More To The Story: Vintage Baseball

Dave checks out the opening of the Vintage Baseball season on a chilly Saturday morning in Fort Oglethorpe

FORT OGLETHORPE, Georgia (WDEF) – 44 degrees Saturday morning. At the “Polo Field” in Fort Oglethorpe. But we have a group of “hearty souls.”

They are here to play baseball. The old fashioned way!

JOSH BLAIR, MOUNTAIN CITY CAPTAIN;
“It is hard. But, we play through it all. Broken fingers, whatever. We’ll play through it. And we have a blast doing it.”

It’s the first weekend of the Tennessee Association of Vintage Baseball.

The teams play by old rules. 1864 rules. Bats are pretty much the same. Bases pretty much the same.

But much is different. The ball is different. Maybe what stands out the most is the fielding glove. There is none. Gloves are not used. Bare handed baby!

Also, when a run comes across plate, you ring the bell!!

And as one can see, the uniforms are accurate to that period of time too.

But for these guys and gals, it’s more than baseball. It’s about bonding.

HEATH FARRIS, CHATTANOOGA LIGHTFOOTS CAPTAIN;
“There is a brotherhood. Fathers and sons. Husbands and wives. It’s a community. We get together and have barbeques and picnics. We have get-togethers. It’s just a great time.

This league has been in existence since 2015. 10 teams in the league. The two Chattanooga teams actually ended up scrimmaging one another Saturday. The team from Nashville couldn’t make the trip, so both local teams won by forfeit.

Does this look like fun? Yessir!!

JOSH BLAIR, MOUNTAIN CITY CAPTAIN;
“I had a buddy on one team. He set me up. People stay on their teams. Then there was an opening. I was named captain and I’ll stay captain as long as my teammates support me. Because I absolutely love it.”

The vintage season runs through mid-September. The gang will keep on playing. Honoring the game. And a different time. Way back when!
From Ft. Oglethorpe, Dave Staley, News 12 Now