563\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10000003563\" style=\"width: 706px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10000003563 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/BI5I1416-706x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"706\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10000003563\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Umpire &#8220;Sir&#8221; calling balls and strikes. Photo by Kelly Smiley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10000003564\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10000003564\" style=\"width: 1110px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10000003564 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/BI5I1426-1110x837.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"837\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10000003564\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Long Beach Oilers first baseman Brayden Giannone misses the throw as Crestline Highlanders runner rounds first in Long Beach. Photo by Kelly Smiley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10000003565\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10000003565\" style=\"width: 1110px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10000003565 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/BI5I1440-1110x740.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10000003565\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Long Beach Oilers pitcher Ryan Martin brings the heat during the Vintage Baseball game in Long Beach. Photo by Kelly Smiley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10000003567\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10000003567\" style=\"width: 1110px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10000003567 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/BI5I1570-1110x740.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10000003567\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Crestline Highlanders player catches a late throw at first base during the Vintage Baseball game in Long Beach. Photo by Kelly Smiley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10000003568\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10000003568\" style=\"width: 1110px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10000003568 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/BI5I1619-1110x740.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10000003568\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Crestline Highlanders player misses the pitch during the Vintage Baseball game in Long Beach. Photo by Kelly Smiley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10000003569\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10000003569\" style=\"width: 1110px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10000003569 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/BI5I1640-1110x740.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10000003569\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of the scoreboard during the Vintage Baseball game in Long Beach. Photo by Kelly Smiley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10000003570\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10000003570\" style=\"width: 1110px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10000003570 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/BI5I1684-1110x740.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10000003570\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Umpire &#8220;Sir&#8221; uses chalks up the score for the inning during the same in Long Beach. Photo by Kelly Smiley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Long Beach Oilers are one of five teams that joined the inaugural season of the Southern California Vintage Base Ball League, which uses rules and etiquette from 1886. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":206,"featured_media":17054,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":"","_":"","_author_alias":"","cap-aim":"","cap-description":"","cap-display_name":"","cap-first_name":"","cap-jabber":"","cap-last_name":"","cap-linked_account":"","cap-newspack_employer":"","cap-newspack_job_title":"","cap-newspack_phone_number":"","cap-newspack_role":"","cap-user_email":"","cap-user_login":"","cap-website":"","cap-yahooim":"","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_email_html":"","newspack_email_type":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_hide_page_title":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_show_share_buttons":"","newspack_sponsor_byline_prefix":"","newspack_sponsor_disclaimer_override":"","newspack_sponsor_flag_override":"","newspack_sponsor_only_direct":"","newspack_sponsor_url":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[223],"tags":[5,24],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[266],"class_list":["post-6151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-instagram","tag-sports","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/206"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6151"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6151\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17054"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6151"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=6151"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=6151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}