Baseball As A Gentlemen's Game Returns To Hoboken

The only anachronism during the recreation in honor of the first ever baseball game in Hoboken on Saturday afternoon, was the astroturf field on which it was played. 

Wearing 19th century uniforms, the Flemington Neshanock and the Elizabeth Resolutes fought barehanded—literally: 19th century baseball did not involve gloves—through nine innings, following rules from 1873. 

According to a website dedicated to the topic, the first organized baseball game was played on Elysian Field in Hoboken on June 19, 1846. Then, the New York Base Ball Club defeated the Knickerbockers 23-1. On Saturday on Stevens' Dobbelaar Field, the Elizabeth Resolutes beat the Flemington Neshanock 19-5. The event was organized by the Hoboken Historical Museum. 

Brad "Brooklyn" Shaw, 55, said he got into 19th century baseball about nine years ago, after reading an article in the Smithsonian Magazine. Being the history buff that he is, he said he immediately thought: "this is me." 

Shaw, who founded the Flemington Neshanock in 2001, was also clear to describe the game as a recreation, rather than a re-enactment. 

"The Civil War guys re-enact," Shaw said. "If they'd be doing what we're doing, they'd be using real bullets."

In 19th century baseball, Shaw explained, there's an umpire who makes sure the men are behaving as gentlemen on the field, there are no gloves, and the players pitch underhand from 45 feet away. The game has nine innings just like modern day baseball, Shaw said.  

Although he seemed to be disappointed that his team—on which his teenage son Danny also plays—lost, he said the league is not very competitive. There is a game every week starting in early April, said Neshanock player Jon "Hammer" Hapner. The team travels around the country as well as through time, sometimes they will play by 1864 rules. "Baseball evolved rapidly through the 1800s," said Hepner, "it wasn't the same game all the time."

When asked how he got into vintage baseball, Hepner said that playing by 19th century rules is different and, because of the lack of gloves, provides more of a challenge. 

"It's the way baseball started," said Hepner, 44. 

The history aspect is exactly what draws the fans to the game.

"It's kind of watching the history of the game," said Juan Saturnino, who was there to cheer on the Elizabeth Resolutes. Saturnino was excited about his team's win. 

After the game the two teams lined up and shook each other's hands, like true gentlemen.