Vintage Base Ball Rules and Terms

The Great Black Swamp Frogs Base Ball Club plays Civil War Era base ball matches using rules codified in 1860.   The Frogs take some liberties with the rules of 1860, which did not permit substitutions; all participating Frogs are on the batting list and substitutions are made on defense.  The game the Frogs play is fundamentally the same as baseball today and instantly recognizable as such.  There are, however, differences in rules, strategies, and equipment that are portrayed and duplicated as accurately as possible.

Base ball is a gentleman's game:

• Matches are conducted according to the highest standards of sportsmanship, gentlemanly behavior, courtesy and respect for others.
• There is no swearing, spitting, scratching, consumption of alcohol, chewing of tobacco, or wagering.
• Gentlemen shall forbear from commenting on the umpire's judgment, receiving it in entire silence.

The umpire:

• calls foul balls immediately, but does not call fair balls.
• may ask players and spectators for assistance in making decisions.
• may call strikes after warning a batter who repeatedly lets good pitches pass, does not call balls.
• levies fines on the spot for ungentlemanly conduct. 

In pitching:

• the ball must be pitched (underhanded), not jerked or thrown to the bat.
  

A striker is out when:

• a batted ball is caught on one bound off the ground or on the fly, fair or foul.
• after three called or swinging strikes.  Foul balls are not strikes.

A baserunner is out:

• when forced at a base, the force remaining on no matter where the first out is made.
• if he overruns first, second or third base and is touched by the ball in the hands of an adversary.
• if, after any foul ball the ball is returned to the base, after settling in the hands of the pitcher, before the baserunner returns. 

Other differences between the vintage and modern game: 

• Players do not wear gloves or other protective equipment.
• A batted ball is determined fair or foul by where it first hits the ground.
• A baserunner may advance at risk if a batted ball is caught fair on one bound.
• The leadoff batter is the player who follows the player making the last out in the previous inning.
• The striker must stand on a line drawn through the center of the home base. 
• Because of the uncertainty of when sliding began, we do not practice it.

Terminology:

In addition to some of the rules, base ball terminology has changed since the early years of the game.   The following guide to Mid-Nineteenth Century Base Ball Terminology may be helpful to spectators (fans) watching their first vintage base ball match:

Vintage Term                          Modern Term

Club ...................................Team
Home/Base .........................Home Plate
Pitcher's Point......................Pitching Rubber
Playground...........................Field
Spectator.............................Fan
Hand Lost............................Player Out
Adversary............................Opponent
Striker/Batsman....................Batter
Pitcher..................................Pitcher
Scorer or Game Keeper.......Score Keeper
Ace......................................Run
Leg It...................................Run to Base

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This web site designed and maintained by Rick Fuchs.  Report problems to frogweb@buckeye-express.com.