Mid Atlantic Vintage Base Ball League

Huricane Irene reeked havoc on the Mid Atlantic region last week wipping out a thin slate of matches that were scheduled.  Every town in the League with the exception of Mechanicsburg was affected by the storm in some degree.  Power was not restored in some towns until the middle of this week.  Massive flooding took place in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York.  Winds brought downed trees and power lines to Delaware and Maryland.  Even though it is not in our league, one of the fine clubs in vintage base ball had its town destroyed.  Roxbury, New York in the upper part of the state which is home to the Roxbury Nine was destroyed in the floods that ravaged that area.  They are in real need of assistance from the vintage community as well as others who would like to lend a helping hand.  If you can donate, please log on to this site for more information about how you can help:  http://markproject.org/about-mark/donate.  Their streets are now rivers and they could really use a hand.

Despite the threat of stormy weather all weekend, 12 MAVBBL clubs got together at the Philadelphia Navy Yard to celebrate 19th century base ball and show the public how the game was played in 1864.  The Athletic Club of Philadelphia put on a great show as clubs from all over the league got together for a fun festival.  There was no pressure of a winner and clubs that came out on the wrong side of the boxscore didn’t go home dejected, but rather they left getting to play someone they either had not seen for a while or never saw before.  The schedule was set so the New York clubs would get a chance to square off against foes it had only seen on paper from Washington, Arundel, and Mechanicsburg.  Clubs from Easton, Elkton, and Chesapeake City got to play teams from New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania as well as New York.  Make sure you check out the scores posted in the results page (see the column on the right side) to see who won what games.  This weekend though, everyone was a winner.  Special thanks to the clubs that participated: Philadelphia (host), Delaware, Talbot, Elkton, Mechanicsburg, Chesapeake, Arundel, Flemington, Potomac, New York Gothams, Flemington, and Chesapeake City.

The Philadelphia Navy Yard will play host to a fine display of 19th century base ball this weekend featuring 12 clubs from the MAVBBL.  The host Athletic BBC has put together a great weekend of base ball and 19th century fun for the entire family.  Matches start at 10am each day and go on until about 4pm.  Come see clubs from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Washington DC play base ball the same way it was played in 1864 using the same style uniforms and equipment and playing by the same rules and customs of the day.  For more information, go to http://phillyvintagebaseball.org/

RESOLUTES WIN PAIR FROM NEW YORK

The first match began with the Gotham BBC at the line. Monk and Wickets scored in that half of the frame and the Resolutes followed with 3 aces of their own. In the 2^nd frame no team scored. In the 3^rd frame Scratch scored an ace on a walk, steal of 2^nd and a cross of 4^th base after Crash’s 2 base hit. The Resolutes followed with 0 aces of their own. In the 4^th frame, again the Gotham BBC scored 1 ace with a Monk 1 base hit, steal of 2^nd and a cross of 4^th base on Scratch’s 1 base hit. The Resolutes followed with 0 aces of their own. In the 5^th frame, no team scored. By the end of the 5^th frame, the score was Gotham BBC 4 Elizabeth Resolutes 3.  In the 6^th frame, the Gotham BBC scored scored on Weed’s 2 base hit and hands by Professor and Monk. Of course, Weed hurts himself during the play. In the bottom of that frame, the Gotham BBC forgot how to limit the damage and played catch with themselves while Resolutes ran the bases. We really need to learn that fundamental rule of controlling the opponent’s base running. By the end of the frame, the Resolutes scored 3 aces. In the 7^th frame, the Gotham BBC scored 0 aces and the Resolutes scored 1. Stacks ended the frame with a nice line drive catch. Again, in the 8^th frame, the Gotham BBC scored 0 and the Resolutes score 1. In the top of the 9^th frame, the Gotham BBC scored 0 aces. Game over, Gotham BBC 5 Resolutes 8.

