Meet Chase Hoblitzell, art installer for Ship/Art by day, and badass vintage baseball player by night.
Chase plays left field and shortstop for the Berkeley Monarchs in the Bay Area Vintage Base Ball league. We caught up with him, decked out in his legit old-school baseball gear, before heading off to a game in San Jose.
This is Chase's rookie year playing in the Bay's vintage ball league, and he's already all about it. "BAVBB is baseball for those who truly love the game -- for those who love the history, the legacy, and the fabric of baseball," said Chase.
The league plays according to the 1886 rule book -- regulation gear, calling the batter the "striker" and the pitcher the "hurler" -- the whole shebang. We, of course, were smitten with the vintage uniforms. They definitely aren't the most flattering uniforms, but the history behind them makes them so cool.
What he's wearing: Vintage Berkeley team uniform byK&P Weaver; Mizuno baseball cleats, purchased from Sports Basement; Akedema vintage baseball glove, purchased from K&P Weaver; Maple wood Bulldog Bat; Campania bike, purchased from Refried Bicycles with parts from Heavy Metal Bikes.
The old-time gloves are basically leather worker's gloves, and the heavy bats are little more than lumber straight off the tree. "It changes the dynamics of the game drastically," said Chase. "You really have to square up to the ball and use both ands to field. And the striker get 7 balls and 3 strikes -- he also gets to choose if he wants a high or low strike zone."
Seven Style Questions for Chase:
1. Which SF Giant's player has the best style?
Tim Lincecum is the easy answer and, really, it's the only answer.
2. Where do you shop?
Painted Bird, No Shop and assorted thrift stores.
3. What are you always packing?
Headphones and a book.
4. What's your style peeve?
I'm going to have to say a blazer with jeans is a crime against humanity.
5. What's on the wish list?
A Mercedes L319 -- beautiful vans they made in the 1960s.
6. I like a lady in...
A business-casual skirt.
7. What's your SF top 5?
Bike rides to the beach will never get old. SFMOMA is the best museum in town. The Lab is always dependable. Icee Hot and Warm Leatherette are two of the best dance parties in town. The Headlands.
Lily Ko (lily.7x7 @ gmail.com) studied fashion design and merchandising at Central Saint Martins and the Academy of Art University. In addition to writing for 7x7, Lily is an editor at SF Station, and works as a freelance stylist and apparel designer.
