Monthly Archives: April 2010

Chopper Results

It was a mixed bag of weather this weekend, but 11 clubs ventured to Elk Landing by stage coach, steamboat and horse to play in the 4th annual Chopper.  On Saturday it was a glorious day for 19th century base ball.  The class of last year’s festival, the Somerset Frosty Sons of Thunder once again made the trek down from western Pennsylvania but this year the host was waiting for them.  The Eclipse defeated the Frosty Sons 9-5 in a re-match of one of Elkton’s only 2 loses in 2009.  Elkton also welcomed back the Elizabeth Resolutes to Elk Landing but were not very gracious hosts downing the Resolutes 19-5.  The Athletic BBC of Philadelphia made its first appearance in 19th Century Base Ball since, well 1876 against the Elizabeth Club.  Elizabeth welcomed them to the world of 19th century base ball with a 24-7 beating of the muffins.  Philadelphia in its 2nd match lost to the newly formed Eureka Club of Bohemia 29-9.  Bohemia followed up its win against Philadelphia by downing the Diamond State BBC of Delware.  Delaware also took it on the chin in a 13-3 loss to Somerset.

Sunday’s weather looked like doom and gloom for the 4th annual Chopper.  The Neshanock of Flemington got their carriages stuck in the mud in central New Jersey and sent a telegram that they would not be able to make it down to the top of the Chesapeake.  Fortunately for the others, the steamboats were able to leave from Washington DC and Easton,MD so that all of the other clubs could dock at Elk Landing for the days activities.   Potomac improved its record to 5-1 with victories over Arundel and Havre de Grace.  Talbot increased its record to 4-0 with a pair of wins against Somerset and a squeaker against Bohemia.  Overall, it was a 3 way tie for the best record during the weekend as Talbot, Elkton, and Potomac all walked away with a perfect 2-0 record.  Honorable mention goes to the upstart Eurekas of Bohemia who scored a 2-1 record for the event. 

A big thanks goes out to all of the participants who traveled near and far for a great weekend of vintage base ball.  We look forward to hosting an event again in 2011!

In other MAVBBL matches, Brooklyn took a pair from the Providence Grays.  In the first match under 1864 rules the Atlantic downed the Grays 1208 at Atlantic Park in Smithtown, Long Island.  In the second match using 1884 rules, the Atlantic showed their prowness and flexibility to win at any year thrown at them as they downed the Grays 6-4.

“The Chopper” Is Coming

*** UPDATE***  8:00am

The Matches for Sunday are on!  A couple of scheduling changes though…

Flemington is scratched so Arundel will play Potomac at 11:15 and Potomac vs Flemington is canceled. Stay tuned here for more updates throughout the day if weather turns bad. 

The 4th Annual “Chopper” Base Ball Festival is coming to Elk Landing in Elkton, MD on April 24 and 25, 2010.  This event which formerly featured Maryland Clubs vs New Jersey Clubs and then Maryland Clubs vs Other States Clubs has grown to 12 participants in 2010.

On Saturday, some of the most veteran clubs in vintage base ball will be playing along side of some of the newest.  The Elizabeth Resolutes, the Elkton Eclipse and the Somerset Frosty Sons of Thunder will join the Diamond State BBC of Delaware, the Athletic BBC of Philadelphia and the Eureka BBC of Bohemia for an action packed day of 19th century base ball.

On Sunday, 9 clubs will be take the apple starting at 9:30am as clubs from Potomac, Chesapeake, Arundel, Bohemia, Flemington, Talbot, Elkton, Havre de Grace and Somerset play matches just the way they would have in 1864.  Stay tuned to this site next week for all the scores and recaps!

On April 17th the Annual New York/New Jersey Cup took place at Old Bethpage.  The Flemington Neshanock dropped two matches to the locals 24-12 to the Brooklyn Excelsiors from Old Bethpage and they took it on the chin 13-2 against the New York Mutuals.

The Neshanock’s fortunes turned around on Sunday though as they won a division match against their rival from Elizabeth as they downed the Resolutes 9-6 to pick up an all important divisional win.

On April 18th we saw a brand new club play its inagural matches against the defending league champion Elkton Eclipse.  The Bohemia Eurkeas will be an excellent club as they move from muffin status to veterans but the Eclipse on the 18th were too much for the upstarts as the Eclipse won both matches. (See match of the week for more details). 

