Today, we pause to celebrate a man whose impact stretched far beyond the diamond. On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson stepped onto Ebbets Field, shattering the color barrier and changing the trajectory of American history forever.

Good day, fine folks!

We carry on with our venue spotlight and doff our caps to the splendid Rippa Villa, situated in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Upon these fair grounds, our noble game of base ball shall be contested on three occasions this season—June the 14th, August the 23rd, and August the 30th.

Moreover, we are most pleased to announce that Rippa Villa shall play host to the grand Sulphur Dell Cup, to be held on the 12th and 13th days of September. A most spirited exhibition of the national pastime is assured!

We bid you join us, good spectators, for sport, fellowship, and a rousing display of base ball. Huzzah!

Visit them at the link below for more information about the site!

https://boft.org/rippavilla

Good morrow, kind patrons and lovers of the noble game!

Now that ye have been properly acquainted with several of our esteemed ballists, we take great pleasure in presenting unto you the grounds upon which we do contest our matches. The venue of this day’s notice is the stately Oaklands Mansion, situated in Murfreesboro, Tennessee—a place of fine history and agreeable fields.

We are honored to engage in sport upon these very grounds on the following dates: the 30th of May, the 19th of July, and the 8th of August.

Pray, follow the link below to acquaint yourselves further with this historic estate and the fair lawns upon which we shall take the field.

We remain, yours in base ball.

History

This day our own Grasshopper Club of Chattanooga took the field against the Chattanooga Signals of the Chattanooga Sandlot in a friendly exhibition of the noble game of base ball. Let not their curious and unconventional attire mislead the observer, for the Signals proved themselves a most worthy nine, displaying admirable skill with bat and ball, together with the finest gentlemanly deportment throughout the contest. Huzzah!

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 (𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞) 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮?
I moved to Tennessee in 2023 from Arizona, where I played in the ATVBBL for the Mesa Miners. Upon moving to Tennessee, I was devastated to learn there was not a West Tennessee team to play on, so I formed my own. Squatch reached out and connected me with the board, and the rest is history. Now, happy to be on the Resolute of Jackson, we prepare for our inaugural season. Although I have yet to play a game in Tennessee, my club and this league mean a great deal to me, as I can finally fill that void in my life where Vintage ball used to be.

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲?
Outfield. I love to play aggressively and can sometimes become too tunnel-visioned to see how I might interfere with other players, like a dog playing fetch. I’m better in a place where I can go full speed without inadvertently hurting others.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥? 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛?
Camaraderie and history. The league affords me the opportunity to play at incredible historic sites while representing a piece of history myself. To someone thinking about joining, I would say they will not regret the decision. Don’t just to join, but play full out and jump in with both feet.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥?
Being approached by Scott Shaw at a pickup softball game in Arizona and being invited to play on his team. I had never heard of vintage base ball, had never played a pickup softball game before, and never played another one after. It just so happened that the one day I played, in a city filled with millions of people, I bumped into a man forming his own team for their first season. Kismet. We went on to win the championship. That seemingly insignificant moment changed the course of my life in terms of adventure, friendships, and a brand-new passion to throw myself into

Friends! We are hosting our first ever event in Parker’s Crossroads Tennessee on March 28th at 1PM! Come witness an exhibition between our newest member Resolute of Jackson Vintage Base Ball Club vs a ragtag group of ballists from across the state!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

It is with great pleasure that we proclaim a spirited match of base ball betwixt our very own Grasshopper Club of Chattanooga and the gallant fellows of The Signals of Chattanooga Sandlot.

Come one and all to witness this rare clash of eras, where seasoned ballists shall meet upon the field in friendly yet determined contest.

This exhibition shall take place on Saturday, the Fourteenth Day of March.

Let all lovers of the noble game assemble and enjoy an afternoon of sport and fellowship. Huzzah!

Good people, please accept our humble apology for the absence of last week’s Ballist of the Week dispatch. Our faithful purveyor of news and correspondence had ventured westward and was, alas, laid low by a troublesome bout of dysentery upon the trail.

Yet fear not, for the presses once more turn and the tidings resume!

Without further delay, we are most pleased to present this week’s Ballist of the Week, a stalwart of the field and a credit to the noble game of base ball.

We are proud to present Smiley from Franklin Farriers Vintage Base Ball Club.

Huzzah!

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 (𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞)𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮?

During covid, I saw an ad online for a “vintage base ball game”. This was the perfect event to go check out and enjoy being outside. My wife and I sat behind the Franklin Farriers bench for a game against the Maroons at the Bicentennial Mall. When I spoke to a few Farriers players, we instantly had a connection. I sat back down and told my wife “I will 100% be playing for this team next year”. Thankfully I was able to do just that

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲?

