Mechanicsburg Plays Its First Match

The newly formed Mechanicsburg Nine 19th C. Base Ball Club was victorious in their first ever match. The club hosted The Potomac Nine from Gaithersburg, MD on Sunday (June 6) at Metro Bank Park on City Island in Harrisburg, PA – Following the Senators home game against the Akron Aeros.

What looked to be a wash out for players and fans alike, quickly turned into a day full of America’s pastime – after a 1-hour rain delay. Following the Senators loss to the Aeros of Akron, the fans were treated to a short 3 inning exhibition game of base ball according to the rules and customs of 1864.

The Potomac Nine, with assistance from three local ballists from Washington Fire Company #1, struck first in the top of the first frame – with one tally as a result of two well struck balls, a stolen base and an errant throw from the short scout. After retiring their opponents, the Nine from Mechanicsburg struck quickly in the bottom of the first frame. Showing no real signs of being rookies, Mechanicsburg struck the ball with authority and ran the bases with true ginger. At the conclusion of the 1st inning, the tally was Mechanicsburg 3 – Potomac 1.

Potomac added two more tallies in the second frame with well placed hits and aggressive base stealing. However, the second frame proved to be the deciding point of the game as the flood gates opened for the home club with a flurry of hard struck balls and several stolen bases, including home base. At the end of the second inning Mechanicsburg was safely on top by a tally of 10 to 3.

The final frame ended with both sides retiring the other with no additional scores. All in all, both squads adeptly demonstrated the play of 19th C. Base Ball. The cranks and the Senators staff enjoyed a fast-paced, hard-played game. The Senators have already inquired about another match most likely to be scheduled next season. The Mechanicsburg Nine is looking forward to their next full match which should be scheduled soon.

Atlantic Wins a Pair vs Newtown Sandy Hooks

Athletic and Atlantic Meet Again

One of the biggest rivalries in all the 19th century was a base ball match between the Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn and the Athletic BBC of Philadelphia.  Brooklyn was considered the finest club New York had to offer during and immediately after the Civil War.  Not to be outdone by New York, Philadelphia (another hot bed of the infancy of base ball) offered up its finest club, the Athletic.  They met in New York to determine supremacy.  They would meet in Philadelphia.  They would even meet in Betterton, Maryland on the shores of the Chesapeake.  After 140+ years, the rivalry was renewed in Delaware City at the First State 19th Century Base Ball Festival on Saturday as the newly reformed Athletic met up with the oldest club in the MAVBBL and quite possibly the best.  The Atlantic spotted the Athletic the first run of the match but then reeled off 29 unanswered talleys to win the renewal of the rivalry 29-1. 

Atlantic 8  Fair Plays 5

The Atlantic came down to Delaware City to match up with a club it lost to in 2009, the Talbot Fair Plays. Atlantic played brilliant defense and led 8-0 after 7 innings, but Talbot scored 5 times in their 8th inning to make the game close, with Atlantic holding on for the 8-5 victory.  TC (double, 2 aces) and Flash (double, triple) were the only Atlantics with 2 hits.  Hammy picked up his 5th victory of the season.

Waterbury 14 Elkton 9

The Waterbury Connors from Connecticut met up with the Eclipse from Elkton for the first time since 2007 in Delaware City.  The Eclipse did not play the defense it is usually accostomed to and had untimley hitting.  Waterbury sprinted out to a 4-2 lead and then a 7-5 lead in the 6th inning before scoring 7 more times in the last three innings while holding the previously undefeated Eclipse to only 4 more talleys and defeated the Elkton club 14-9.

  JERSEY CITY, New Jersey , May 22 Game 1 – 1909 Rules

 In an abbreviated double-header, the Jersey City Skeeters beat the Gothams in a 1909 rules game. In the daycap game of the doubleheader, the New York Gothams beat the Skeeters at 1864 rules.
 
On this warm hazy morning in the swamps of a grand Jersey City park, the Gothams Base Ball Club of New York were unable to beat the very athletic and talented Jersey City Skeeters and their brand of 1909 baseball which was highlighted by strong pitching and good speed.
 
The first contest, an overhand game was a “Skeeter Skate” for their starting pitcher, who struck out the side in the first and third innings, save for a lone one base infield hit by Ironweed. In all, there were 13 Gotham strikeouts in the first game.
 
Whilst the Gothams were unable to claim victory in the first tilt, it was nonetheless one of their better showings of the young season, regardless of the loss. Much progress was made was the first game went on.
 
Trailing by 5 runs in the 4^th frame, the Gothams would propel themselves back into the game with via a walk by Collector, who promptly stole 2^nd and third bases. Sleepy skied to center to allow Collector to score. Our newest player Matt “Brewski” Gebhart showed his mettle, reaching first on a single and using good hustle to take two more bases on poor infield play by the opponents.
 
