“Take Me Out to the Ball Game”

The Lewes Vintage Base Ball Club has their first home game on April 24-

Lewes, Delaware, April 1, 2016- The Lewes Historical Society is proud to be the home of the Lewes Base Ball Club, sponsored by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.  Lewes Base Ball Club is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Vintage Base Ball League and the Vintage Base Ball Association.  It is an educational program at the Society designed to tell the story of baseball in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  It also demonstrates the history of social and athletic life in Lewes.

The earliest known reference to baseball in Lewes is from February 1874, when a match pitting Lewes against Milton was advertised for March 1, 1874. Unfortunately the outcome of that contest is not known. Lewes played home to a member of the Eastern Shore Baseball League in the early and mid 20th century.

The Lewes Vintage Base Ball Club plays by 1864 rules, which have several differences from contemporary baseball.  The most notable differences are the ability to catch the ball on one bounce for an out and no gloves permitted for fielders. Additionally, pitchers throw underhand, batters are called strikers, strikes are called when a striker does not attempt to swing the bat after a warning from the umpire, and foul balls can be caught on the bounce for an out.

“2016 is the seventh year for the Lewes Vintage Base Ball Club.  Being more seasoned makes us better prepared than ever!  We are very grateful for the continued support of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and we are looking forward to having our fans in the stands cheering us on,” said Mike DiPaolo, Executive Director of The Lewes Historical Society.

The club, a part of The Lewes Historical Society, is composed of men from around the Lewes-area. “When we started the team, our goal was to have fun, teach the public about 19th century base ball and life in Lewes at the time and reach out to younger members of the community and their families – it’s been tremendously successful,” said DiPaolo, who plays on the team, often at catcher.

New this year, the Club’s 2016 Home Field is at The Villages of Five Points at the field behind Greene Turtle along Old Orchard Road.  Most games begin at 1:00pm and most dates feature a double header.  Call 302-645-7670 for confirmation.

2016 Schedule-
April 17- Away at Elkton Eclipse (Terrapin Station Winery)
April 24- Home vs. Chesapeake 9
May 7- Away at Dover Days vs. Diamond State
May 22- Away at Chesapeake 9 (Jerusalem Mill)
June 5- Away at Fair Plays of Talbot County (Mardela Springs)
June 12- Away at Diamond State (Fort Delaware)
July 16-17- Gettysburg Base Ball Festival (Schroeder’s Farm)
August 13- Home vs. Diamond State
August 21- Home vs. Elkton Eclipse
August 27- Away at Brooklyn Atlantics (Smithtown Historical Society)

For more information about The Lewes Historical Society or the Lewes Vintage Base Ball Club, please visit www.HistoricLewes.org or call 302-645-7670.