This event is being rescheduled to November 11, 2023, time TBA.
Duke Homestead State Historic Site is hosting a vintage baseball doubleheader at Historic Durham Athletic Park, 500 West Corporation Street, Durham, on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 5 p.m.
In these games, the Duke Homestead team will be playing a vintage baseball team, the Wytheville Statesmen, from Virginia.
Players will wear historic uniforms, follow historic gameplay, and use historic equipment.
Game 1 will follow 1860 Beadles Rules and Game 2 will follow 1869 Beadles Rules.
The iconic Durham Athletic Park has hosted baseball games since 1926 and was even featured in an iconic baseball film, but Durham’s baseball roots are even deeper. The first century of baseball was marked by racial segregation and separate leagues for black and white athletes at the DAP until the 1950s; however, Duke Homestead welcomes all people to participate and honors the struggles and achievements of the many players over the past century who brought us the Durham baseball culture we know today.
Admission to the game is $5. Children under 4 are admitted for free. You can purchase game tickets online through Eventbrite, as well as at the gate on game day.
Also, Early Bird tickets are available for $3 until September 16, 2023.
Enjoy a family-friendly evening out at the ball park complete with “old fashioned” concessions, food, beer, and historic music. Spectators are encouraged to come dressed in your favorite historical, vintage, or retro inspired outfits.
Free parking available at the lot at 412 Morris St, Durham, NC 27701. A couple of handicap spaces are available in the DAP parking lot.
This game is a fund raiser for the Duke Homestead State Historic Site.
Vintage Base Ball Rules for Game 1
- Sliding is allowed
- Base stealing only allowed on passed balls (one step lead off of bases allowed)
- Bunting and “chop” bunting is not allowed (this type of batting is considered “unmanly”)
- No modern bats allowed
- No gloves allowed
- Foul “tick” goes backwards, otherwise foul ball
- The pitcher is 45 feet from home base
- All pitches are underhand, and pitch speed is not a factor (no windmill windups)
- A balk by the pitcher entitles each base runner to one base
- The umpire calls foul only
- When the third strike is swung at and missed, the striker (batter) must attempt to make first base
- The striker is out if a foul ball is caught in the air or on first bounce
- The striker is out if a fair ball is caught in the air or on first bounce
- If a play is to be made on a foul ball, the ball must be returned to the pitcher first and a runner may only advance, once tagged up, if a play is made on him and the ball is overthrown
- Defensive players can not record outs by catching the ball in their hats/caps
- No gambling on the game is allowed 17. The umpire can warn batters if two or more good pitches are ignored – no walks will be issued
- Defensive players can be positioned by their team captain
- Runners can run through first base (as opposed to stopping at the bag)
- No jewelry or sunglasses can be worn with the uniform
- The tally bell will be rung by all base runners who score a tally (run)
- Cursing on the field by players will be fined 25 cents per profanity by the umpire (who collects the fine) – this is a gentleman’s game
- Period appropriate base ball terms should be used by the players during the game – those terms are listed on the VBBA website
- The game will consist of nine innings
- Players may have nicknames
- “Huzzah” is the appropriate cheer between teams after the conclusion of a game
- Players must wear their shirts tucked in their pants, wear a black belt or period correct suspenders, and black shoes – hats must be worn with the bills facing forward
Vintage Base Ball Rules for Game 2
(Same as Game 1 except for the following)
- The striker is out if a fair ball is caught in the air (no catching on first bounce/bound as an out)
- The striker is out if a foul ball is caught in the air (no catching on first bounce/bound as an out)
- Runners must stop at first base (as opposed to running through/across the bag) – if a runner over runs the bag, he is subject to be tagged out
- Base stealing allowed on passed balls (two steps/paces lead off of bases allowed)
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