The Giants’ home opener isn’t until April 13th, but the Bay Area Vintage Base Ball League is already two games into its 2015 season.

Founded 10 years ago, BAVBB uses the 1886 Spalding rulebook, published the same year that Coca-Cola hit the market and the Statue of Liberty was dedicated.

In BAVBB gameplay, pitchers have a box instead of a mound, catchers use a glove, not a mitt, and a walk requires seven balls instead of four. As in days of yore, batters don’t wear helmets or other protective gear and players and officials wear period uniforms and use vintage equipment.

courtesy BAVBB

“It’s a surreal, classic, simple form of the game,” said “Milkman” Peterson, a player for the San Francisco Barbary Coast. “Being gentlemen [and] winning with class, that’s the essence of the game.”

The Barbary Coast, The Pelicans and The Pacifics are BAVBB’s teams in the city; The Dublin Aces, Hayward Journals, Berkeley Clarions, Oakland Colonels and New Almaden Cinnabars comprise the remainder of the 8-team league. Currently, the Pacifics and Aces lead the league with two wins each.

Spectators range from friends and family to fans who dress up in period outfits. Because time stands still for BAVBB players, fans are called cranks, batters are strikers, pitchers are known as hurlers, and the umpire is referred to as “Sir.”

Hoodline/Phuong Mai

At the game Hoodline attended last Sunday in Golden Gate Park between the Barbary Coast and Hayward Journals, calls of support from the stands usually included real names with responses from the field correcting the cranks. Peterson, whose nickname was bestowed by his manager because he lives on an old dairy farm, said all players have a field moniker.

“During a game, I got a split in my pants and they became breezy,” said “Breeze” Riguero of the Hayward Journals, who explained the etymology of teammates “Bucket” Wong (bucket full of balls broke), “Hops” Pagan (“he’s really jumpy in the outfield”) and “Rocky” Morales, who showed up to practice wearing a Rockies cap. Player Nick Montoya is still waiting for his nickname. “We like to wait for a defining moment,” Riguero said.

As promised, the camaraderie and support was palpable. Players shouted “good hurl!” and “great strike!” even for the opposing team. Despite a hard-fought contest, Barbary Coast won 6-2 after 7 innings. Before leaving the field, both teams took their hats off to the cranks and thanked the Sir.

The league is looking for umpires and is accepting new players. The cost of registration fees, a uniform, and equipment is about $250. Only BAVBB-approved gear is allowed, but the league replaces broken bats for free.

Bay Area Vintage Base Ball runs through August, with games scheduled for every other Sunday. Next weekend marks week three of the 14-week BAVBB season; spectators are invited to attend three games at the Big Rec baseball diamond in Golden Gate Park near 7th Ave. & Lincoln:

• Berkeley Clarions vs San Francisco Pacifics, 9 am
• New Almaden Cinnabars vs SF Pelicans, 12 noon
• Oakland Colonels vs. SF Barbary Coast, 3pm

Visit BAVBB’s website for their full season schedule.