In other match action this past weekend, Potomac increased its overall record to 3-1 with a split of matches between itself and the Diamond States from Delaware.  Potomac won the first match 28-5 and Delaware came away with the nightcap 8-4.

April 10-11 Highlights

It was a beautiful day for base ball along the Atlantic coast as many of the MAVBBL clubs played their first matches of the year.  Talbot looked sharp in two wins over in state rival Havre de Grace, while Brooklyn knocked off Flemington in two matches.  Arundel played its first matches in its history and won its first ever match.  Elizabeth squeaked by Delaware in both matches 13-12-and 16-14Look through the website to see updated scores and standings as well as other information about the league.
 
Brooklyn 28 Flemington 8
Brooklyn 14  Flemington 6
Atlantic opened its 2010 season as guests of the Flemington Neshanock at a special events Little League Day in Rutherford, N.J., complete with a parade down the main street and opening day ceremonies.  The first game remained close through 7 innings, but then Atlantic exploded with 14 runs in the 8th and 9th innings to take a 28-8 victory.  Dreambucket and Flash led Atlantic with 4 hits each.  Dreambucket had a double, a triple, and 4 aces, and Flash blasted 2 monstrous home runs, scoring 5 aces in all.  Pigtail picked up Atlantic’s first victory of the season.  In the second game, Atlantic held off Neshanock for a 14-6 win.  Toothpick, Hawk, and Tuna each had 2 hits for Atlantic.  Hammy picked up his first win of the season.
Arundel 12 Chesapeake 4
Chesapeake 14 Arundel 7
The Excelsior Club of Arundel from Glen Burnie played and won its first match ever as they surprised the Chesapeake Nine of Baltimore.  The Excelsiors looked sharp and polished for a club that had 99% muffins on the club.  In the second match, the endurance and skill of the Chessies caught up to the young Arundel club and they wore out the young upstarts from Glen Burnie 14-7 in the night cap.

April Happenings in the MAVBBL

As the weather gets warmer, most clubs in the MAVBBL are getting ready to start their season.  On March 28th, the MAVBBL got started with a double header between the Chesapeake Nine of Baltimore and the Potomac BBC of Washington DC.  The Potomacs swept the two matches but both contests were close.  While official games were being played near the Nation’s capital, 5 clubs got together for a day of practice and scrimages as veterans and muffins gathered at Elk Landing in Elkton to either learn the rules, learn to catch without gloves or learn how to swing a wood bat the same way as it was done in 1864.  It was a great day of rekindling and starting new friendships as over 50 players from Philadelphia, Delaware, Elkton, Havre de Grace and Arundel came together to start knocking the rust off to start a great season.

In other news, one of the MAVBBL’s own was re-elected as Vice President of the Vintage Base Ball Association.   Congratulations to Paul Salomone of the Elizabeth Resolutes on his reappointement.  Paul also gave a speech to the clubs in attendance at the National Convention of the VBBA in Port Huron, Michigan about the MAVBBL.

The first big festival of the year involving MAVBBL clubs is coming up on April 24 and 25 in Elkton as the 4th Annual Chopper Festival will take place.  The following clubs are scheduled to appear:  Elkton, Delaware, Somerset, Philadelphia, Flemington, Elizabeth, Talbot, Chesapeake, Havre de Grace, Potomac and Arundel.  Stay tuned on the website for more information.

The MAVBBL’s Expansion committee is going to be headed up by the Diamond State’s Captain, John Medkeff.  This committee is looking at viable areas for the MAVBBL to expand to in 2011 and beyond in territories that are not yet served by a vintage base ball club.  Some targets include: Southern New Jersey; Sussex, Delaware; Chester County, PA; north eastern Pennsylvania; York/Lancaster, PA; Gettysburg, PA; Fredericksburg, Virginia; and Richmond, Virginia to name a few areas.  If you are interested in starting a club in these areas or want more information, please contact us!

Several clubs will be playing their first matches ever this month including the clubs from Philadelphia and Arundel.  There is still room on their rosters for more players.  If you are interested, please contact them or us and we’ll get you going in no time.  Vintage base ball is an easy sport to pick up right away- it just takes a long time to “master” it, but anyone from 21 to 75 can play it–all you need is a love of the history of the game and a desire to meet like minded people.  Huzzah!