OT: I got to bat against a former Major League Pitcher today... and got a single. Photos added.
41GoudeyGuy
Posts: 565 ✭
This year I've started playing on a Vintage Baseball Club in Connecticut. We play by 1880's rules using period equipment. Gloves are about the size of a gardening glove, the bats are heavy with thick handles and the ball is quite a bit softer than those used today. No protective equipment is allowed for the batters and the catcher gets a thin canvas chest protector with no shin guards.
The rules are quite a bit different. You need 7 balls for a walk. If a batter gets hit by a pitch it's not a free base. Pitchers can (and do) quick pitch any batter who loses focus. It's been a lot of fun playing again for the first time in about 12 years. There are a lot of others and the newbies like me have some trouble keeping things straight some times.
I expected this would be a casual pick-up type league but so far the opponents have been pretty competitive. Our first game had a pitcher throwing in the mid 80's. Today we had a game against a local club that had a former MLB pitcher as their starting pitcher. Before I get too carried away though, I need to confess who was pitching. Jim Bouton, former NY Yankee pitcher, author of Ball Four and the inventor of Big League Chew was the hurler today. Yes, I realize he is 70 years old but it was still a thrill to step in against a guy with his infamy. Bulldog Bouton was throwing lots of knuckleballs trying to get us with his junk. He was throwing around 50-60 MPH but it wasn't moving much. After taking a couple high pitches I got one to pull and lined it over 3rd base for a clean single to left.
Jim is a big supporter of Vintage Baseball and seeing him out there today was a real pleasure. For anybody interested in learning more, my team can be found at www.simsburytaverneers.com. They've got a great photo's section. Pics from today's game should be up by the middle of the week.
The rules are quite a bit different. You need 7 balls for a walk. If a batter gets hit by a pitch it's not a free base. Pitchers can (and do) quick pitch any batter who loses focus. It's been a lot of fun playing again for the first time in about 12 years. There are a lot of others and the newbies like me have some trouble keeping things straight some times.
I expected this would be a casual pick-up type league but so far the opponents have been pretty competitive. Our first game had a pitcher throwing in the mid 80's. Today we had a game against a local club that had a former MLB pitcher as their starting pitcher. Before I get too carried away though, I need to confess who was pitching. Jim Bouton, former NY Yankee pitcher, author of Ball Four and the inventor of Big League Chew was the hurler today. Yes, I realize he is 70 years old but it was still a thrill to step in against a guy with his infamy. Bulldog Bouton was throwing lots of knuckleballs trying to get us with his junk. He was throwing around 50-60 MPH but it wasn't moving much. After taking a couple high pitches I got one to pull and lined it over 3rd base for a clean single to left.
Jim is a big supporter of Vintage Baseball and seeing him out there today was a real pleasure. For anybody interested in learning more, my team can be found at www.simsburytaverneers.com. They've got a great photo's section. Pics from today's game should be up by the middle of the week.
Learn some history of the game. Join a vintage base ball team in your area and get out there.
Simsbury Taverneers
My PSA Sets
Simsbury Taverneers
My PSA Sets
0
Comments
Mike
going to check out some sites and see about leagues that may be here in new york. Good Story
Always looking for Chipper Jones cards.
Im a very focused collector of cards from 1909 - 2012...LOL
Great story...Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Check out website to find a league near you...
We are always looking for pitchers, so if you pitch and live in Chicago suburbs - drop me a line.
Doug
Doug
nice story to tell the grand kids.
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
I was never good enough to be considered , but just crappy enough to make these guys look like gods.
