Historic Baseball in South Orange

South Orange Recreation and the Historic Preservation Commission presented a 19th century baseball game on Saturday, September 20 at noon in South Orange.

Cameron Field, a field “where legends played” in South Orange celebrated its 100th anniversary of the field “where legends played” on Saturday, September 20, 2014.

Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig at South Orange Ballfield[/caption] Famous Yankee all-stars Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth and Whitey Ford played here as well as several Negro League Greats. It has also been the venue for many local teams including Little League, School Teams and Adult Leagues. Period style uniforms and general sponsorship is being generously provided by Ed Ayuso and The Gateway Rental Residences.

Part game, part show, part history lesson and all fun, the Flemington, NJ Neshanock Team will play against local volunteers in bare-handed baseball, wearing period uniforms and using rules from 1864 or 1873.

The event also included a short lesson on the history of the game and a recitation of “Casey at the Bat” as well as a few interesting surprise appearances.

As New Jersey celebrates its 350th anniversary, this event also commemorated the state’s role in baseball history. Hoboken’s Elysian Fields was the location of the first officially-recorded game of organized baseball, on June 19, 1846, when the New York Nine beat the New York Knickerbockers, 23-1.