Anyone see the Vintage style baseball game betwee the Cubs and Braves

KL15 · Jun 13, 2008

WGN the station that has carried the Chicago Cubs since the station was founded is celebrating it's 60th anniversary this year. Yesterday they had a "retro style" game where the players wore throwback uniforms, the broadcast was in black and white, the commentators were in their best vintage wear when they were shown, hot dogs were a nickel, and beer was a dollar. They got it fairly close. Just curious if anyone else saw it?

Prairie Dog · Jun 13, 2008

I would have liked to have seen that game in person. I assume it was at the very vintage, Wrigley Field. Not too many vintage parks exist. The only other one I can think of is Fenway in Boston. And Yankee Stadium. But that place is beeing thrown down at the end of this season. I bet the Atlanta Braves were in Boston Brave garb? I wonder if the spectators wore vintage clothing. What a deal, hot dogs a nickel, and beer a dollar! I bet the admission price was no where near a vintage price. It's a shame that the price of baseball is no longer affordable for the average family.

jayem · Jun 14, 2008

Eff the Cubs!

All about the Sox...

Tomasso · Jun 14, 2008

jayem said:
Eff the Cubs!

All about the Sox...

I'm the rare one who cheers for both; got it from my father who took me to both ballparks growing up. So, I missed the part where you're supposed to pick one team and hate the other. [huh]

Tomasso · Jun 14, 2008

Here's a clip from the retro broadcast.

KittyT · Jun 14, 2008

I am definitely a Sox fan. I do root for the Cubs though, too. I respect them as one of America's oldest ball clubs and for preserving Wrigley Field. With Fenway as my hometown field, I definitely recognize the importance of a ball club preserving their heritage and embracing their history in that way.

I hadn't heard about that game. Sounds very cool!

KL15 · Jun 14, 2008

Tomasso said:
Here's a clip from the retro broadcast.

NICE!!!! Thanks for posting.

pgoat · Jun 14, 2008

about 12 years ago I played in a retro-league for a few seasons....there were 1860s rules and the 1880s rules (I played for the latter). No gloves (ouch) and 4 strikes/5 balls. The strike zone was your eyebrows to your ankles, although there was no raised mound so the hitter had that advantage. I believe the pitcher stood only 50 feet away, but the bases were still 90 feet apart. The one umpire (dressed as a reverend; apparently historic games would often be called by the local clergyman) stood behind the pitcher and called pitches - as well as every other play - from there.

The ball was the biggest difference. Slightly larger with crisscrossed seams on a dark horsehide cover, and very soft in comparison to a modern baseball; this only grew more mushy with use. The balls were specially made for our league and when they got too soft for game play we used them for practice until they literally fell apart. They really didn't hurt too bad once you got the hang of catching them (soft hands, bringing it in towards the body, like a football). In the 1860s league you could catch 'em on one bounce and the batter was out....you could also use your cap as a mitt!!

The biggest surprise was hitting the ball....it sounded like a cannon coming off the wooden bats (extra thick handles). But then the ball...just .....died.........I once got what must have the most solid hit of my life off this one pitcher I owned. I knew the curve was coming, he hung it right over the plate, I timed it perfectly, the wind was blowing out towards left center, the moon was in Virgo, etc etc etc. I hit this thing like a rocket.....I was so stoked thinking I'd have the second home run ever in my life.

The ball just shot up to its apex....and then died. It hung for a few seconds, then *plunk* right into the left fielder's hands. Grab some pine, pgoat!

There were some amazing players in that league, some with obvious minor league or college experience. Our uniforms were (cotton) reproductions of the old wool styles and colors worn by actual historic local teams; they usually had bib fronts. We did make a few concessions to modern equipment for safety, however. The catcher wore full mask and padding, and we all pretty much wore modern cleats (no metal spikes, dangit!:rage: )

http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Parks/NewsRelease/2007/07-17-07.html

http://www.19cbaseball.com/sessearch.php?q=restoration

KL15 · Jun 14, 2008

Easy with the spikes.

Wasn't Ty Cobb famous for filing those down like a razor blade?

pgoat · Jun 15, 2008

I once spiked a guy (accidentally). He was real stocky and strong as a bull. He just smiled when I apologized and said he'd get me next time.

