To put it mildly, the vintage base ball community has been fairly cold to the idea of the new Vintage Base Ball Federation previously blogged about my Mike. (A taste of the responses I've seen floating around the listservs is pasted below the fold.)

I have nothing against people making money with vintage base ball. Doing well and doing good are not incompatible. Also, I have nothing against marketing the game aggressively. My first reaction was, "Great, vintage base ball is going to get some attention here."

But after reading more about it, my thinking was, "Oh no..."

I have a problem with the idea of using "hyrbid" rules from the 1860s to the 1880s. In the last decade the vintage base ball movement has worked very hard to research and portray different time periods as accurately as possible. To combine some aspects of early 1860s base ball (for example, a ball caught on one bounce is an out) with 1880s base ball (for example, the use of gloves) is simply inaccurate.

Of secondary concern, I am not thrilled with the general thrust toward more aggressive competitiveness in vintage base ball. Winning is good. But one of the main attractions of vintage base ball for both players and fans is that it eschews the worst aspects of modern life. There are few insults in vintage base ball worse than calling someone a "softballer". I realize that in real life the relatively genteel game of the 1850s gave way to the more aggressive game of the 1880s so it does matter what era you're trying to recreate. But I do hope the game remains a game for people interested at least as much in history and accuracy as in winning.

While I haven't time at the moment for a lengthy reply, I want to add
> a couple of things to the discussion.
>
> I agree with virtually everything I've read on the list today, and am
> relieved to see that everyone is reacting so strongly to this
> "Disneyfication" of the 19th century game.
>
> I might point out that I (and I think most of us) heard of this
> developing federation through the media, and not through this list.
> There has been no discussion that I've been aware of among our clubs,
> no surveying or debate - it's just been announced as if we all intend
> to follow. I find that insulting. Not surprising, but insulting.
>
> However, this is not so much about one groups' attempt to capitalize
> on vintage baseball as a game or hobby. It's about capitalizing
> through willingly distorting historical perspective. Anyone who has
> taken this hobby up as a serious effort to learn and share the
> history of the game's development should be displeased.
>
> I tend to think similarly to those of you who see this as
> opportunistic - On the face of it, it sounds like a coup attempt, of
> sorts, complete with media propaganda campaign, and secrecy from
> potential opponents.
>
> I think an organized counter-effort is necessary, and I think it
> should involve ESPN (and maybe rivals like Fox Sports, given that
> ESPN has telecast the Pittsfield games in the past) I think the and
> may well be favorably inclined toward this Federation effort. I
> think that the VBBA should have a role in exploring Mr. Bouton's
> plans, disseminating information, and facilitating discussion.

We have talked and we didn't research our club for a year and train
> > to play 1864 rules to throw it all away for what is in our opinion,
> > a hybrid of rules that water down the game and quite frankly, we
> > don't want to play against softball teams and sandlot teams. We
> > want to continue to play against people who have a real
> > appreciation for the game and its history. We think it is a great
> > idea that a few people want to publicize vintage base ball and its
> > all something we can take a lesson from. The clubs on the east
> > coast, if they haven't heard from us will be shortly on an idea
> > that will bring great publicity to our game without sacrificing the
> > way each of us play.
> > On another note in regards to the petition, keep in mind that MLB
> > does not sanction the new venture, and I will do everything I can
> > to make sure that they understand our point of view vs this new
> > venture. There are also other former baseball people that we can
> > align ourselves with that have great influence in the game as
> > well. It is really up to each of us to promote our game and that
> > can be achieved via print, television, and other methods. In just
> > one short year we have been in 3 major newspapers, many regional
> > papers, had a 15 minute piece on Comcast SportsNet and that was
> > with minimal effort. People want to see our game as it brings them
> > back to a simpler time and it is up to each of us to present it to
> > them in an authentic manner.

I've also stayed quiet the last couple days over this just to see
> > what people are thinking. I too am surprised by the lack of
> > response. So here is my "un-official" take on the situation.
> > I also think that most people here know who the Hartford Senators
> > are and know the methods and motives of the person who runs that
> > team. It is possible that no one takes him too seriously in this
> > particular instance- or that if we just ignore it - this will go
> > away. Also my guess is that most teams around the country arent
> > intersted in this federation and so have said nothing. The truth
> > is- the people behind it have a great deal of time, money and
> > influence and it likely WON'T go away. Because of where it is
> > situated- on the east coast - a great deal of press is likely. And
> > because of how they intend to set up games and rules- and the
> > probable teams involved, this could very well prove to be
> > troublesome for vintage base ball on the whole. It's very possible
> > that a large swath of the public will be misinformed- making our
> > jobs much more difficult in the future when attempting to explain
> > accuracy and why an organization would chose to be inacurate to the
> > extent the federation would be.
> > While this may sound corny or even overbearing.. in the event they
> > are actually successful in their endeavor, something must be done
> > to make the public aware of the organizations that choose to play
> > their games correctly and accurately. And that not everyone
> > condones the game that the federation promotes.
> > This from the captain of the Gotham Base Ball Club:"
> > ... a Vintage Base Ball Federation has been formed here on the east
> > coast by.... (Vintage Base Ball Factory owner) and Jim Bouton with
> > the support of former Commissioner Faye Vincent.... While at first
> > glance the idea seems to be great for our sport further inspection
> > shows just the opposite to be true. ... selling the idea of a
> > league made up of teams that will play by "a mixture of those
> > (rules) in use from 1860-90, with an emphasis on the 1880s." ...
> > has the power and the connections to get all the backing and
> > publicity for this idea to take hold. Several vintage base ball
> > Captains from teams on the east coast believe that his
> > misrepresentation of what we all do can not only hurt the sport we
> > love but mislead the average fan into believing that his way is how
> > the game was played. At first glance one might say that this is a
> > trivial matter not deserving of our attention or energy but I put
> > it to you that this is a direct threat to what we all try to do,
> > educate fans and demonstrate how base ball was played in the 19th
> > century. It is my feeling that we need to unite on this matter and
> > defend the history of our National Pastime.
> > After much discussion with several different teams it is our
> > feelings that a petition be passed along to players, fans, friends,
> > and family, will be one action taken to have our voice be heard the
> > other will be to bombard these publications that printed this
> > misinformation, as well as Mr. Bouton, Mr. Vincent, and Major
> > League Baseball with e-mails voicing our displeasure with this new
> > organization. Future considerations are a boycott of ...products
> > and sponsors products. I will be contacting you in the next week
> > with a petition and several different e-mail address'. If we sit
> > back and let this...tell people this version of base ball was
> > played, which by.... admission is inaccurate, we will never forgive
> > ourselves."
> > As I receive this petition and the afforementioned e-mail
> > addresses I will forward them to you to do with as you see fit.
> > I will remind you here that this is a personal opinion and not
> > necessarily that of the Vintage Base Ball Association.
> > Thanks for reading

This will give the public an inaccurate view of 19th century base
> > ball and will threaten to undo all that we as vintage clubs have
> > worked hard to portray. I'm appaled.