Updated August 25, 2026
Baseball has changed quite a bit since the days of wool uniforms, handwritten scorecards, and calling it “base ball” instead of baseball. You can get a look at that earlier version of America’s pastime at the Ohio Cup Vintage Base Ball Festival, returning to Westerville Sports Complex over Labor Day weekend.
The annual festival from the Ohio History Connection is happening Saturday, Sept. 5 and Sunday, Sept. 6, with games and activities running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. More than 25 vintage teams are expected to participate, bringing more than 300 players to Westerville for a weekend of games played according to 1860s rules.
Teams will include the Ohio Village Muffins and Ohio Village Diamonds, along with vintage clubs from around Ohio and other states. Participating teams are expected to include groups from Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Tennessee, although the final lineup can change due to travel conflicts.
The festival is expected to draw more than 500 spectators, making it one of the larger gatherings of vintage base ball teams in the country.
Ohio Has Some Serious Baseball History
The whole thing is particularly fitting for an Ohio event because the state has a pretty significant place in the history of professional baseball.
The Cincinnati Red Stockings formed in 1866 and became the first all-professional baseball team in 1869, when the players were paid to play. That team went undefeated during its famous 1869 season and helped establish Cincinnati, and Ohio, as an important part of the sport’s early history.
Of course, baseball was already being played throughout Ohio before anyone was getting a paycheck for it. By 1867, Ohio had 42 clubs represented in a statewide baseball association, and amateur teams were popping up in communities across the state.
So while you won’t find a modern pitching mound or a 95-mph fastball at the Ohio Cup, the festival is recreating a version of the game that was being played right here in Ohio more than 150 years ago.
The Ohio Village Muffins, one of the festival’s returning teams, specifically work to preserve the way the game was played in the mid-19th century, including its period rules, uniforms and traditions.
What To Expect At The Ohio Cup
The Ohio Cup is designed to be more of a family outing than a strictly baseball-focused event. Along with the games, there will be food trucks, children’s activities and opportunities to learn more about the early history of the sport.
Spectators can bring lawn chairs and settle in to watch the games throughout the day. You can also expect plenty of period-inspired uniforms and equipment as the teams attempt to recreate the look and feel of 1860s base ball.
“The Ohio Cup offers spectators a chance to step back in time and experience baseball as it was played more than 160 years ago,” said Neil Thompson, Marketing Department Manager for the Ohio History Connection. “If you’re looking for a unique family outing, the festival combines history, competition and fun in a way you won’t find anywhere else.”
The event takes place at the Westerville Sports Complex, located at 325 N. Cleveland Ave. Admission information and the full schedule will be available through the Ohio History Connection.
