Vintage Lewes Base Ball Club plays by 1864 rules
The Lewes Base Ball Club lost a doubleheader June 29 to the visiting Deacons from southern New Jersey, 11-8 and 15-13, at the Villages of Five Points field.
John Chisholm, pitcher and coach for the Deacons, said this was the first time the prison ministry team has played outside a prison. Chisholm also plays for the Lewes Base Ball Club. Warren “Yankee” Miller, who retired last year from the Lewes team, also played for the prison ministry team.
He said the team is preparing for its Bay Loop Crusade to play games at Sussex Correctional Institution, Eastern Correctional Institution and three prisons in Virginia.
The Lewes Base Ball Club plays by 1864 rules, which include balls being caught on one bounce for an out, no fielding gloves in use and other 19th-century rules of America’s pastime. Pitchers throw underhand and are 45 feet from home plate.
Next for the club will be a trip to the National 19th Century Base Ball Festival in Gettysburg, Pa., July 20-22, when the team will challenge clubs from New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and elsewhere. The annual Base Ball at the Beach Festival is set for Aug. 24-25.
The Lewes Base Ball Club traces its origins to 1874, and will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of the earliest recorded baseball game in Lewes throughout the 2024 season.
The current team was reconstituted in 2010 and was crowned Delaware state champions in 2016 and 2023. Interested players and volunteers are encouraged to reach out via the club's Facebook page or email lewesbaseball@gmail.com.
