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1860 Vintage Game adds baseball fun for players, fans

Butler Barons third baseman Cody Harold tags out a Pittsburgh Ironsides runner during late inning action of a Vintage Baseball Game played Saturday at Kelly Automotive Park.

No balls, strikes or gloves — plenty of bounce-outs, base-hits and sportsmanship.

Baseball, 1860, landed 158 years later at Kelly Automotive Park Saturday night.

“Totally different style of play ... A lot sure has changed in the game through the years,” Karns City baseball coach Josh “Sluggo” Smith.

Smith was one of 11 who suited up for the Butler Barons in the Vintage Base Ball Game. The Barons took on the Donora-based Allegheny Ironsides. The latter is an official entrant in the Vintage Base Ball Association (VBBA), which has 400 teams throughout the United States and Canada.

Theodore “Bucket” Pavlack is captain and manager of the Allegheny team.

“I played for a vintage team in Central Pa. in 2015 and wanted to start a team, around Pittsburgh,” Pavlack said. “We applied for membership in the VBBA and were accepted in 2016.”

Allegheny has played 14 games since May and will conclude its season in September. It plays in a 25-team tournament in Gettysburg each summer. It does not keep track of its won-loss record as there is no requirement to do so.

“The VBBA only requires that you play the game as accurately as possible, as baseball was played in 1860,” Pavlack said.

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