1825! Baseball ⚾️ Hamden 🗞️ and a Page in History

In this episode, Captain Drewski of the Delhi Polecats, formerly known as the Delhi Vintage Baseball Club, joins us to discuss the revival of vintage baseball in Delaware County, New York.

Drewski shares the historical significance of a 200-year-old baseball challenge documented in an 1825 edition of the Delaware Gazette, marking the earliest recorded organized game of baseball in the United States. The Hamden 9, as part of the town's bicentennial celebrations, continue the tradition of playing baseball by 1800s rules using period-accurate attire and equipment. For more on Hamden, NY's bicentennial celebration, head over to hamden1825.org.

Tune in to learn more about the history, teams, and events that honor this unique variation of America's pastime; plus, an investigation into the claim that a Catskills paper was the very first to put a baseball game in print!

For even more, check out an episode we produced in 2021 with the M.A.C.'s Collin "Stumpy" Miller during spring practice on Creamery Field in Bovina, NY.

00:00 Introduction to Vintage Baseball in Delaware County

01:00 Meet the Hamden 9: A New Vintage Baseball Team

01:32 The Historical Significance of 1825 in Hamden

02:03 Sponsorship and Support for Vintage Baseball

02:40 Formation and Growth of the Delhi Polecats

06:10 The Unique Charm of Vintage Baseball

06:51 Debating the Origins of Baseball

07:57 The 1825 Baseball Challenge in Hamden

09:12 Celebrating Hamden's Bicentennial

13:24 The Rise of Vintage Baseball in the Catskills

18:22 Upcoming Events and Invitations

19:14 Listener Feedback and Conclusion