Amherst, Williams play to celebrate 150th anniversary of 1st intercollegiate game

Amherst, Williams to celebrate 1st college game

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Amherst and Williams colleges are marking the 150th anniversary of the first intercollegiate baseball game with a rematch.

The archrivals will play Sunday in Pittsfield, Mass., the town where the schools first played in 1859. The game was played in Pittsfield because neither team was willing to travel to the other’s home field.

A three-inning vintage game, with period uniforms and equipment, will be played between Amherst and Williams alumni before Sunday’s varsity game. The vintage contest will follow old baseball rules, including allowing batters to tell pitchers what type of pitch to throw.

Just as with the 1859 game, which Amherst won 73-32 in 25 innings, a chess tournament will take place on the sidelines.