"The Boy's Rule"

Base ball in the 19th century had a number of rituals, some of which are replicated by today's vintage clubs.  One recreated almost without exception is post game speeches by both captains, followed by cheers from the respective teams.  Some years ago, Neshanock founder Brad "Brooklyn" Shaw introduced an interactive approach to Flemington's post game speech, highlighting one of his favorite words in the process.  Looking at his team lined up along the base line, the Neshanock spokesman calls out "On this," to which the players respond "most splendiferous day for base ball."  It may be an acquired taste, but the audience seems to appreciate the word "splendiferous" which is, in fact, a real word, meaning splendid or wonderful.  Of all the times, the Neshanock have used this line, Saturday at Rahway River Park may have been the most literally "splendiferous day for base ball." Not only was the sun bright in a pristine blue sky, the temperatures were unseasonably moderate for late July.  It was a fine day, therefore for the final meeting of the season between the Neshanock and the Elizabeth Resolutes, the latest chapter in New Jersey's oldest vintage base ball rivalry. 

William Cauldwell

After Elizabeth tallied twice in the top of the first,  the Neshanock quickly responded when Brian "Spoons" LoPinto, in his first at bat of the season, doubled in two runs to tie the score at 2-2.  Unfortunately, the Neshanock didn't cross home plate again for the next five innings as strong Resolute pitching and defense countered any Flemington threats.  Meanwhile the Elizabeth team added two in the third and appeared to break the game open taking a 10-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh. The Neshanock were not finished, however, erupting for five tallies to close to 10-7.  Elizabeth got three back in the top of the eighth, but Flemington tallied four times to make it a two run game with one inning to play.  After blanking the Resolutes in the top of the ninth, the Neshanock had a chance, but Elizabeth retired the side for a well earned 13-11 victory.  It was a quiet offensive day for the Neshanock, led by Jeff "Duke" Schneider with three hits and "Spoons" with two, but after that Flemington only had four more hits.  The Neshanock were especially glad to welcome back Joe "San Antonio" Burger who filled in admirably when Flemington was initially short handed.  After taking next weekend off, the Neshanock travel to Genesee Country Village near Rochester, New York on August 14-15 for the National Silver Ball Tournament.  

All game pictures courtesy of Mark Granieri

While I've never seen any statistics, it seems fair to say that most vintage base ball teams play by 1864 rules.  There are, of course, some exceptions, the upcoming National Silver Ball Tournament will use 1868 rules and there are some clubs who play by late 19th century rules, perhaps most notably the Providence Grays.  In New Jersey, the Liberty Club of New Brunswick plays some games by the rules of the year they were founded (1858) and, of course, the Resolutes, the state's senior club, go by the 1870 rulebook.  While the degree of difference can vary, perhaps the biggest variation are post 1864 rules because of the elimination of the fair bound out, requiring putouts on fair batted balls to be made by catching the ball in the air. The foul bound out hung around much later before being eliminated in the 1880s.  The elimination of the fair bound out makes for a very different game which may explain why although the change was first proposed in 1857, it wasn't approved until the December 14, 1864 meeting of the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP), a loose confederation of base ball clubs.

Tom "Hawk" Prioli leads of third

Considering how long it took, it's not surprising as Richard Hershberger points out in his essential book, Strike Four: The Evolution of Baseball, that the fly/bound debate was "the most contentious rules argument in the history of the game."  Interestingly each side of the argument had a supporter not only with a strong opinion, but a pulpit to promote his position. Strongly for the elimination of the fair bound out was Henry Chadwick, the Father of Baseball himself. Chadwick used his platform in the New York Clipper and Brooklyn Daily Eagle to argue the change was necessary to maintain the manliness of the game.  On the other side was William Cauldwell, who although not well remembered today, was the first newspaper man to regularly cover and promote baseball through the New York Sunday Mercury.  One of Cauldwell's arguments for maintaining the fair bound out was that the game would lose the athletic (and presumably manly) diving attempts to come up with a ball on the bounce.  Anyone with experience at vintage base ball will agree that the bound rule adds that feature to the game.

Resolute captain Craig Combs pitches while Joe "Mick" Murray leads off first

With such strongly held opinions, it's no surprise the debate got more than a little heated.  After the proposal to eliminate the bound out was defeated twice in 1860, the Clipper, most likely Chadwick said there was growing "animus" over the issue.  And even the gentlemanly Chadwick wasn't above the battle, lowering himself to unmanly verbiage by demeaning the December 1860 defeat as victory for "the boy's rule."  For shame, Mr. Chadwick!  Time, however, was on the side of the fly game and after a narrow 25-22 defeat in 1863, the following year saw a decisive 32-19 vote for the change.  Interestingly by that point, both Chadwick and Cauldwell had somewhat softened their positions with Chadwick admitting there were some advantages to the bound catch. Especially relevant, however, was Cauldwell's observation that continuing the bound out meant a dozen or so "unworthy catches per game."  In over a decade of watching 1864 base ball, I don't recall any game with that many "unworthy" or unmanly bound catches,  but the potential for abuse is there.  Personally, at the vintage level, I prefer the bound game, but for base ball to grow and develop as it has, the change had to be made.