Vintage Base Ball at the DAP

Join Duke Homestead State Historic Site at the historic Durham Athletic Park for a day of vintage base ball game!

The iconic Durham Athletic Park has hosted baseball games since 1926 and was even featured in an iconic baseball film, but Durham’s baseball roots are even deeper. The first century of baseball was marked by racial segregation and separate leagues for black and white athletes at the DAP until the 1950s; however, Duke Homestead welcomes all people to participate and honors the struggles and achievements of the many players over the past century who brought us the Durham baseball culture we know today. Players will wear historic uniforms, follow historic gameplay, and use historic equipment. The games will follow 1860 and 1869 Beadles Rules.

Connect with the history of this sport, this place, and this community by enjoying an afternoon out at the ball park.

Four teams will play a total of 6 games, with the first game beginning at 11am. This year the Duke Homestead team will be playing against the Statesmen (Wytheville, VA), the Mountain Stars (Addison, PA), and the Early Risers BBC (Detroit, MI).

Game tickets can be purchased online or in person at the Duke Homestead visitor center, as well as at the gate on game day. Early-Bird tickets for $5 available until 9/14 (online or at the Duke Homestead visitor center).

Enjoy a family-friendly evening out at the ball park complete with “old fashioned” concessions, food, beer, and historic music. Spectators are encouraged to come dressed in your favorite historical, vintage, or retro inspired outfits. We believe in vintage style, not vintage values! Kids will get to play historic games with our costumed interpreters, as well as have the opportunity to run the bases in-between ball games.

This game is a fund raiser for the Duke Homestead State Historic Site and it is sponsored by the Duke Homestead Education and History Corporation (the site’s volunteer, non-profit support organization), Measurement, Inc., Stone Brothers & Byrd, the Durham Sports Commission, and Preservation Durham.

Free parking available at the lot at 412 Morris St, Durham, NC 27701. A couple of handicap spaces are available in the DAP parking lot.

**No refunds on purchased tickets. All cancelled tickets will be considered a donation to the site and will be used for future educational programming.**