Author Archives: Mid Atlantic Vintage Base Ball

Rivarly Matches on Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend was quite a weekend for rivalries old and new in the MAVBBL this past week.  The Elizabeth Resolutes renewed their longtime rivalry with the Gothams from New York, while the Old Dominion Club from Virginia started a new one with one of its sister clubs, the Chesapeake Nine from Baltimore.  What was probably the biggest match of the weekend though featured the Cecil Club of Chesapeake City playing their rivals, the Eclipse BBC of Elkton.

In a match that saw two of last year’s playoff clubs, it was highly anticipated on both club’s schedules.  In the first game of the day, the Eclipse shook off some cobwebs and after a 3-3 tie after 4 innings, the Elkton Nine broke out the bats with 5 runs to take a 8-3 lead after 5 innings.  The Eclipse added on run after run until the final score at the end of the first game was 20-10 in favor of the veterans from Elkton.  In the second game of the day, the Cecils jumped out to a 6-1 lead and it looked like they would cruise to a series tie.  However, the Eclipse kept chipping at the lead until it was 9-6 going into the bottom of the 7th inning.  The Eclipse showed that they could play under pressure and scored 3 aces to tie it up after 7 innings in what was to be a 7 inning game.  After holding the Cecils scoreless in the 8th, Glyn “Hammer” Richards was up first in the bottom frame.  One the first pitch, Hammer drilled it over 370 feet and ran safely to all four bases in a game ending home run to sweep the match.

Gothams-Resolutes

On a wonderful day for base ball, the Gotham BBC inaugurated their home field with a match against their long time rivals the Resolutes BBC. Needless to say the Resolutes were resolutely on the field long before the slow Gotham players. The logistics of getting to the field on time by ferry, cart, walking, horse, carriage, and perambulator proved daunting for even the most timely of Gotham player, Bugs. Eventually, the Gotham players showed up and we had a match.
Game 1 1864 Rules The Gotham BBC started the match at the line.  Wickets hit a screeching hit to short stop who threw it away to 1st base.  Wickets would eventually end up at 3rd base.  He scored an ace on Sleepy’s legitimate 3 base hit.  Bugs and Stacks left him standing there.  In the bottom of the frame, the Resolutes scored 0 aces.  In the top of the 2nd frame, Weed got on base but was left at 2nd base by Hanky and Muffin-Ben.  In the bottom of the 2nd frame, the Resolutes scored 2 aces.  In the top of the 3rd frame, Scratch hit a 2 base hit and came home on Keystone’s 1 base hit.  In the bottom of the 3rd frame, the Resolutes did not score.  By the end of the 3rd frame, the score was Gotham BBC 2 Resolutes 2.
In the 4th frame, Sleepy scored an ace on a 1 base hit, stolen base and an out by Smoke.  The Resolutes scored 1 ace in their half of the 4th.  That was the last frame the Gotham BBC scored.  The Resolutes scored 2 more aces in the 6th frame.  The final score was Gotham BBC 3 Resolutes 5.

After a brief respite the teams were rejuvenated for another match. Wickets used his omniscient skills of a master field general and assigned Keystone the responsibility of creating a lineup.  Keystone used his intense research skills and knowledge of his teammate’s batting prowess to place the impressive, yet light hitting, Smoke as the Gotham BBC’s table-setter.  Smoke took to the challenge and didn’t get on base all game.  However, Keystone’s idea of putting Scratch at 5th was brilliant.
The Resolutes scored 0 aces in their half of the frame.  Keystone having seen Smoke fly out to 1b, hit himself aboard, stole 2nd, 3rd and came home on Wickets 1 base hit.  Wickets scared his teammates silly by stealing 2nd and 3rd.  Sleepy relieved his teammates by smacking a massive 4 base hit that allowed Wickets to stroll home. Scratch hit a 1 base hit, stole 2nd and 3rd base.  He was thrown out at 4th base trying to get home on Weed’s 1 base hit to left field. Nice play by the Resolute left fielder.  The Gotham BBC scored 3 aces that frame.  The Resolutes scored 0 aces in their half of the frame. In the 2nd and 3rd frame both teams were kept off the board.  By the end of the 3rd frame, the score was Gotham BBC 3 Resolutes 0.
In the 4th frame, the Resolutes scored 0 aces.  In the bottom of the 4th frame, Sleepy hit a 1 base hit, stole 2 bases and scored an ace on Scratch’s 1 base hit.  He stole 2 bases and came home on Weed’s 1 base hit.  Neither team scored an ace.  In the 6th frame the Resolutes scored their 1st ace.  In the bottom of the 6th frame, Keystone got a 1 base hit, stole 2 bases and came home on Sleepy’s 2 base hit. Sleepy stole 3rd base and came home on Scratch’s 2 base hit.  At the end of the 6th frame, the score was Gotham BBC 7 Resolutes 1.
In the 7th frame neither team scored.  In the 8th frame, the Resolutes did not score.  In the bottom of the 8th frame, Wickets on 2nd base watched Sleepy hit a massive 2 base hit to right field and strolled to 3rd base!  Gadzooks!  Run!  Please! No Gotham scored an ace that frame.  The top half of the 9th frame, the Resolutes scored 2 aces and that’s all they could muster.  The final score was Gotham BBC 7 Resolutes 3.