It will be noted here that our gracious hosts and opponents were kind enough to lend the Gothams two players (and equipment mitts!) due to the dearth of available Gotham personnel, and Skeeters Sky and A-Rod singled and doubled to post two more aces for New York, which closed the gap to 5-4. The Gothams would score their last ace of the contest the next inning as Collector singled to center and heisted his way to third base. Sleepy followed him, cracking a single allowing the final tally to score for the Gothams.
 
An overly talky Ironweed got his teammate Sleepy lulled into a conversation while he was standing just off third base, allowing the Skeeters to capitalize and record an embarrassing hand to kill the rally.
 
EXTRA GOTHAM NOTES: Brewski struck out the side with 14 pitches in the bottom of the 5^th in his (overhand) pitching debut …Improved play at right side of IF…Weed’s first game as Gotham captain/manager…Game was halted at 6 innings to allow for two games due to player attrition on both rosters.
 
Rugs    1-3, a double, one stolen base
Dutch….0-3
Weed….1-3
Collector….1-2, 1 BB, 4 stolen bases, 2 aces
Sleepy….1-3, one stolen base
Brewski….1-2, 1BB, 2 stolen bases
Hanky….0-3
Skeeter Sky….1-3, 1 ace
Skeeter A-Rod….1-2, 1 ace 
   
GAME 2 – 1864 RULES 
  Although no mosquitoes were seen on this marvelous mid-Spring day, the Gothams were itching for a win to break their winless skein. So the clock on the field was turned back 46 years to the 1864 rules. And in this, the Gothams would win a sun-shortened 13-6 contest to improve to 1-9.
 
The Gothams jumped on top early in this match. Dutch hitting second in a lineup shakeup, singled to right to begin the offensive attack. Early in the count, Collector jumped on a pitch to the right center gap, tripling and sending Dutch home. Collector would later score on a fielder’s choice for the 2-0 lead. And the Gothams never trailed after that. Collector went 4-4 including a single, a double and a triple.
 
The 5^th frame was one of the better frames of the season for the Gothams, which saw a 5-run rally courtesy of hits by Rugs, Dutch, Collector (double), Matt, Weed, Hanky (double), Skeeter Sky and Skeeter A-Rod,
 
A blast to deep right center by Sleepy in the 4th^th inning capped was celebrated with the lighting of a Camel Blue. It was only the 2^nd HR for the Gothams this season.
 
Thanks to Dave Kerans who served as the umpire, and to the Skeeters who are slated to come to Juniper Valley for a return match September 18.
 
Until the next battle…Huzzah to all the gents!
 
Rugs    2-4, a double, one stolen base, 2 aces
Dutch….2-4, 1 SB, 2 aces
Weed….2-3, 2 SB, 2 aces
Collector….4-4, 4 stolen bases, 2 aces
Sleepy….1-3, 1SB, 3 aces
Brewski….1-3, banged up nose
Hanky….1-3, 1 ace
Skeeter Sky….3-3, 1 ace
Skeeter A-Rod….1-3,

This weekend marks the start of the 1st Annual First State 19th Century Base Ball Festival in Delaware City, Delaware.  Clubs from all up and down the east coast will be in attendance including the Brooklyn Atlantics and the Waterbury Connors.  Don’t miss some first class vintage baseball action especially at 12:30 when the Talbot Fair Plays take on the Brooklyn Atlantics and the Waterbury Connors play the Elkton Eclipse.  Other clubs scheduled to appear include the Arundel Excelsiors, the Potomac Nine of Washington DC, the Flemington Neshanock, the Elizabeth Resolutes, the Chesapeake Nine of Baltimore, the Athletic BBC of Philadelphia, the Havre de Grace Dauntless, The Bohemia Eurkeas, and of course the host club, the Diamond State BBC of Delaware.  For more information go to http://www.festival.diamondstatebaseball.org/

Easton, MD—  The favorites to win the eastern division squared off with the favorites to win the southern division on Sunday in a re-match of the last 3 Maryland State Championship matches.  The Eclipse from Elkton traveled down the eastern shore to take on their rivals from Talbot County and both games did not dissapoint the many fans in attendance.  The defending champs won both games and are now well on their way to clinching a 3rd straight regular season crown in the Maryland Championship series.  The Elkton club is now 4-0 in the state championship series and are 8-0 overall after two hard fought victories.  In the first game, Elkton scored 3 aces in the 8th inning to break a 2-2 tie and then talley 2 more in the 9th inning to win the first match 7-2.  In the second game, Elkton scores first and then built a steady lead throughout the match and won by a score of 8-4 in another very close match.  The two clubs are in the same division in the upcoming Gettysburg Tournament in July but could very well end up playing each other in the championship in Central Pennsylvania on July 17 & 18. (www.gvbbt.wordpress.com).

