Vintage Baseball Game Comes Back to Life

Three teams from the Mid Atlantic Vintage Baseball League played an at the Oatlands Plantation on Sunday. This was the first time that all three teams came together to support the Loudoun Preservation Society, who hosted the event to raise funds for their grant program.

Society President Lori Kimball said that the event was a success, especially for an inaugural event that has never been held in Loudoun County.  As of Sunday evening, the attendance numbers were still being tallied, however, the first game was by far the best attended, she said.

"People at the first game were really into it. [They were] cheering loudly for good hits and catches and using some of the base ball lingo in the event program," Kimball said. "I think people in general enjoy baseball and they enjoyed the vintage games because they were "different."  There was enough that was similar to modern day games and made it easy to follow but there was also enough that was different and made the games a curiosity."

Lovettsville resident Joe Gesa said he has never seen a baseball game played the way it was on Sunday. Both he and his nine-year-old son, Zachary, watched from behind home plate as the Potomac Nine played against the Chesapeake Nine.

"It's fantastic. The differences in the rules from the modern game are really enjoyable to watch," Joe Gesa said. "I like the fact that they want to put the ball in to play and not to get the batters out. It just seems to make for a more enjoyable game."

"I like the rules," said Zachary Gesa, adding that his favorite team is the Mets. "I like this [game] but I think we're more used to the way we play right now."

Unfortunately, a thunderstorm had cut the third game short allowing a win by the Potomac Nine who beat out the Chesapeake Nine,  9 to 5. The Potomac Nine also beat the Elkton Eclipse, in game one, 5 to 4, who came back to win against the Chesapeake Nine, 19 to 2, in game two.

"I'm happy with the event because we got a lot of positive feedback from attendees and requests to do it again next year," Kimball said.  "The players were pleased with the event too and asked if we were doing it again next year.

"I would like to hold it again next year but our Board will have to make that decision," she said. "We will talk about it at our next meeting in July."