Chessies-Old Dominions

Under beautiful skies and warm–but thankfully not too warm–weather this past Sunday (May 27) at Jerusalem Mill Village, the Chesapeake Nine of Baltimore opened their home season on the right side of the ledger with two victories over the brand new Old Dominion Nine of Northern Virginia: 7-5 and 11-2.  Both matches were very well played, spirited, sportsmanlike, and enjoyable to take part in, as well they should since the contests were essentially a friendly “family squabble.”
It was a total team effort on Sunday with all Chesapeakes contributing at the dish, in the pitcher’s box, and out in the field.  Of special note, in the first match, Silver Fox cleared the bases with a majestic, three-run single to right field.  ‘Twas Mantle-esque.  In that same match, Vassar, from her position behind the dish, threw out two aspiring OD base thieves in the same inning!  In the second contest, Spanks, occupying the hot corner, closed out the match in style.  Hoping to extend OD’s final at bat, the OD striker sent a blistering one hopper to the hole between third and short.  Spanks lunged out and with one hand speared what looked like a sure hit to left.  He then doubled up the OD runner trying to advance to second.  Two outs in as many ticks of the clock.  Huzzahs to all!

Talbot Downs Diamond States in Front of Hundreds

Hundreds of fans and curious onlookers crowded in to the base ball grounds in Delaware’s capital city of Dover to witness a great match between the Talbot Fair Plays and the host Diamond State BBC of Delaware.  What promised to be a great match up was everything that was advertised as two great clubs squared off.  Terrific defense and timely hitting ruled the day in a very well played match.  Fittingly, the game went in to extra frames and in the 11th inning, Talbot broke though and then held off the Diamond States 10-9 to pick up the victory and improve to 6-1 and remain in first place overall in the MAVBBL.

Lewes Wins Its First Two Games

The Lewes Base Ball Club traveled to Philadelphia Sunday April 29 for many firsts in its short history: first road trip, first victory and first sweep of a double header.  Athletic of Philadelphia plays in a beautiful park by the Centennial Exhibition Hall with the Civil War Memorial looming beyond the outfield.  Lewes struck first with five runs in the first inning but Athletic came roaring back with seven unanswered runs spread across the first, second and third innings.  Neither team tallied any runs in the fourth frame until Lewes broke its three inning scoreless streak plating seven in the fifth.  By the end of the first nine-inning match, Lewes stood victorious, 26-10.

 The two clubs agreed that the second of the twin bill would be a seven-inning affair and the teams took the field.  Coming off its first MAVBBL win ever, the Lewes nine quickly found themselves down 2-0 at the end of the first inning.  Lewes’s confidence was evident however, and coupled with injuries to Philadelphia’s squad, the ball club from Lewes came out swinging in the middle innings tallying 28 runs over the final six frames.  Athletic managed 12 runs in the second of the doubleheader, including scoring on an inspired run-down between home and third. 

 Lewes (2-2) offered hearty thanks to the hospitality of Athletic of Philadelphia (1-3) and looks forward to reciprocating the cordiality on May 6, 2012 in Lewes at the Virden Center Field, 700 Pilottown Road, at 1 pm.

Eastern Visitor Gets “Colo”bered

The Columbus Capitals Base Ball Club from Ohio came to the East Coast in dreams of finishing with a perfect record on their road trip.  They soon found out how good the competition is in New York.  Their first opponent was the defending league champion, Brooklyn Atlantic.  The Atlantic usually rely on their stellar defense to win games, but in the two matches on Saturday against the Capitals, the Atlantic scored 47 runs and walked away with 2 wins under their belt.  In the first game, the home club won 19-4 and then finished off the Columbus club 28-10 in the night cap.  After a night out in the Big Apple, the Capitals met up with the Flemington Neshanock and the Gothams.  In a close match until the 9th inning, the Neshanock gave the Capitals their 3rd straight loss of the weekend.  The Gothams, being the fine hosts they are, allowed the Columbus club one win beofre they left town.

