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!