When does the baseball season begin? Most people would say Major League Baseball's opening day. Thanks to the Dodgers and Cubs' early season visit to Japan, the 2025 season begins in less than two months. Others might choose the opening of spring training camps, now only days away. But baseball operates at other levels, which while not as important in the big picture, are very much so to the participants. Take, for example, nineteenth-century baseball, more popularly known as vintage baseball. In that world, there is no universal opening day, but for me, it's the day the Flemington Neshanock announces its schedule, the beginning of a journey from early April to late September.
Every baseball season is important, but this year has special significance for the Neshanock because it's our 25th year of recreating 1860s baseball. The teams of the Civil War era were notoriously short-lived and many vintage teams have suffered a similar fate so this is a significant achievement. While many people have contributed, first and foremost is Brad "Brooklyn" Shaw the team's founder. It's arguable as to which is more difficult, starting something or sustaining it, but it doesn't matter in this case because Brad not only founded the Neshanock, he kept the team going and continues to contribute today even after stepping back from an active role.
Brad "Brooklyn" Shaw, right, pictured with Bruce Leith of the Elkton Eclipse, another team Brad helped get started - photo by Mark Granieri
While there may not have been a formal goal-setting process at the beginning, for the past quarter-century, the Neshanock have had three major priorities - to have fun playing nineteenth-century baseball, to play it historically accurately and to teach baseball history. Meeting these goals has challenges, but teaching baseball history is especially difficult because it requires an audience. This is an area where Brad was very creative, deciding that rather than have a home field, the Neshanock would play events sponsored by partner organizations that have a base of potential spectators. In 2025, these games, once again, make up the heart of the Neshanock schedule.
Zane Grey, far right, played both minor league and semi-pro baseball in New Jersey
Seven long-time partners. - Ringwood Manor State Park, Fosterfields Living History Farm, Historic New Bridge Landing, Howell Living History Farm, the Historical Society of Princeton, the Dey Farm and Newtown, Pennsylvania are again on the schedule. More recent host organizations are the Lambertville Historical Society and Washington Borough. We're also happy to add two new partners - Bergen County and the Zane Grey Historical Site in Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania. Although far better known for his Western novels, Zane Grey also wrote baseball fiction some of which was based on his experiences playing baseball in New Jersey. There's also a special educational program on the 2025 schedule. Last year, at the invitation of Bart Bronk, Head of the Hun School in Princeton, Sam Bernstein and I gave a classroom presentation, followed by an informal game between the students and the Neshanock. We look forward to returning on Friday, May 30.
The Elizabeth Resolutes and the Neshanock, New Jersey's two senior vintage clubs will meet three times this season - photo by Mary Nunn
While having fun may seem like an unusual goal, it's unlikely the Neshanock would have made 25 years, if the players didn't enjoy themselves. Having fun in vintage baseball means playing games that we try to win, against opponents who we like and respect. As in the past, there are two categories of opponents. With two exceptions, Flemington will face teams with whom we have a history of friendly competition. Once again we will play all of the New Jersey vintage teams - the Elizabeth Resolutes, the Hoboken Nine, Monmouth Furnace and the Logan Club. We are also fortunate to have two matches with the Atlantic Club of Brooklyn, one of the top nineteenth-century teams in the country Although they only play on special occasions, we also look forward to once again playing the Newtown Strakes and the Enterprise Club of River Edge, two "town" teams.
The Neshanock look forward to playing before enthusiastic crowds again in 2025, like this one at the Howell Living History Farm - picture by Mark Granieri
Playing and developing long-term relationships with local teams is crucial to our success, but we also like to play new teams or clubs we don't play regularly. This year there will be two such opportunities, one a longtime tradition and the other an inaugural event. New on the schedule is an end-of-season tournament sponsored by the National Association of Historically Accurate Base Ball Clubs. Featuring 16 teams, the tournament will be played near Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville, Maryland. No Neshanock schedule would be complete without our annual trip to Gettysburg for the National Nineteenth Century Base Ball Festival sponsored by our friends the Elkton Eclipse. The Neshanock are proud to be a charter member of this event which dates back to 2010.
We look forward to another visit to the Hun School in Princeton where once again as teachers "by our students, we'll be taught."
Of the three goals, historically accuracy is the Neshanock's highest priority. To play baseball the way it was played in the 1860s. It's not always easy. Sometimes there isn't clear historical evidence about how the game was played over 150 years ago. And there also have to be adjustments for safety and participation. It's a learning process and we never stop learning. Last year at the Hun School, a ground ball was hit to the pitcher where there was no play so I called out "Eat it," that is, don't throw it. The student beside me asked, "Did they say that in the 1860s?" With some embarrassment, I admitted they didn't and it was a reminder that we need to focus on historically accurate baseball language This season will doubtless offer similar lessons. I speak for the entire Neshanock community in saying we can't wait to get started on this historic season.
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