Base Ball
"Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
The Lewes Vintage Base Ball Club begins the season April 7, 2013
The Lewes Historical Society is proud to be the home of the Lewes Vintage Base Ball Club, a vintage ball club participating in the Mid Atlantic Vintage Base Ball League and a member of the Vintage Base Ball Association. The club plays its home matches at the University of Delaware Lewes campus near the Virden Conference Center grounds at 700 Pilottown Road.
The earliest known reference to date of 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 being 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.
“2013 is the fourth year for the Lewes Vintage Base Ball Club; therefore, we have a good grasp on the rules, more practice under our belts and we are excited for the outcome of the season. We look forward to having our fans in the stands cheering us on,” said Mike DiPaolo, executive director of the historical society.
Want to be a spectator of the games? Come cheer on the Lewes Vintage Base Ball Club!
Interested in trying out for the ol' ball club? Drop us a line.
2013 Schedule (most games begin at 1:00pm call 302-645-7670 for confirmation)
APRIL
Sunday 4/7 @ Athletic Club of Philadelphia
Sunday 4/21 vs. Elkton Eclipse
Sunday 4/28 vs. Diamond States
MAY
Sunday 5/5 @ Dover Days vs. Diamond States
Sunday 5/26 vs. West Chester Brandywines
JUNE
Sunday 6/9 vs. Milford BBC
Sunday 6/23 @ Rising Sun BBC
Sunday 6/30 @ West Chester Brandywines
JULY
Sunday 7/14 @ Talbot Fairplays (Mardela Springs, MD)
Saturday 7/27 @ Mechanicsburg Nine BBC
AUGUST
Sunday 8/11 @ Milford BBC
Sunday 8/18 vs. Athletic Club of Philadelphia
Sunday 8/25 @ Elkton Eclipse
SEPTEMBER
Sunday 9/8 @ Diamond States
Sunday 9/15 vs. Rising Sun BBC
Sat. & Sun 9/21-9/22 @ the Philadelphia Vintage Base Ball Festival
OCTOBER
Sat. & Sun. 10/5-10/6 Mid-Atlantic VBBL Championship Tournament
