Vintage Base Ball

[ilyazhito]

Do any of you umpire vintage base ball? I'm asking, becaμse there is a league in my area. I find some of the rules differences fascinating (catching a ball in the air or on the first bounce for an out). I'd like to know what it is like from an umpire perspective.

Is it completely different, or are there modern umpiring techniques that can help in vintage base ball? Are there techniques that old-time umpires used that are still relevant for modern baseball? 

Do vintage players behave differently from modern players? I'm curious, because what I've seen about vintage base ball clubs makes it seem that the players play for fun, though the games are competitive.

Finally, are there any good places for a new vintage umpire to get period-specific clothes? The league I'm looking into plays by 1863 rules, so if I start umpiring there, I'll need clothes that fit that period. 

 

[StatsUmp]

The biggest difference is that umpires didn't call runners safe or out on the bases unless the involved players couldn't decided on their own and asked for judgment. Given your rule set, the umpire would either call the runner out or either "in" or "not out" instead of safe. A great resource for rules and terminology is the VBBA site.

I'd also recommend observing one or more games to learn the period positioning, how the umpire calls the game, and the style of play between the involved clubs. It wouldn't hurt to ask the local club's captain what it would take to learn the rules well enough to eventually umpire.

Some clubs play with a relaxed/social approach and others play as competitively as possible - sometimes to the point it seems cutthroat - with the expectation that the game will be umpired accordingly with sharp knowledge of the rules. Even if it's not period accurate, I'd recommend from experience to run down the line on fly balls that could land on or near the line... which might not be marked beyond 1st or 3d base apart from flags serving as that era's foul poles.

From one of the umpiring videos I watched on the VBBA site, the presenter said that any 1860's style apparel is acceptable for umpiring. So, that's what I do. I don't recall where I got my hat from, but I've bought my vest, ties, and pocket watch from Historical Emporium.

HTH.

[flyingron]

10 hours ago, StatsUmp said:

The biggest difference is that umpires didn't call runners safe or out on the bases unless the involved players couldn't decided on their own and asked for judgment.

Do they have to say "Howzat?"

 

[love to ump]

This sound intriguing....I do Men's Rec Ball, and many of the players are "Vintage"...but this takes it to a whole new level!

So do the batters get to signal their preferred pitch location?

[ilyazhito]

10 hours ago, love to ump said:

This sound intriguing....I do Men's Rec Ball, and many of the players are "Vintage"...but this takes it to a whole new level!

So do the batters get to signal their preferred pitch location?

It depends on the rule set. In 1863 baseball, the ball has to be "pitched, not jerked or thrown". There is nothing about requesting location, just a warning if the pitcher or batter try to delay by either not throwing hittable pitches or by not swinging at hittable pitches. 

Between 1867 and 1887, batters were able to request pitch location (high or low). 

[ilyazhito]

12 hours ago, flyingron said:

Do they have to say "Howzat?"

 

That is cricket. In cricket, any outs have to be appealed to the umpires. 

[StatsUmp]

On 11/21/2024 at 10:01 AM, flyingron said:

Do they have to say "Howzat?"

 

Most of the time, they simply ask the umpire for "judgement." The sideline interpreters for one of the clubs in my area have mentioned using "How's that" to a lesser extent.

VBBA List of Documented Terms