For the last eight summers, Cory Woods has spent a portion of his life in a time warp.
He gets stuck in 1864. And the Powell resident loves it there.
It was 2018 when his wife Chrissy Fowler suggested they try something new.
“My wife loves to try new things,” Woods said. “She saw where there was a Vintage Base Ball (back in the ‘Vintage’ era, Base Ball was two words) at the Historic Ramsey House (in East Knoxville). Neither of us knew anything about it, but we had a great time.”
After a typical Vintage Base Ball game, the “ballists” are encouraged to talk with the “cranks” (fans). Woods took advantage of the tradition. He asked about the rules and got to know a few players.
It wasn’t too long after that that Woods and his wife ventured to another
game, this one at Knoxville’s Lakeshore Park. When he was recognized in the stands, he was invited to fill in on one of the teams.
That was about the time his love affair with the Vintage Base Ball game began.
Unique rules part of the game
A 1996 Halls High School graduate, Woods never played baseball on the school team. He was active in the town’s recreation program until he was 16 years old, however. He also played softball once he graduated.
As 2019 began, Woods signed up to be a regular member of the Emmett Machinists, one of Knoxville’s two teams in the Tennessee Association of Vintage Base Ball. The other team is the Knoxville Holstens. In all, there are about a dozen teams throughout the state.
The league is one of a few competitive Vintage Base Ball outlets. There are teams that play all over the country, but most just play exhibitions and the occasional competitive tournament.
Some rules are different. Bases are 90 feet apart, like a modern-day field. No gloves are used. A batted ball can be caught on one bounce for an out. No sliding is allowed. Hurlers (pitchers) throw the ball underhand. The batter can say where the ball should be thrown. Fields are lined in flour rather than chalk.
Camaraderie is the key
The camaraderie of the game is a big draw for Woods.
“If someone from the other team has a good hit, people on our team will salute them with ‘huzzah,’” Woods said. “Our team always strives to be the most hospitable.”
When the Emmet Machinists (railroad workers in 1864) play, the opposing team is greeted with a basket of apples, oranges and bananas. Also, homemade pumpkin bread is baked for both teams to enjoy.
Woods, who played mostly left field, was his team’s MVP in 2024 (hitting over .800) and this past season (hitting .678). However, all skill levels are welcomed.
“We had an 18-year-old girl (nicknamed Red Panda, all players have Vintage nicknames),” Woods said. “Her dad played on the team. She was our catcher. At the start of the season, she couldn’t throw the ball back to the pitcher. By the end of the summer, after we all worked with her, she was firing the ball around and hitting it.”
The Knoxville teams need players. Ideal numbers are 12-15 on a team. Three teams would be preferable. The season normally runs from April to September. However, there is discussion of taking July and August off because of the heat and running March through October.
For more information contact Woods at corywoods7249@gmail.com or go to tennesseevintagebaseball.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Vintage Base Ball teams take you out to the (truly) old ball game