NBA Profile - Dan Langhi
Dan Langhi grew up in my home town. He was four years younger than me. I was in the local gym just shooting around, and this kid comes up to me and wants to play me one on one. I said, "Sure". We played to 24. I beat him 24 to 18 (or something like that). I didn't really know him, but I knew who he was when he came up to me. Here is the catch. I was in the 9th grade and he was in the 5th grade. I was 5'10". He was 5'10". Yes, Dan Langhi was 5'10" in the fifth grade. After playing a fifth grader (and him hanging with me), I knew this kid was going to be pretty special. He went on to be the SEC Player of the Year in 2000 and led the SEC in scoring. He was a 7' footer who played like a shooting guard. He could handle the ball and shoot the three. I am not sure why he is not still in the NBA. (Edited to say - I just found out that he played in Italy for a couple of years and now he is playing in Puerto Rico).
I hope someone doesn't think I hijacked the thread. I just thought is was a similar story.
Shane
<< <i>where in Connecticut do you play, 41GoudeyGuy? >>
I play for the Simsbury Taverneers. We play our home games in Simsbury, CT which is near Hartford but travel around CT, Rhode Island and Massachusetts depending on the schedule. This year though we'll be mostly staying here in town based on the current schedule. I'm told we often get into a tournament or two over the summer, possibly in Boston or Cooperstown. That is still TBD and largely depends on the commitment and capabilities of the squad this year.
Simsbury Taverneers
My PSA Sets
On a side, somewhat related note, when I was 13 (let's see, that would be 1977), I was at a local minor league game and got chosen to bat against Bob Feller. He threw 3 pitches and I was so nervous that I didn't even come close. I did get a copy of the picture that ran in the newspaper. You can see the ghost image of the Kansas City Royals team magnet that held it to my folks refrigerator on the lower left part of the picture (not from KC, but had all the team magnets).
Link
<< <i>This thread reminds me of....well....I'll let the video speak for itself.....
Link >>
I was thinking this would be the Barkley/Magic Johnson/Dr. J. video for Old School. "You get to play the NBA legends, when they're old."
I'm taking you deep Bouton!!!
Simsbury Taverneers
My PSA Sets
We got to play against the Bruins 'old timers' twenty yrs ago. We thought we were real hot shots going in with our new jerseys and all the babes in the stands. But they made us look like a bunch of nitwits on double-runners for three long periods.
Great post. Thanks for sharing!
<< <i>I once got a hit off Jaimie Moyer....However it was back in 1979 (American Legion) >>
He was only around 28 then. It's great to see him still getting people out.
Great story GoudeyGuy, Ball 4 was one of my favorite baseball books in high school because it wasn't a hero worship book.
Now collecting:
Topps Heritage
1957 Topps BB Ex+-NM
All Yaz Items 7+
Various Red Sox
Did I leave anything out?
Thanks for sharing
I'm going to have to get that book out myself again and give it a read before our next game against Whately.
Simsbury Taverneers
My PSA Sets
Some links on the bottom left to note:
The New England Vintage Baseball Federation is our "league" with the standings and links to the various New England club websites.
The Vintage Baseball Federation is Jim Bouton's organization with links to many clubs around the country.
The Vintage Baseball Association. A competing league focusing more on a different era (1860's). Most clubs play both styles of games.
Enjoy the pics and find a game near you. It's worth the time to learn the origins of the game.
Simsbury Taverneers Website
Simsbury Taverneers
My PSA Sets
Me lining a clean single to left off Jim Bouton
Bulldog Bouton throwing a Knuckler
Bouton looking in for the sign
Later in the game, taking one deep... but foul
Eye on the ball. Foul tipped this one and was caught. Per the rules I'm out even on strike one.
Link to Vintage Baseball Photos
Simsbury Taverneers
My PSA Sets
<< <i>Very cool!
On a side, somewhat related note, when I was 13 (let's see, that would be 1977), I was at a local minor league game and got chosen to bat against Bob Feller. He threw 3 pitches and I was so nervous that I didn't even come close. I did get a copy of the picture that ran in the newspaper. You can see the ghost image of the Kansas City Royals team magnet that held it to my folks refrigerator on the lower left part of the picture (not from KC, but had all the team magnets).
>>
Next time you face off with Feller try choking up on the bat.
Kiss me twice.....let's party.