Lewes club hosts Base Ball at the Beach

Vintage teams play nation’s pasttime by 1864 rules, including no fielder’s gloves

Members of the Lewes Base Ball Club raise their caps to members of the Rising Sun Base Ball Club, the victors in the first game of the Base Ball at the Beach tournament held Aug. 26 at the Villages of Five Points field. RON MACARTHUR PHOTOS

Ron MacArthur

September 2, 2023

The Rising Sun (Md.) Base Ball Club won the Aug. 26 Base Ball at the Beach tournament, hosted by Lewes Base Ball Club, with wins over Lewes and Elkton.

Lewes lost its opener 12-7 to Rising Sun and then lost 8-1 to the Elkton Eclipse Base Ball Club, which had a 7-run, fifth-inning rally. Rising Sun beat Elkton in the second game, 15-4.

A large crowd turned out to watch the games at the Villages of Five Points field in Lewes. This year’s tournament included live music sponsored by Frantic Frets, food trucks, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery beer (with all sales donated to the Lewes team) and sales of Lewes Base Ball Club merchandise.

The teams play by 1864 rules, which include balls being caught on one bounce for an out, no fielding gloves in use, foul balls not counting as strikes and pitchers throwing underhanded. Compared to a modern baseball, the vintage ball is slightly larger, softer and stitched differently.

The rules were adopted by the National Association of Base Ball Players on Dec. 9, 1863.

The Lewes Base Ball Club is supported by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and by the State of Delaware The club is a nonprofit organization, and membership is open to all. Its activities include hosting speakers and programs relating to baseball on Delmarva, with a particular emphasis on Lewes and Sussex County. For details, go to lewesbaseball.org.

Russ “Five Points” Huxtable, who is also a state senator, presents a Senate tribute to 82-year-old Warren “Yankee” Miller during his final game.

Lewes Mayor Andrew Williams throws out the first pitch to begin the Base Ball at the Beach tournament Aug. 26.

Arbiter (umpire) Dave Shook talks to the large crowd about how the home team is selected before the first game.

Lewes’ Joe “Bats” Walls loses the bat toss to see who will hit first during the opening game with Rising Sun.

Kevin “Dart” Schulze watches his pitch go toward home plate. Under 1864, rules, pitchers thrown underhanded.

Lewes’ Chris "Lovey" Chapdelaine takes a huge swing at the ball during the opening game.

Who says these athletes don’t play hard? Lewes’ Mike “Bones” Dowd is tagged out at the plate by Rising Sun catcher Eric “Dirt” Campion.

Left fielder Joe “Bats” Walls catches the ball on a bounce for an out, with backup from center fielder Matt “Hubby” Husbands.

If not for the utility poles in the background, this could be scene from a community baseball game in the 1860s.

Mike “Chicken” Curry prepares to make the long throw from third base.

Mike “Oyster” DiPaolo, founder of the Lewes club, thanks the team’s sponsors and spectators following the first game in the Base Ball at the Beach tournament.

Warren “Yankee” Miller is ready at the plate during his final game for the Lewes Base Ball Club. The 82-year-old, who played in the Minor Leagues for the Yankees and Boston, hit a single on his last at-bat.

Rising Sun’s Doug “Pitt” Heeter is a little late with the tag to get the sliding Dave “Chillie” Gordon.

Lewes’s Alex "Hay Bale" Langley tries to find the bag as he slides under Rising Sun third baseman Brian “Tex” Besancon.

Lewes club hosts Base Ball at the Beach

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