The Game as It Was: Baseball on the Vineyard, 100 Years Ago
The Game as It Was: Baseball on the Vineyard, 100 Years Ago
Before you watch the game on July 25, step back into the Island’s past at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum and explore the history of baseball at Waban Park, one of Martha’s Vineyard’s most celebrated sporting grounds. This talk will highlight the traditions, rules, and stories that made baseball a part of Island life over a century ago.
The speaker, Dan Genovese, is the Captain of the Westfield Wheelmen Vintage Base Ball Club, which plays “vintage base ball” using the rules, equipment, and uniforms of the 19th century. He is also a local baseball historian and the author of three books on baseball history. Based on his research, there is a connection between some of the ballplayers from the Cottage Cities and Westfield. A longtime summer visitor to the Vineyard, Genovese has long been intrigued by John Chamberlain’s postcards depicting baseball at Waban Park and is working to recreate a game there next summer.
Then, on July 25th, see history come alive: two teams will take the field in period uniforms, playing by the rules of the late 1800s… just like the scenes captured in Chamberlain’s iconic postcards. It’s a rare opportunity to witness the Island’s baseball heritage in action and experience the game as it was played more than a century ago.
MVM Members: $15; Non-Members: $25
DETAILS
| Date | July 23, 2026 |
|---|---|
| From | 5:00 pm |
| To | 6:00 pm |
| Type | Talk |
| Venue | Martha’s Vineyard Museum |