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Lewes Base Ball Club wraps up season

Underhand pitches, no gloves among 1864 rules used by vintage league
October 3, 2020

Lewes Base Ball Club finished up its shortened season Sept. 26, splitting a home doubleheader with the Rising Sun (Md.) Base Ball Club. Lewes won the first game 5-3 and lost the second 4-3 to finish the season 2-4.

The team, which was formed in 2012 by Mike DiPaolo, plays other teams in the Mid-Atlantic Vintage Base Ball League. Teams play by 1864 rules with some notable differences from today’s game. Fielders do not wear gloves and a ball can be caught on one bounce for an out. 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.

The team’s uniforms are replicas of the original uniforms worn by the team in the 1870s.

The earliest known reference to baseball in Lewes is a game between Lewes and Milton in March 1874. Lewes and Rehoboth Beach had teams in the Eastern Shore Baseball League in the early and mid-20th century.

DiPaolo said the 2021 schedule is being planned. For more information, go to lewesbaseball.org.

 

 

 

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