Mid Atlantic Region— The Mid Atlantic Vintage Base Ball League (MAVBBL) announces the kick off of its 2nd season. The league has more than doubled in size from 6 clubs in 2009 to 13 in 2010. The original six clubs are joined by some of the most established and finest vintage clubs on the east coast as well as several new clubs to round out the league. The circuit now extends from Brooklyn in the north to Williamsburg in the south. Three divisions: the northern division, eastern division, and southern division make up the 2010 league.
The Northern Division is made up of some of the best clubs in the Vintage Base Ball Association (VBBA). The clubs include: the New York Gothams out of New York City, the Brooklyn Atlantics from Smithtown, Long Island; the Flemington (NJ) Neshanock, and the Elizabeth (NJ) Resolutes. The Eastern Division is made up of the defending league champion Elkton (MD) Eclipse as well as the Chesapeake Nine from Baltimore; the Diamond State Base Ball Club of Delaware; the Dauntless Base Ball Club of Havre de Grace (MD) and newcomer the Athletic Base Ball Club of Philadelphia. The Southern Division is made up of perennial power Talbot Fair Play BBC from Easton, MD as well as the Potomac Base Ball Club of Washington, DC and the Pastime BBC of Williamsburg (VA). The newest club in vintage base ball will reside in the Southern Division in the Excelsior BBC of Arundel from Glen Burnie, MD.
The 13 clubs will be competing throughout the Summer by playing base ball (two words) the same way it was played in 1864 while civil war still ravaged and divided the country. When fans come out to see a MAVBBL match, they will be transported back in time and see matches played using the same rules and customs used in 1864 using the same style of uniforms and equipment that clubs in the infancy of the nation’s pastime used. Each club plays matches from the beginning of April until the end of October.
Each club will play each other club in its division at least once and no more than 4 times throughout the season. The clubs with the best winning percentage in each division will move to the post season on October 2 and 3 in a format still to be determined. Clubs not only will play matches within their division but also will play most of the other clubs in the league as well as participate in events with other vintage base ball clubs as well as compete in tournaments and festivals throughout the season.
Sanctioned MAVBBL tournaments in 2010 include the 4th Annual Chopper Festival in Elkton on April 24 and 25 featuring 12 clubs from the league and the inaugural First State 19th Century Base Ball Festival at Fort Delaware on May 22-23 with 14 clubs from Connecticut to Virginia. MAVBBL clubs will be playing in other prestigious tournaments and festivals including the Silver Ball Tournament in Rochester, the NY/NJ Cup, the Gettysburg 19th Century Base Ball Tournament, the John Clarkson Classic in Cooperstown, the Colt Meadows Invitational, and the Old Time Base Ball Festival in Old Bethpage.
Keep up with the MAVBBL all year long by visiting the league’s website at http://www.mavbbl.wordpress.com . A fan and the press can find everything from field locations and directions, schedules of clubs, results, standings, rules, match of the week information and much more. The first league match is March 28 when the Chesapeake Club visits the Potomac Club of Washington.
Mid Atlantic Vintage Base Ball League 