I had the opportunity to interview Tom Fioriglio and Tom Fesolowich, co-captains of the Mutual Base Ball Club, a travelling team that plays by 1864 Base Ball rules. They talk about the differences in the game when you actually play it by 1864 rules, and shares some of their experiences.

Tell me a bit about your team.

We are co-captains of the Mutual Base Ball Club of New York, a vintage travel team and play other vintage teams across the country. I (Tom Fioriglio) am also captain of the Hempstead Eurekas who play at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. OBVR is the site of the oldest vintage league in the country. They have been playing base ball there since 1980.

Do you have any traditional baseball experience, and is the Vintage Game more difficult?

Tom Fioriglio:I played baseball in Little League until I was 13 and then switched to hockey and lacrosse in high school. The experience of the players ranges from Little League to High School ball to College ball and every now and then, we get a player who was actually drafted and may have played some low minor league ball. As for the difficulty level, basically, the vintage game is easier. Pitching is underhand from 45 feet and it is a hitters game. The most difficult part of the game is simply catching the ball with no glove, just your barehands. A routine flyball is not always an easy out! What makes it easier is the fact you can catch the ball on one bound for an out. The rest of the game is pretty much the same though. What also makes it more difficult is that many of us are in our 30s and 40s so age takes a little bit away from you.

Tom Fesolowich: I’ve played baseball all my life. It’s more difficult to play 19th century base ball because there are many different rules to learn some that go against what I have learned through my baseball career, such as over running first base, something you can’t do in 1864. Also not using a glove takes some getting used to. In order to act like a 19th century base ball player it takes research and reading. You have to learn the terminology of the times and you have to restrain yourself from using modern terminology and references. It is a difficult task. It helps to know a little bit about the history of the time period.

You have to act like a 19th century player. How tough is that and give me some examples of how you do this.

One of the things we emphasize at the OBVR and especially with the Mutuals is being historically accurate. The easiest way is simply dressing the part through the uniforms and the equipment we use. Our uniforms for the Mutuals are modeled after the uniforms the real Mutuals wore in 1870. The knickers were first worn in 1868 with the Cincinnati Red Stockings. So if we are playing 1864 rules, we usually wear the long pants.

As for being in “character” we are not like the Civil War re-enactors who take on the identity of actual soldiers. We all have nicknames and that helps. We don’t use any modern references or discuss current events while in uniform. We use the language of the day and the game. For example, and out is a “hand down.” A run is an “ace.” A batter is a “striker.” Hustle is “ginger.” A hard hit ball is “well struck.” It is not tough to stay “in character.” I am a history teacher so I like to throw in some historical references when I can. The bats we use are all reproductions of 19th century bats. The only visible modern equipment we use are our cleats. We just black out any logos on them. I also wear my facial hair according to the era.

What is the block rule?

The block rule is really for the safety of the spectators. If a ball is overthrown and it goes amongst the “cranks” or fans, the umpire, at his discretion, can call a block and the runner gets the extra base and play is dead. It really depends on the field and how many cranks are in attendance. If the ball is overthrown and no one is in the way, the play is live and the runner can keep running until the ball is retrieved.

What are the biggest differences between the game today and the Vintage game.

Well, it depends on what year you play. We mostly play by the rules of 1864 though we also play 1873, 1884, 1887, 1891, or whatever year our opponent is interested in playing. In 1864, the biggest differences is in the pitching and fielding. Pitching is underhand from 45 feet away. The batter gets 3 balls and 3 strikes. Foul balls do not count as strikes. A ball is fair or foul depending on where it hits the ground first. The strike zone is anything “reachable.” A ball caught on one bound is an out. Runners who overrun first base can be tagged out. On a walk, all runners advance one base whether they are forced or not. As the years go on, pitching will change from sidearm to overhand and balls and strikes are constantly changing. In 1865, they change the rule so fair balls must be caught on the fly. That is the basics.

What is the bound rule?

A fair or foul ball caught on one “bound” or bounce is an out or a “hand down.” As I stated earlier, this is with 1864 rules. So as a fielder you love this; as a hitter it gets frustrating. It changes the way you hit. Ideally, you want to hit ground balls or “daisy cutters” because that is a more difficult play for the fielder. Fly balls to the outfield can more easily be caught on the bound. Also, catchers will make about 4-6 outs a game on foul tips.

Can pitchers pitch overhand?

Once again, it depends on what year or rules you play. In the National League, pitchers were allowed to pitch overhand in 1884. In the American Association, pitchers were allowed to pitch overhand in 1887.

What are the differences between 1864 rules and 1884 rules?

In 1884, the pitching is sidearm from 50 feet away. The bound rule only applies to foul balls. The batter gets 7 balls and 3 strikes and can call his strike zone. A high zone is belt to shoulders, a low zone from shins to belt.

What are some of your best experiences?

For me, I love the friendships that have formed between my teammates and the players we meet from across the country. We all love the game of base ball and the history involved. Though the games are competitive and we do want to win, we have fun and it is a “gentlemen’s game.” If I did not like the other players on the team, then this would certainly lose its appeal. Most of the stories we have are from just being around each other and the travel we do and the games we play. The rest of the players on the Mutuals are not just my teammates, but my best friends. That simply is it.

Tom Fesolowich adds: My experiences meeting other players from across the country is one of the things I value most. Teaching and demonstrating the roots of our National Pastime makes it all worthwhile. One of my best experiences was filming a special at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown with Hall of Famer,  Ozzie Smith. We spent all day doing a live web cast answering questions from over 15 million students across the country.

What do you enjoy most about the old style of play? What do you like the least?

I enjoy the most simply playing base ball the way it used to be played and dressing up in the old uniforms. I love the history of the game and the era. I love the friendships that have developed. I love the different rules. I really love just talking to people who come to see the games for the first time and talking to them about the history of the game and the different rules. There is really nothing I don’t like about it. One of the things we discourage, are players who are selfish and overly competitive.

Do you have any examples of plays that happened in your games that could not happen in today’s game?

Well, the one example I think of right away is when I hit into a triple play. In 1864, there is no Infield Fly rule. So, I was up with the bases loaded and no out. I hit a pop up to the pitcher. He acts like he is going to catch it on the fly. The runners hold. He lets it drop and then gets the force out at home, third and second.

That is a good example of a smart player taking advantages of the rules. Also, since the ball is fair or foul depending on where it hits first, some players will intentionally chop down at the ball, striking it in fair territory and then the balls goes into foul territory towards the benches. Making it difficult for the 3rd or 1st baseman from making the play . That is called a “fair-foul” and some players are very good at hitting that way.

Adds Tom Fesolowich:Tagging a player out after he over runs first base. We also like to pull the hidden ball trick which is when a player hides the ball and the pitcher pretends to have the ball in the pitchers area. as soon as the runner steps off the bag I tag him out.

Who are your favorite players from that baseball era and why?

Tom Fesolowich: Being a first baseman, I like Joe Start and since he played for the Mutuals in the 1870s I feel a kinship to him.

Where can people go to watch games or learn more about them?

We play games every Sunday at Old Bethpage Village Restoration from April to the beginning of October. Here are some websites:

www.nymutuals.com

www.leaguelineup.com/obvr

www.19cbaseball.com