The second match of the day began with the Gotham BBC in the field and a redesigned team. Without regard to his teammates’ feelings and right in front of their faces, Oates happily took cash from the Resolutes to leave for the day.In the top of the 1^st frame, the Resolutes scored 2 aces. In the bottom of the frame, Monk struck and stole bases to get himself to 3^rd base. He would eventually come home on Wickets’ 1 base hit. In the top of the 2^nd frame, Crash ran 1 mile to catch a booming strike and 1 bound. Neither team would score that frame. In the 3^rd frame, the Resolutes scored 1 ace and the Gotham BBC scored none. In the 3^rd frame, the Resolutes scored 1 ace and the Gotham BBC scored 1 on Scratch’s 2 base hit and well struck 1 base hit by Wickets. By the end of the 3^rd frame the score was Gotham BBC 2 Resolutes 4. In the top of the 4^th frame, the Resolutes scored 2 aces and the Gotham BBC responded with 0 of their own. In the top of the 5^th frame the Resolutes scored 4 aces and the Gotham BBC scored 1. In the 7^th frame, the Gotham BBC was threatening. Wickets raced himself around the bases, thieving two of them to get to 3^rd. With Crash at the line, the team was ready for another ace. Crash struck the ball down the 3^rd base line, drawing the 3^rd base tender, pitcher and catcher to the ball. Wickets watched while Crash got to 1^st base and then decided to run. The 1^st base tender threw to the catcher and Wickets was tagged out. No team scored that frame.In the top of the 8^th frame with 1 hand and a Resolute on 1^st base, the striker hit a towering fly ball to short stop. Scratch realized he could make the double play by letting the ball drop. This was a pretty cool idea but he only let it drop once. The striker was out and there was no force at 2^nd base. No aces were scored the rest of the game. The final score was Gotham BBC 3 Resolutes 10

Talbot Goes 3-1-1 in Mumford, NY

Genesee Valley- The Talbot Fair Plays won their first 3 matches of the National Silver Ball Tournament in upstate New York this past weekend and tied their last to earn a spot in the Championship match on Sunday.  The Easton Nine downed the Victory BBC 18-15, the Rochesters 14-5, and the Flower City BBC 16-14.  In its last match it tied the Live Oaks 10-10 before the time limit ran out in the 8th inning.  It was good enough to earn a return to the championship to meet the Cleveland Blues.  The Blues had defeated the Flemington Neshanock last year in the Silver Ball Championship.  This year, it would be the same result- the Blues won 20-5 to take home its 2nd straight Silver Ball Championship.

A Split in Cecil County

Elkton, MD- The two teams from the Elkton Base Ball Club, the Cecil Club of Chesapeake City and the Eclipse BBC of Elkton squared off at the Terrapin Station Winery on Sunday.  In the first game, after the Eclipse struck first, the Cecils slammed 10 aces in the 3rd inning and held on for a 14-12 win.  In the second match, Elkton held a 4-3 lead when Chesapeake City scored twice in the 7th to take the lead.  Elkton scored one run in the 8th and held the Cecils scoreless in the 9th.  In the bottom of the 9th, as the Eclipse has done so many times this year, they got their first two men in to scoring position before Erik Meyers hit a long drive to centerfield easily scoring the runner from 3rd to earn the split with a 6-5 win

Atlantic Takes Islip Cup

On the grassy plains of the Islip Grange, the Atlantic Base Ball Club joined the Flemington Neshanock and New York Gotham clubs in the first ever Islip Cup Tournament. This round-robin tournament brought together spectators and farmers from all around Long Island.  In the initial match, the Flemington club took the lead on a balk in the 1st inning.  Unfortunately, that was their only ace to tally that game.  The Flemington lead was quickly erased as the Atlantic lead-off hitter TC used all his might and speed to round the bases for a home run.  TC didn’t stop there as he went a perfect 4 for 4 with 3 doubles and scored in each at bat.  Dreambucket also swung the stick well with 2 doubles, and Butcher contributed 2 hits also.  Pigtail and the Atlantic defense did not allow any more Flemington runners to score and the Atlantics went on to win by the score of 13-1.

