The Soul of the Game: Tintype portraits of Long Island's vintage base ball players
Vintage base ball has been played on Long Island for more than 40 years. Keeping the soul of America’s pastime alive by playing by the rules of the game as it was played in the 1800s, enthusiasts compete in fields and pastures and wear heavy, woolen caps and uniforms. They use period-specific bats and balls, and forgo gloves and protective equipment, just as the game was played in the 19th century.
To best re-create the essence of the time, players were photographed with an antique, large-format camera, using a 19th century direct positive photographic process known as a dry collodion ferrotype, or dry-plate tintype.
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Tintype portrait of vintage base ball team the New York Mutuals, on the field at the Sherwood Jayne House in Setauket New York. September 16, 2023
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Matt "Hobo" Leutz of the Brooklyn Atlantics on the field at the Sherwood Jayne House in Setauket New York. September 16, 2023
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Vintage base ball player Matt “Chaos” Cotignola of the Brooklyn Atlantics on the field at the Sherwood Jayne House in Setauket New York. September 16, 2023
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Vintage base ball player Thom “Dirt” Fioriglio of the New York Mutuals on the field at the Sherwood Jayne House in Setauket New York. September 16, 2023
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Vintage base ball player Larry "Milkman" Caputo of the Brooklyn Atlantics on the field at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. August, 27, 2023
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Vintage base ball player Bill Bogatz of the Manetto Hill Surprise on the field at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. August, 27, 2023
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Vintage base ball player George "Wild Horse" Ferchland of the Brooklyn Atlantics on the field at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. August, 6, 2023
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Vintage base ball player Anthony “Dirty Pirate” Cannino of the Brooklyn Atlantics on the field at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. August, 6, 2023
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Vintage base ball player Rob “Pickles” Fleischer of the Manetto Hill Surprise on the field at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. August, 27, 2023
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Tintype Portrait of Vintage Baseball player Sean “Toothpick” Ness of the Brooklyn Atlantics, on the field at the Sherwood Jayne House in Setauket New York. September 16, 2023
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Vintage base ball player Nicole “Prancer” LaCagnina of the New York Mutuals on the field at the Sherwood Jayne House in Setauket New York. September 16, 2023
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Vintage base ball player Dave “Daffy” Glassmann of the Manetto Hill Surprise on the field at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. Old Bethpage, New York. August 27, 2023
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Vintage base ball player Phil "Old Soul" Reece of the Brooklyn Atlantics on the field at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. August, 13, 2023
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Vintage base ball player Rob Fleischer of the New York Mutuals on the field at the Sherwood Jayne House in Setauket New York. September 16, 2023
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Vintage base ball player Andy “Renman” Lembo of the New York Mutuals on the field at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. August, 13, 2023
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Vintage base ball player Stephen “Mito” Miata of the Manetto Hill Surprise on the field at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. August, 27, 2023
Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Vintage base ball player Jerry “High Noon” Kijko of the Manetto Hill Surprise on the field at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. August, 27, 2023
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