I love playing in the outfield. I didn’t have much of a choice, they stick the young guys out there no matter what…the young legs give you an advantage! I love chasing down fly balls and playing the geometry/angles of the bounce to make the catch. Watching one get ripped your way and watching the wind push it 3 different directions before it gets to you is quite a sight.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥

100% the people who play it. The ladies and men of this league are some of the best you can ask for. I especially love the team I play for, the Franklin Farriers. Every year The Farriers have to turn away folks because our roster is full, I think that says a lot about how we treat people and how we approach the game. We play as gentlemen, and play to have a great time.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛?

If you hate fun, don’t join. If you like having fun, get out on the field with us! It’s such a privilege to get to know your fellow players. This league will change your life for the better…I guarantee it.

𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭—𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭?

For one thing, it is historically accurate. The game at the time was played for victory, but for victory in a fashion that you could be proud of and walk away with honor.

Additionally, it makes the game and league that much more enjoyable when you have a positive experience while playing. Giving it your all, and doing so with a spirit of camaraderie.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥?

The Sulphur Dell Cup is always the highlight of each season for me. This is our tournament at the end of the season when all of the teams get together and play multiple games a day. You can see team fortunes won or lost in the span of a few games, and the camaraderie is at an all time high.

Once more the appointed hour has arrived! It is time again for another distinguished edition of our Ballist of the Week.

This week, we are proud to present our featured Ballist — Little Brother, of the Phoenix VBBC of East Nashville

𝟏𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 (𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞)𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮?

I heard about the league from my brother and my dad, who heard about the league from a former co-worker of our dad. I also stumbled upon a game at Moss-Wright park in Goodlettsville I think in 2014 when I was still in high school. Initially, I had no interest in playing baseball ever again in any form, as I had not played in about 5 years at that point. However, in 2017, my brother and my dad convinced me to come out to a Phoenix practice and I was instantly hooked. This year will be my 10th season playing for the Phoenix of East Nashville. To me, this league means helping me rediscover one of my biggest passions in life; baseball. Ever since I started playing vintage base ball, I’ve also started playing modern baseball again. Currently, I play for 2 sandlot teams in addition to my vintage team as well as every Hog and Hominy/Rag Tag event I can make time for. I play a TON of baseball and I love every second of it.

𝟐𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲?

I played a lot of outfield and just a little bit of third base in youth baseball. When I first started playing vintage base ball, I played a lot of catcher and second base (very low risk positions). Over the last several years, I’ve played pretty much every position with some sort of regularity, but left field and third base take up most of my time these days. I’m not particularly quick, but I can get a good read on the ball off of the bat and I can get myself into position to consistently give myself a chance to make a play on the ball.

𝟑.𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥

My favorite aspect of vintage base ball is all of the big travel events we attend throughout the spring and summer. It just feels like one big family reunion every time we take our trips outside of Tennessee between sharing the field as teammates with other fellow Tennessee ballists from other clubs or seeing our friends from St. Louis, Columbus, Gettysburg, and so on.

𝟒.𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛?

Just do it. I joined 10 years ago and I can’t imagine a life without vintage base ball or the people I have met because of the game. A lot of people I know that seem interested in the game but don’t play are off put by the fact that we play bare handed. Come out to a practice, try to pluck a ball out of the air, and then realize it only hurts for about a second. You’ll be hooked instantly.

𝟓.𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭—𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭?

All of us are just normal, working class people who want to do something fun on the weekend to decompress after a stressful week of work. We also want to encourage more and more people to play to help our sport grow. Gentlemanly conduct and a welcoming atmosphere is the best way to make sure our sport has a bright future.

𝟔. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥?

I have so many favorite memories that I could write a book. One of them includes hitting a home run in Gettysburg in 2021. It was such a cool feeling to do that at a place with so much history. The 2025 Sulphur Dell Cup also comes to mind. We had won 3 games all season and only had 9 players available for the entire tournament. We managed to rattle off 3 wins in a row (all against teams who beat us in the regular season) after suffering a blowout loss in the first round before bowing out in the semi-final game. It was the grittiest/toughest performance I have ever seen out of a baseball team. My all time favorite moment occurred during the 2023 regular season. Shortly before the beginning of the season, my father fell ill and passed away. He was one of the biggest supporters of the TAOVBB and he was my hero. He rarely missed a Phoenix match and made great efforts to watch other teams play when we weren’t playing. Before our match against the Maroons that year, Natural and Stitch completely blindsided us by creating a trophy and dedicating the yearly match between the Phoenix and Maroons to honor him. Every year since then, the Phoenix and Maroons have played the Bubba Bradley Memorial Cup and we will be playing the 4th annual memorial match later this season.