In the 2nd match between the Flemington Neshanock and New York Gothams, a back and forth contest ensued.  Each team took and lost the lead more then once leading to a tie game at 6 aces each entering the 10th frame.  In the top of the 10th, the Gotham pitcher Bugsy was fatigued and hung a few too many hittable pitches as the Gotham defense could not stop a 6 run rally by the team from Jersey.  Undeterred, the Gotham batters rallied to score 3 aces and attain runners on the bases.  Alas, the Gothams could not plate any more runs and fell to the Flemington squad by the score of 12-9. 

With losses by both the Flemington and Gotham teams, the Atlantic squad needed a victory over the Gotham Club in the third and final match to attain the coveted Islip Cup.  A pitching matchup between the Atlantics Tree and Gothams Wickets promised for a entertaining game.  Tree shook off a bit of rust to keep the Gothams to 7 aces, while Wickets had to face the gauntlet of Atlantic bats and held them to 18.  For the Atlantics, TC and Willy Mo roped 4 hits each, while Toothpick and Dreambucket gathered 3 hits a piece.

Special Note:  Look under tournaments/festivals for information on the Philadelphia Base Ball Exhibit and Fair on August 20-21 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.  13 MAVBBL clubs will be participating.  Come out and see most of the clubs in the Mid Atlantic play base ball the way it was played in Philadelphia in 1864!

Potomac, Arundel and Old Dominion Play in Manasas Festival

 Old Town Manassas, VA commemorated the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War and the Battle of First Manassas (Bull Run) July 21-24 with living history demonstrations, speakers, art, music, and Civil War base ball. 

Four MAVBBL clubs saw action in the 2nd Annual Gettysburg 19th Century Base Ball Tournament this past weekend and three of them made it to the semi finals.  None of them though won the championship as Saginaw Michigan slugged their way to the winners circle.  Chesapeake City defeated the Huntington Champion Hilltoppers and the Flemington Neshanock to win their division, while Elkton downed the Cincinnati Buckeyes and the Central City Stars from Colorado to win their bracket.  Flemington made it in as the wild card after soundly defeating the Hilltoppers.  Mechanicsburg also competed playing the Mudville Nine from New England and the eventual champion, the Saginaw Old Golds. 

In the first semi final, the Eclipse snuck by the Neshanock 9-8 in one of the best games played by these familiar foes in years.  In the other match, the Old Golds overwhelmed the Cecils with a 9 spot to cruise to an 11 run win.  In the championship, after the Eclipse scored 1 in the 4th to start the scoring, the Old Golds layed a 10 spot down to eventually go on to a 22-5 win to take home the gold ball.

Diamond States/ Chesapeake Split

In other matches this weekend, Delaware traveled to Kingsville to take on the Chesapeake Nine from Baltimore.  The Chessies were coming off of a 9-8 loss to Central City, Colorado just a couple of days before.  In the first match, Chesapeake won 12-9 while the Diamond States took revenge in the second game 10-2

This past Saturday, July 9th, we lost one of the most likeable players in vintage base ball.  Scott “Curley” Murphy was the field captain of the Talbot Fair Plays and one of the nicest human beings you will meet.

EASTON Scott Murphy of Galestown passed away Saturday, July 9, 2011, at the Memorial Hospital at Easton. He was 44.

He was born March 23, 1967, in Easton, the son of Wayne M. Murphy and Marie Turpin Coulbourne.