In other action, Delaware picked up its 3rd win of the season with a 16-11 victory over the Excelsiors of Arundel in Glen Burnie, MD on Sunday.  The Diamond States with a 3-5 record now find themselves in 6th place overall in the league. 

At the John Clarkson Classic, the Atlantic BBCs of Brooklyn went a perfect 4-0 over the weekend.  On Saturday they picked up an all important division win over rival the New York Gothams by downing the Gothams 17-5.  They also defeated the Old Golds from Saginow, Michigan 16-3.  On Sunday, the Atlantic played two clubs from Massachusetts and came away with two more victories.  The first over a very highly rated Essex BBC by a score of 9-7.  In Brooklyn’s final match of the weekend, they defeated the Mudville Nine 24-3 as the Mighty Casey struck out.  We are still awaiting the Gothams fortunes for the weekend in Cooperstown.

  Cooperstown, NY-The mighty New York Gothams Base Ball Club traveled North to the Village of Cooperstown On May 15 and 16 to take part in the 1st John Clarkson Vintage Base Ball Tournament. The venues, the famous Doubleday Field and the infamous Farmer’s Field.  The victors, the Brooklyn Athletics.
 
The tournament featured five teams including the Saginaw Old Golds of Michigan, the fine sponsors and organizers of the event, the rival Atlantic Base Ball Club, now better known as the Brooklyn Athletics, the Mudville team from Holliston, Massachusetts, and the Essex BBC of Danvers MA, which included a squad of gents wearing Boston Beaneater sweaters to commemorate their games with the late Mr. Clarkson.
 
The tournament was named after John Clarkson, a Michigan native who won 328 games in his major league career thus earning him entrance into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963. Mr. Clarkson perished at the relatively young age of 47.
 
The New York Club at 0-4 was hoping to break its winless streak by means of ‘Hall of Fame” caliber hitting and defense, were whispered by some of the ruder cranks to be possible inductees into the hall of shame instead. But great fun, camaraderie and revelry were had nonetheless! And the club’s former captain Trolley Car traveled all the way by air coach from the western state of California to partake.
 
Alas, the Gotham nine were to be foiled and frustrated in four consecutive contests by a combined score of 83-28 aces. The Gothams were playing under 1865 rules throughout the weekend which in effect eliminated the one-bound rule, a staple of Gotham defensive play. The referees would not permit sliding.
 
A tip of the old cap to Mr. Richard “the Professor” Curry and the lads of the fine Saginaw squad for their tireless efforts (and generous expenditures!)
 
The Gotham squad started Saturday morning against the Mudville ballists in what would be its closest contest of the tourney, a 18-10 defeat.
 
Although the Gothams would advance to an early 2-0 lead on doubles by Collector and Flytrap, the lead was short-lived.
It was much the same in the next two games, where the Gothams would score runs early and perhaps take small short-lived leads.
 
The field of play at the Farmer’s Field was resplendent with soft green grass and a beautiful bucolic view of the grand Lake Otesaga. But it was an odd landscape with a pregnant plateau of a center field which no doubt gave the finest fielders fits. A striker’s run to first base was an uphill journey.
 
The field of play at the Doubleday Field was as perfect as a baseball diamond could be, and the tourney had fine weather.
 
The Gotham squad is still adjusting to its ever-changing roster, and despite the outcome and some judgmental errors in the field, there was no shortage of fine play. There was a consensus that a return trip to the tourney is worth considering.
 
Until the tilts in Jersey City against the Skeeters, a rousing huzzah!

In addition, the Daunless Club from Havre de Grace picked up their first win of the year 29-22 over the Chesapeake Nine.  In the first game though at Jerusalem Mills, the Chessies defeated the Dauntless in a divisional matchup.

There were only  matches involving MAVBBL clubs and the first was Saturday in Chester, NJ.

The Atlantic of Brooklyn defeated the Flemington Neshanock 8-2 and 15-5.

In a match in Gaithersburg, MD, The Potomacs defeated Arundel 16-11. 

The Windy City of Gaithersburg hosted a well-spirited, well-played match between the Potomac Nine and Arundel Excelsiors.  Short-handed, Potomac leveraged the outstanding play of two muffins playing in their first match, Andy “Specks” Delfino and Dan “Bangor” Hanna.

The gritty Potomacs, playing with nine most of the game after Mona Lisa’s injury, fought hard in the field and at the plate each inning, to a 16-11 victory over visiting Arundel.  After the top of the first, Potomac never trailed, despite several attempts by Arundel to close the gap, and Potomac always came back in the bottom of the inning.

