Yes, baseball is normally one word but in this case it’s two. Why you ask? And wait, Crestline has a sports team? Let’s start with “base ball.”
Knickerbockers, from Wikipedia
Back in 1846, the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club was formed. A fire chief from the Knickerbocker Fire Station in New York formed the club to get the $75.00 annual rental fee for the first playing field. That club formed the first set of rules for the local “base ball” clubs who played against each other. Modern day baseball rules have evolved ever since.
Fast forward to modern day Crestline. Just like the Knickerbockers, a group of locals have formed the Crestline Highlanders Club, a vintage base ball team. Teaming up with the Redondo Beach Wharf Rats, they’ve formed the first ever Southern California Vintage Base Ball League. They played their second game ever, yesterday, Saturday, June 9th at the Twin Peaks ballfield. These are photos from that game.
Vintage baseball is played using uniforms, rules and equipment from the 1886 period.
Our local team played their very first game against the Redondo Beach Wharf Rats at La Romerio Park in Torrance. Yesterday, the Wharf Rats came up the mountain and played our team at home. The Crestline Highlanders prevailed by winning 24-3.
The next vintage baseball game will be the Crestline Highlanders Club against the Oakland Colonels in September at the Twin Peaks Ballfield. More games will be scheduled before then.
The team is looking for more players. There’s also talk of starting additional vintage baseball teams here on the mountain. For more information on joining the Crestline Highlanders Club or starting a new players club on the mountain, send an email to socalvintagebb@gmail.com.
For future scheduling information of tryouts, games and events, you can follow the local team on Facebook.
This is America’s favorite pastime in it’s purest form…
Janet aand I watched the game Saturday; great sport. Keep posting the games.
Great article! It is so neat to finally see a reenactment of a vintage base ball match in SoCal, especially here on the mountain. It was fun to watch the Crestline Highlanders team play in their uniforms, the Sir rule wearing his top hat, the Bat Boys helping out, the gear and equipment of the era; it was like a glimpse back in time. Very nostalgic. I’m excited to see it all take shape!