He was a graduate of Colonel Richardson High School, Class of 1985, and had attended Chesapeake College. He served his country in the United States Army. He was employed by UPS Freight in Federalsburg as a tractor-trailer driver. He was a member of the Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church in Sharptown, where he taught Sunday School, served as a Lay Minister and was a member of the Pastor Parish Relations Board. Scott has played and coached baseball for 20 years. He played for The Historical Society Vintage Baseball of Talbot County Fair Plays, Maryland’s first vintage baseball club, where he also served as Captain. For the past six years, Scott attended the Ravens NFL Football Camp at the M&T Stadium, where he served as coach, teaching the fundamentals of flag football. He coached flag football in Preston for nine years, coached Pop Warner football in Delmar, and coached indoor soccer for the Nets in Salisbury. He was a member of the American Legion Post 243 in Hurlock.

He is survived by his father Wayne M. Murphy and his wife Sherry of Seaford, Del.; his mother, Marie Turpin Coulbourne and her husband Wayne of Federalsburg; his wife of 26 years, Kim Parrott Murphy of Galestown, whom he married Dec. 8, 1984; two sons, Daniel Murphy and Todd Murphy, both of Galestown; grandson Noah Michael Charles of Sharptown; two brothers, Alan Murphy of Hurlock and Jeff Murphy of East New Market; two half-sisters, Sharon Sexton of Georgetown, Del., and Shanna Murphy of Seaford; mother-in-law Bertie Parrott of Cambridge; a nephew, Dylan Murphy of Hurlock, and a niece, Madison Sexton of Georgetown.

He was preceded in death by grandparents Allice and Francis Turpin, and Roy Murphy and father-in-law Harry Parrott Jr.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, July 16, at the Framptom Funeral Home, Federalsburg, with the Rev. Everett Landon officiating. Interment will follow in Junior Order Cemetery in Preston.

Friends may call at the funeral home 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and noon to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 132, Sharptown, MD 21861, or to the Historical Society of Talbot Co. Fair Plays, 25 S. Washington St., Easton, MD 21601.

Flemington falls to Elkton at the Shore

Cape May, NJ– In a match that took up to 5 hours to get to and 1 1/2 to play, the Flemington Neshanock took on the Elkton Eclipse in its traditional 4th of July Weekend Match at Cold Spring Village in Cape May, New Jersey.  The Neshanock last year lost 35-10, but this year things were much closer.

In the only game scheduled involving MAVBBL clubs this weekend, the Neshanock and Eclipse played a close match for the first 5 innings as the score remained 3-3 after 5.  The Eclipse then started to pull away despite the slendiferous pitching effort by one Brad Shaw.  After the Elkton club scored 5 and the Neshanock only 1 the next frame, the Marylanders started to pull away and finished strong to win 15-6 at the Cold Spring Village’s Independence Weekend Celebration.  The Eclipse lead the series 3-0 after 3 straight wins outside of Cape May in three years.

The MAVBBL was in full swing this past weekend and featured some of the power clubs sweeping their opponents as we get towards July.  The New York Gothams took care of business winning two against the Neshanock, the Elkton Eclipse took a pair from Mechanicsburg, the Brooklyn Atlantics won both against the Resolutes and the Talbot Fair Plays swept the Diamond States including a white wash.

Gothams Take Pair From Flemington

Our first match began with the Gotham BBC at the bat. Collector lead off with a 2 base hit and came home on Scratch’s two base hit. In the bottom of the 1^st frame, the Gotham BBC held the Neshanock to 0 aces. For the next 4 innings, this is how the two teams played out the match. The Gotham BBC scoring aces and the Gotham BBC holding the Neshanock to none.

 In the 5^th frame, the Gotham BBC allowed an ace. However, our 2^nd base tender Sleepy made sure that was the only ace we allowed. With Neshanock on 1^st and 2^nd base, Sleepy gobbled up the ground ball tagged the runner going from 1^st to 2^nd and deftly threw to 1^st base to force the striker our. Two hands in 1 play, Huzzah! By the end of the 5^th frame the Gotham BBC had a commanding lead of 13-1.

 The Gotham BBC scored 5 more aces and allowed 3 more. The final score was Gotham BBC 18 Neshanock 4.  It started very differently than the first one when the Neshanock scored 9 aces through a combination of well placed strikes, sloppy fielding and Bugs’ inability to pitch into the new strike zone (or get the proper call). The Gotham BBC responded to the 9 aces with one of their own. Collector walked, stole 2^ndbase and Oates hit him home with a 3 base hit. Unfortunately he was left there.