Marshall had his break out game, batting 4-4 with a team high 2 doubles, 5 stolen bases, and 5 RBIs.  Counselor also had a career day, not only pitching his fourth complete game of the season, but also batted 4-5 with a double, triple, and 4 runs scored.  Moon wowed the cranks with a couple moon shots leading to a double, triple, and 4-5 day with 4 runs scored.

ballists recognize that if they scheduled a match on this day, would never have peace at home again so it is generally recognized as a National Vintage Base Ball Holiday.  Happy Mother’s Day out there to all the Moms!

May 1  New York Gothams at Mountain Athletic Club

On our first hot day of the season we mourned our third and forth loss.  The Mountain Athletic Club came all the way down from the beautiful Catskills Mountains (where it snowed three days before).  With timely hitting and fielding and Gotham untimely hitting and fielding, MAC whopped the Gotham Club fairly handily.

1864 rules

The only thing we won this game was the bat toss.  The Gotham defense at the top of the first shut the MAC down.  In the bottom of that inning the Gotham Club took the lead with Flytrap’s single, stolen base and Stocking’s double.  Unfortunately we could not capitalize on this offense and did not score another ace that inning.  Unfortunately (again) at the top of the 2nd inning through a combination of MAC’s well placed hits and Gotham Club’s bad defense, MAC scored  10 aces.  In the third inning, the MAC scored another ace.  The Gotham Club scored 3 aces in the fifth inning on well placed hits and stolen bases by Stockings and Stacks and a mighty wallop of a four bagger by Shoeless.  The Gotham Club would score one more ace that game.  Meanwhile MAC scored 6 more.  The final tally was Gotham Club 6 MAC 17.

The heat took its toll on the unprepared teams and we were too worn out to play this so-called game of 1895 “baseball.”  Therefore we elected to play the gentleman’s sport of 1864 Base Ball.  Needless to say this gave the Gotham Club confidence that we might be able to win.

The top of the first inning saw the Gotham Club score two aces on two singles and two stolen bases by the fleet-footed Collector and el Presidente.  In their halves of innings, the MAC scored many runs.  In the top of the 3rd inning Collector would not let Shoeless have the only home run of the day and hit one himself.  In the 4th inning the Gotham Club scored two more runs on Shoeless and Stacks singles and stolen bases.  However by the 5th inning the Gotham Club found themselves behind 15 to 7.  The Gotham Club scored 3 more aces and allowed MAC to score 3 more times.  The final score was Gotham Club 10 Mountain Athletic Club 18.  Gotham Club’s poor defense and questionable offense along with MAC’s well struck balls foiled our efforts to not have a winless season.

May 2  Havre de Grace at Elkton

The short handed Dauntless of Havre de Grace called on some members of the newly formed Eureka Club of Bohemia to assist in its 2 game challenge of the Eclipse played at McMillian Farm in Calvert, Maryland.  In 90+ degree heat, the Dauntless kept up with the Elkton club in what was a re-match of the hard fought 2009 Maryland State Championship semi final.  The same 9-5 result was achieved for the Eclipse as what happened at the state championships last year.  Once again, the game was a lot closer until the Eclipse broke open a 5-3 game with 4 runs in the 6th and then cruised the rest of the way.  The match was concluded with a second game in which the mightly Eclipse outscored the challengers from Hartford County 14-10 to improve to 7-0 on the season and win its 32nd game out of its last 34.  The Dauntless drop to 0-5 on the early season.

Atlantic BBC of Brooklyn 13 Mutual BBC of NY 3

Atlantic BBC of Brooklyn 8 Mutual BBC of NY 4

Atlantic was invited to play at Islip Grange in Sayville, with the New York Mutuals as their opponent. The Mutuals stayed close the first game, as Atlantic led 4-3 after 6 innings, but Atlantic then put together a flurry of hits to score 8 aces in their 7th inning to secure a 13-3 victory. Nice & Easy led Atlantic with 3 hits, and TC, Butcher, Dreambucket, Flash and Hammy each contributed 2 hits. Tree pitched the distance to pick up the victory.

The second game was highlighted by good defense by both teams, with Atlantic again prevailing in a close 8-4 contest. TC banged out 3 hits for Atlantic with a double and 2 aces scored. Dreambucket, with a homerun, and Tuna each had 2 hits, as Hammy picked up the complete game victory in the second game.

In other matches, the Athletic BBC of Philadelphia is still looking for its first win of the season as it dropped to 0-3 with a 22-3 loss to the veteran Diamond State BBC of Delaware at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia.  On Sunday, the Elizabeth Resolutes defeated their rivals, the Flemington Neshanock in a game played in Ringwood, NJ.

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.