19th Century Base Ball
Wilmington, Delaware
About
Diamond State Base Ball Club is a vintage base ball organization dedicated to bringing the 19th-century game back to life. Inspired by the original club of the same name—one of Delaware’s first organized teams—we take the field using period rules, uniforms, and equipment, giving players and spectators a true taste of baseball’s earliest days.We play the game the old-fashioned way: no gloves, underhand pitching, and a strong emphasis on fair play, camaraderie, and spirited competition. As proud members of the National Association of Historic Base Ball Clubs, we’re part of a growing community devoted to preserving and sharing the traditions of early base ball. You’ll find us playing matches at parks, museums, and historic sites, where history and sport come together in a lively and memorable way.Founded in 2008, Diamond State is all about celebrating the roots of the game—and having a great time doing it. Whether you’re looking to step onto the field or simply enjoy a match from the sidelines, we welcome new players and fans to join us and experience base ball as it played in the 1860s.
SCHEDULE
2026 ROSTER
Brian “Triple B” Bartnicki
Matt “Black Bart” Bartnicki
Brian “Anchor” Betts
Ken “Buzz” Bonsall
Frank “Dutch” Brevoort
Adam Christian
Patrick “Short Order” Cook
Jeremy “Colt” George
Keith “Boots” Glines
Sam “Iron” Hirzel
Jeff “Swampy” Kabacinski
Nate “Hawthorne” Kukulich
Constantin Livanov
Sonny “Dewey Devil” Maiorano
Alan “Slick” Menase
Tony “Tiger” Pallanta
Gavin “Spare” Ross
John “Strike” Ross
Craig “Growler” Wensell
Bob “Thunder” Zappaterrini
Rob “Lightning” ZappaterriniUMPIRE: John "El Jefe" Medkeff
HISTORY
The Diamond State Base Ball Club of Wilmington was organized on October 2, 1865, during the explosive growth of baseball following the Civil War. The sport itself had evolved gradually from earlier bat-and-ball games played in America and Europe, with standardized rules first popularized by clubs in New York during the 1840s and 1850s. Like many early clubs, Diamond State was founded by local businessmen and professionals who viewed the game as both recreation and social activity.Just days after its founding, Diamond State played what is believed to have been the first match between formally organized Delaware base ball clubs, defeating St. Mary’s College of Wilmington 69–26 on October 7, 1865. The club’s home grounds stood near Delaware Avenue and Adams Street in Wilmington. Soon afterward, the inexperienced Wilmington club challenged the powerful Athletic Club of Philadelphia, one of the nation’s elite teams, and suffered a humbling 104–7 defeat. Despite these early struggles, the club quickly developed into one of Delaware’s strongest teams.In 1866, Diamond State became the first Delaware club admitted to the National Association of Base Ball Players, the sport’s first governing body. That same year, the club posted an impressive 17–2 record and defeated every Delaware opponent it faced, earning recognition as the unofficial state champion. Diamond State’s success reflected the rapid spread of organized base ball across Delaware, where new clubs soon appeared in Wilmington, Dover, Middletown, Delaware City, Milford, and New Castle.One of the club’s most notable players was Fergy Malone, an Irish-born player recruited from Philadelphia in 1866. Malone never lost a game as Diamond State’s pitcher and later became one of the early stars of professional baseball, playing, managing, and umpiring in the major leagues. He was also regarded as an important pioneer in the development of the catcher position during baseball’s formative years.Diamond State’s dominance proved short-lived. The club lost Wilmington’s championship to the rival Wawaset Club in 1867 and soon disbanded, though it reorganized several times during the 1870s without regaining its former prominence as stronger clubs, particularly the Wilmington Quicksteps, emerged. By 1878, the original Wilmington club had disappeared, but its legacy endured as one of Delaware’s pioneering baseball organizations and an important part of the state’s early sporting history. The “Diamond State” name itself briefly lived on with unrelated clubs organized in Newark in 1874 and Middletown in 1885, both of which lasted only a single season.
JOIN US
The Diamond State Base Ball Club is always seeking those interested in playing old time baseball, particularly those with prior experience with organized baseball or softball. All others are welcome to try out as well.If you’re not interested in playing but would like to help off the field with tally keeping, field set up, or duties, we’d love to hear from you.Reach us at: