Key Attraction – Is This Heaven? No, Its CINCINNATI!

Highlander Team

With his handlebar moustache, the heavy wool uniform and the knickers and stockings, Jim “Colonel” Mattingly is a historical relic. He’s also captain of the Norwood Highlanders, a local team at the center of a recent revival in vintage baseball.

What is vintage baseball? Think 1869. Think water buckets, team flags and players marking their own runs. Think “Huzzah!” and “Leg it!” and “Rabbit to Shack to Mule – double play!” For fans, it’s free, family-friendly fun.

Cincinnati’s legacy, its collective obsession, has always been baseball. In the home of the first professional team, it’s only natural that this marriage of history and baseball would catch on. And no other sporting event lets you get closer to the players; just bring a chair and watch for foul balls. You might even find yourself talking to players during the game. “We like to involve the fans, or as we call them, ‘cranks,’” says Colonel. “We’ll ask the cranks to help out and decide a close play.” (Umps aren’t always used in this gentleman’s game.)

The Norwood Highlanders play about 25 games a year, often against two other local teams, the Cincinnati Red Stockings and the Cincinnati Buckeyes. They’ll also barnstorm to any town within 100 miles that has a team, such as Batesville, Tipp City, Dayton, and Rising Sun–the list grows every year.

If you go to a game, you’ll notice a few differences right away. No balls and strikes are called. The “hurler” (pitcher) throws underhand. And, most surprising of all, no gloves are used by the “ballists” (players). “That’s how the game was played back in 1869,” explains Colonel. “We try to stay true to the spirit.”

One thing is clear right away: these guys really do play for the love of the game. “We’ve played in 95 degrees in a hay field. We’ve played in pouring rain where you couldn’t see home.” Once, a Highlanders-Red Stockings match had to pause to let a horse-drawn covered wagon pass through left field. True story.

Colonel is no Kevin Costner, and this is no Field of Dreams. But if you asked vintage ballplayers or their fans “Is this heaven?” they might say “Yes!”

Underhand Pitch_The Colonel

Big Swing_Honeymoon

Bare Handed_Mustard

Grass Infield_Chuckwagon