He did - I was covering third base a few innings later and he flattened me like a pancake BOOM!

I only got to use metal spikes in pickup games - basically no amateur leagues let you use em. I understand the safety concerns, but man, they are so much better for base running than the plastic do hickeys....

LizzieMaine · Jun 15, 2008

It's nice to see uniforms being worn properly -- pants bloused just below the knee with lots of sock showing. The one trick they missed, though, is that none of the players got down on one knee while waiting in the on-deck circle. Otherwise, very nicely done!

KL15 · Jun 15, 2008

Good eye, I didn't notice that. :eusa_clap There may be a safety issue there but that would have been neat.

KL15 · Jun 15, 2008

pgoat said:
I once spiked a guy (accidentally). He was real stocky and strong as a bull. He just smiled when I apologized and said he'd get me next time.

He did - I was covering third base a few innings later and he flattened me like a pancake BOOM!

I only got to use metal spikes in pickup games - basically no amateur leagues let you use em. I understand the safety concerns, but man, they are so much better for base running than the plastic do hickeys....[/QUOTE

I can defenitely see how they would dig in the infield dirt better than hard plastic.

KL15 · Jun 15, 2008

KL15 said:
pgoat said:

I once spiked a guy (accidentally). He was real stocky and strong as a bull. He just smiled when I apologized and said he'd get me next time.

He did - I was covering third base a few innings later and he flattened me like a pancake BOOM!

I only got to use metal spikes in pickup games - basically no amateur leagues let you use em. I understand the safety concerns, but man, they are so much better for base running than the plastic do hickeys....

Click to expand...

I can defenitely see how they would dig in the infield dirt better than hard plastic.

KL15 · Jun 15, 2008

jayem said:
Eff the Cubs!

All about the Sox...

Yeah yeah, I get it. Just commenting on the broadcast. I do like Ozzie Guillen though.

pgoat · Jun 15, 2008

KL15 said:
KL15 said:

I can defenitely see how they would dig in the infield dirt better than hard plastic.

Click to expand...

especially when rounding the bases. I am slow as sludge so every step counted. Trying to make a smooth rounded path around the corners of a diamond is a challenge - those metal spikes really let you control your direction and transfer power with the most efficiency.

They didn't affect fielding so much in my experience. They were definitely better on hard packed ground.

On a related note, I played one game at SS on astro turf - quite an experience! You get an absolutely true hop, which lets you make some genius plays, but you better have great range and reflexes cause that ball bounces like a rocket.

I think my favorite thing about the old time league was facing live overhand pitching (I believe the 1860s era was underhand? Which is prolly why I chose 1880s) with a wooden bat. Outside of pro ball, I am guessing everyone facing fast pitch uses Aluminum bats. So that was a great opportunity for me.

The day the MLB uses AL bats is the day I stop watching .... tho I doubt that will happen. I have heard of campaigns to go back to wood in amateur play because the new AL bat designs are so efficient that young fielders are getting injured due to insufficient human reflexes.

InspectorMorse · Jun 16, 2008

Nostalgic Hockey

I love it when teams do the retro thing....On another note- I really loved the OUTDOOR hockey game between the Pittsburgh Penguins & Buffalo Sabres last year....old sweaters & it was outside like it was meant to be played! ;-)

jayem · Jun 16, 2008

KL15 said:
Yeah yeah, I get it. Just commenting on the broadcast. I do like Ozzie Guillen though.

I know, but being a diehard Sox fan, I'm just giving you a hard time. I think all teams should do that, it would definitely boost sales for that game. Especially since when I think of a good, old fashioned sport, I automatically think of baseball.

KL15 · Jun 17, 2008

jayem said:
I know, but being a diehard Sox fan, I'm just giving you a hard time. I think all teams should do that, it would definitely boost sales for that game. Especially since when I think of a good, old fashioned sport, I automatically think of baseball.

I'm actually a Mets fan. I just get to see allot of Cubs, and White Sox for that matter, games on WGN. I agree though, I wish all teams would go to a more retro look. Many have, and the new ballparks are light years better than the ones built in the 60's and 70's. If I had my way, all sports would go to a throwback look. Espeically the NFL.

magnolia76 · Jun 17, 2008

I live for the Red Sox!

Anyone see the Vintage style baseball game betwee the Cubs and Braves

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