Vintage Base Ball (spelled with two words in 1883) was the premier feature
of Buffalo Gap Historic Village’s Living History Interpretation Program.
By recreating the sights, sounds and smells of an 1880s-era base ball game,
interpreters and volunteers illustrated how baseball was changed between
1883 and the present. However, there is more to it than that.
When the two teams took the field on the third Sunday of every month, they
sought not only to “show a little ginger” on the cramped “cigar-box” field
that they had available to them, but they tried to provide a glimpse into
regional history.
 When the ballists of of the Buffalo Gap Vintage Base Ball Club (BGVBBC) took the field, they formed two teams, the Buffalo Gap Chips and the Abilene 407s. Although the modern rivalry was imagined, it has its roots in local history, harkening back to the days when Buffalo Gap and Abilene were engaged in a hot political debate over which community would be home to the Taylor County seat. The 1883 vote resulted in the county courthouse moving to Abilene, though don’t tell that to the Chips, as they believe that their town will remain the center of county life.
The Chips were composed of Taylor County’s rural set — farmers, ranchers,
and herdsmen from the southern half of the county. Leaving their
fields and ranches for the ball field, they waited in eager anticipation
to see whether or not the fall election would result in the end of their
community’s reign as the Taylor County Seat. Although Buffalo Gap
will ultimately lose that vote by a tally of 905 to 269, the Chips sought
to preserve the honor of their community by demonstrating their prowess
on the ball field.
Click here to watch a video
of the Chips in action —
compliments of Chips
member Than Dossman!
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Their uniformed opponents, the Abilene 407s, represented the growing cosmopolitan
city to the north. They took their name from the Texas and Pacific
Railroad mile marker that established the location of the “future great”
community of West Texas. The presence of the railroad made Abilene
the more practical decision for the seat of county government. The
railroad workers, well-dressed townies, and more-progressive minded citizens
who suit up to play ball were a far cry from the more conservative rural
hayseeds from the southern half of the county.
The base ball game played by the ballists of the Buffalo Gap Historic Village
would be familiar to fans of modern baseball, though there are a number
of differences that set the more genteel 1883 version of sport apart from
today’s game. Spitting and cursing were against the rules, and the
single umpire who patrolled the entire field could levy fines against players
who violated the spirit of the game. Baseball gloves had been
invented, but they were not worn by “real men.” The ball was approximately
the same size, but it is a bit softer than a modern baseball. When
it came to actual play, the hurler (pitcher) could not raise his wrist
above the level of the shoulder in delivering the ball, and the striker
(batter) told him which strike zone to pitch to: High (from the waist
to the shoulders) or Low (from the waist to the knees). Far from
being a pitchers duel of the present, the game was structured around getting
the ball into play, and having the striker be put out while running the
bases.
The Chips and the 407s played in accordance with the National League Rules
of 1883, though they were familiar with earlier rules and played by them when
participating in tournaments and events at other sites. All cranks
and rooters were encouraged to attend. Prospective strikers would step
up to the line...
The organization was also a member club of the Vintage Base Ball Association. Additional information regarding vintage base ball rules, early baseball
in Texas, period baseball slang, and uniforms worn by the 407s and the
Chips is available for download in the following files (available in PDF
format):
Beadle’s 1860 Rules
Reach’s 1883 Rules
19th Century Base Ball Slang
Baseball in 1883
BGVBBC Uniforms
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