By Natalia Knochowski, Staff Writer
MONROE — There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned ballgame, and it doesn’t get any more old fashioned than watching a team from the 1800s play.
People can witness such a team this Saturday at the Dey Farm Historic Site.
Well, technically, the Flemington Neshanock Base Ball Club isn’t really from the 1800s. According to John Katerba, township historian and chairman of the Monroe Township Historic Preservation Commission, the club basically is a group of baseball historians who get together to play organized games with other teams in the tri-state area.
According to the club’s 2010 official program, the club is “a not-for-profit organization that looks to inform the general public on the roots of our national pastime.”
The program also states that, in addition to wearing replicas of 19th-century baseball uniforms, the club plays with replicated 19th-century equipment by 19th-century baseball rules.
This Saturday, the club will be playing two games against the Philadelphia Athletics. All are welcome to come to the free event, Mr. Katerba said.
Mr. Katerba said there will be some seating provided, but people are welcome to bring their own blankets, chairs and picnics because there will be no food vendors at the event.
During the games, Mr. Katerba said representatives from the team will be stationed at the sidelines and will be informing the audience on what is going on in the game since the club will be playing with different rules than people may be familiar with.
In addition, the Charles Dey Home, which is a museum dedicated to Monroe Township, and the home’s barn, which stores historic artifacts, will be open for visitors.
This is the first year the club will be playing at Dey Farm, Mr. Katerba said.
”People should just come out and see the event,” Mr. Katerba said. “Who doesn’t love baseball?”
The first game will start at noon, and the event will go on until the end of the second game.
The Dey Farm Historical Site is on Old Church Road and is open to visitors every first Sunday of the month.

