“Excelsior Cup”

19th Century Vintage

Base Ball Tournament

June 10, 2011

The Living History Club is challenging the 7th grade teams to a

“gentleman’s game ”of Base Ball using the Rules of 1862. The team will

demonstrate the game as part of GFMS Civil War Day. Huzzah!

Funding Provided By:

• Freelife, International

Base Ball (Two Words in the 19th Century)

“It [baseball] will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us.”

- Walt Whitman

Base Ball: Made in New York

• New York State has made the most contributions to the “National Pastime”

Base Ball Field

• Union Grounds

Brooklyn, NY

Excelsior Cup – Knowledge Test

1. Base Ball Origins

2. Excelsior Cup

3. Rules of 1862 Base Ball

4. Play Ball!

5. A Gentlemen’s Game

6. Community Celebration

7. 19th century Legacy

1. Base Ball’ Origins

Doubleday Myth:

Doubleday's invention of baseball

was invented by baseball, in a sense.

People claimed that he invented the game in 1839 in Cooperstown, NY. He was actually attending West Point in 1839!

1. Base Ball’s Origins

Most serious scholars of the game agree that base ball was not invented but evolved from other existing games,

most notably cricket and rounder's.

1. Base Ball Origins

• Knickerbocker Club - wrote the rules in 1843

• Played at Elysian Field in Hoboken, NJ

1. Base Ball Origins

• National Association of Base Ball Players

Annual Convention in New York City – Cooper Union

Players did not get paid! – amateurs

1. Base Ball’s Origins

• National Association of Base Ball Players

President is Doc Adams

Cooper Union, NYC

1. Base Ball Origins

• Telegraph, Railroads and the Civil War Spread the game from New York to the country.

2. “Excelsior Cup”

• Base Ball is played during the Civil War by Soldiers and civilian clubs

• Money is raised by towns by hosting base ball tournaments to help Union Soldiers

• .10 admission is charged to raise money at the Union Grounds in Brooklyn

2. “Excelsior Cup”

• The 7th grade plays a tournament that is modeled after a tournament played in 1862 to raise money for the Union Troops

The game is based on:• Knowledge• Presentation• Sportsmanship• Excellence

2. “Excelsior Cup”

• This tournament is assisted by the modern day organization dedicated to re-creating 19th century Base Ball

• Vintage Base Ball Association

www.Vbba.org

2. “Excelsior Cup”• “Father of Base Ball”

Henry Chadwick

Stressed the importance of base ball being a gentlemen’s game.

Published Beadle-Dime Base Ball Player

3. Play Ball

General Rules:

The bases must be four in number, placed thirty yards from each other, and must each cover one square foot of surface. The first, second, and third bases shall be canvas bags, painted white, and filled with sand or sawdust; the home base and pitcher's point to be each marked by a flat circular iron plate, painted or enameled white.

Rules and Regulations of the Game of Base Ball

Adopted by the National Association of Base-Ball Players

March 14, 1860

3. Play Ball

• The rules were adopted at an annual convention held at Cooper Union, NYC

• The winning team would be awarded a game ball

• Foul ball caught on a bounce is an out

• Home team is winning in the bottom of the ninth but will still get a turn at bat

3. Play Ball

3. Play Ball

3. Play Ball!No Gloves!

Run is called an Ace!

Striker is a batter!

Foul balls are not strikes

Sliding is allowed in 1862

Runner may not overrun 1st base

Caught on bounce is an out!

Pitcher throws underhand

No infield fly rule

Leading is allowed

4. Base Ball Slang

Part 5 – A Gentlemen’ s Game

Participants are gentlemen would do not argue with each other or are critical of each others game

Gentlemen’s Game

• No arguing!

• Only Captain can speak!

• No profanity

• Fines can be issued by club for breaking rules

• Club members must pay monthly dues

Part 6 – Community Celebration

- National Anthem is 1st played before match in Brooklyn in 1862

6. Community Celebration

• Union Grounds, Brooklyn NY

1st enclosed Ball Park in America

6. Community Celebration

• Keeping the Tradition alive, the Excelsior Cup raises money for Strikeouts for Troops!

6. Community Celebration

From the beginning of Base Ball

New York State has made the most contributions to the game!

45 Roles

• Gotham Club – Living History Club 10 Players• Mutual Club - Team 7A 10 Players• Atlantic Club - Team 7B 10 Players• Brooklyn Stars – Team 7C 10 Players

2 Umpires

1 Groundskeeper/Equipment Manager

4 Docents

1 Parent Lead Umpire

Excelsior Cup Criteria

• Knowledge Test

• Presentation

• Sportsmanship/Authenticity

• Excellence

Schedule

Per. 1 and Per. 2 – Team 7A

Per. 3 and Per. 4 – Team 7B

Per. 5 and Per. 6 – Team 7C

Per. 7 – Lunch Break

Per. 8 – Awards Ceremony – Ice Cream

Social

Per. 9 – Clean up

Timeline• April 14 - Interest Meeting• April 28 – Presentation – Practice 1 after school• May 3rd - Knowledge test and/or

Research Paper, Construction, Food

Music, PowerPoint Technology Due

May 12th - Practice 2

May 26th - Practice 3

June 9th - Practice 4

June 10, 2011 – Civil War Day