 In the 2^nd frame, the Gotham BBC pulled off a nice 2 out in one play, when Scratch made a nice diving catch and instigated a successful run down between 1^st and 2^nd. This play held the Neshanock to 2 aces. In the bottom of the 2^nd frame, the Gotham BBC batted around scoring 6 aces and Monk had a 3 base hit.

 In the 3^rd frame, Hanky hit a 1 base hit and then got caught stealing. The striker, Bugs, hit a screeching line drive that was surely was going to be a 3 base hit, unfortunately for him, the dejected Hanky was still strolling off the field and the ball hit Hanky! The umpire called it a dead ball and Bugs proceeded to pop up to the pitcher.

 In the 4^th frame, with Weed’s adept base coaching, the Gotham BBC batted around twice. Collector, Monk and Stacks each scored twice. Feeling bad for the Neshanock and wanting to put an end to the drubbing, Scratch decided to get himself out by trying to steal 4^th base. He succeeded. This was one of the most productive innings the team has ever had. By the end of the 4^th frame the score was Gotham BBC 22 Neshanock 12.

 In the 5^th frame the striker Sleepy assisted with an ace. With Monk on 3^rd base, the pitcher pitched the ball. Sleepy let the ball hit him on the head and Monk scampered home!  In the 6^th frame, with the Neshanock threatening with runners on all the bases, the striker hit a screeching line drive to 3^rd base. With instant reaction, Stacks caught the ball, ending the Neshanock threat.  With both teams hot and tired, the match was called at the end of the 7^th frame with the final score Gotham BBC 28 Neshanock 17.

ELKTON TAKES TWO FROM MECHANCISBURG

In Westminster, Maryland at the Corbitt’s Charge event, over 300 fans crammed in to the old high school grounds to see Mechanicsburg and Elkton meet up for the first time ever.  The Eclipse scored 3 in the first frame followed by 1 ace for the Mechanicsburg Nine.  In a game that was closer than the score indicated, the Elkton nine won 15-6 after scoring some extra runs in the late innings to insure the victory.  After a generous meal where both clubs ate along side of soldiers from both sides of the conflict, the two clubs met again for the nightcap of the twilight double header.  The same results though insued as the Elkton club won again 10-6.

BROOKLYN DOWNS ELIZABETH

The Atlantic welcomed the Elizabeth Resolutes of New Jersey to the Islip Grange in Sayville by challenging them to a pair of matches.  Not only were the locals entertained by live period music and knowledgeable displays of base ball history, but they were treated to two thrilling matches played to the rules of 1864 and 1870.
 
While the local farmers market provided fresh produce, it was the Atlantic bats which did the producing this day, taking the 1864 game by the score of 17-6.  Toothpick led the Atlantic bats with 3 hits and aces, while the rest of the Atlantic battery of Shakespeare, Dreambucket, Flash, Wildhorse, Willy Mo and Butcher each had 2 hits and 2 aces a piece.  The cranks in attendance were treated to some fine defensive work in the first inning, as Elizabeth baserunners were eliminated consecutively on a caught stealing attempt and a hidden ball trick on Rookie Secondbaseman Marlin.  Wildhorse continued his excellent pitching regimen and came out the winning pitcher.
 
With a change in umpires and rules, the Elizabeth club fared no better in the second match as the Atlantic scored 9 aces in the bottom of the first frame on the way to a 21 run rout.  Again, Toothpick flexed his batting pedigree and had 5 hits, while Dreambucket and Wildhorse had 3 hits each.  In this even handed attack, every Atlantic in uniform scored at least one ace.  Shakespeare showed his prowess in delivering the sphere in an underhanded manner and held the Elizabeth club to a season low 3 aces scored.