In other MAVBBL news, in Capitol Conference action, the Talbot Fair Plays squeeked by the Potomac Nine in the first game and then handled the Washingtons a second defeat in the second match of the day in Easton, Maryland.  Meanwhile, the Diamond States traved to Rahway to play the Elizabeth Resolutes in a match up of two of the upper tier clubs.  As one would expect, they split in two well played match games.

Mutuals Win Back NY/NJ Cup

On Saturday, April 21, the annual NY/NJ Cup was played at Old Bethpage and the home field of the New York Mutuals.

The New York Mutual BBC defeated the New York Gotham BBC 19-3 in game one.

The Mutuals held off Flemington in game two with a 8-7 victory to win the annual NY/NJ Cup and bring it back home after losing it last year to the NY Gothams.

Tom “Big Bat” Fesolowich pitched the Mutuals to victory in both games.  Evan “Kid” Schuler played a great game behind the dish.  The Mutual offense was led by Rob “Lad” Capriola, Pete “Wheels” Halecky and Rich “Fingers” Effinger who struck the ball hard and showed the ginger on the bases.  Thom “Dirt” Fioriglio and Mike “Fatts” Caliendo kept the Gothams and Neshanocks from tallying aces with solid defense.

The Mutuals and Flemington meet again on May 19th in Belmar, NJ.

Brooklyn Takes Pair From Olneyville

On another beautiful day at the Smithtown Historical Society the Olneyville Temperance Cadets traveled from Rhode Island to play two matches of base ball. Excessive carriage traffic and another athletic event known as “hockey” led to a postponed start-time and a shorthanded Cadet squad. After recruiting some locals to assist the Cadets the games commenced with the Atlantics defense posting an early 0.

 
The top of the Atlantic order gave Frank ‘Shakespeare’ VanZant a four run cushion in the bottom of the 1st and the Atlantics never looked back. The Cadet batters hit the ball hard at times but the superb mixing of pitches and Atlantic defense held the Cadets to 6 runs versus the Atlantic 13. Vincent ‘Tuna’ Aurora, Dean ‘Dreambucket’ Emma and Shakespeare all collected two hits against ‘Blue’ Reilly’s pitching.

 
After a quick break, Shakespeare decided one victory was not enough and to pitch both ends of a doubleheader, this time in an 1864 underhand match.

 
The sterling Atlantic Defense was up to the task and limited the Cadet aces to a total of four. Meanwhile, Nick ‘Butcher’ Baruso, Matt ‘Krawler’ Kouyoumdjian, Kevin ‘Flash’ Harrison, Dreambucket and Tuna each contributed to a lengthy Atlantic lineup with two hits apiece. Dreambuckets two triples and aces put the game out of reach as Shakespeare won the second match 10-4. Both matches were umpired by the ever impartial Ed ‘Pigtail’ Elmore.

 
The Atlantic Base Ball Club next plays on Saturday April 28th at the Smithtown Historical Society against the Columbus Capitals of Ohio at 11AM. The Atlantic Base Ball Club will also be at the Merrick Fair on Sunday April 29th.

In other MAVBBL action, the Elkton Eclipse and Philadelphia Athletic were rained out on Sunday.  No make up date has been announced.

Lewes Plays First Match Ever

April 2, 2012 – Diamond State Base Ball Club opened the new season in fine fashion yesterday with a pair of victories over interstate rival, the Lewes Base Ball Club.  The match was played under sunny skies at Virden Center ball field on the University of Delaware’s Lewes, Delaware campus.  The games were Lewes’ first as full members of the Mid Atlantic Vintage Base Ball League.

The two clubs battled neck and neck for half of the first game with both sides demonstrating fine play in the field.  The Blue and Black separated themselves from the challengers with a 10-run inning and posted a couple of insurance runs, while cruising to a 17-6 win.

Diamond State continued its strong offensive and defensive performances into the second game.  They jumped on Lewes pitchers early and maintained a comfortable lead throughout.  Though the Lewes nine fought valiantly, DSBBC prevailed by a tally of 11-3.

Next up for Diamond State is a road date versus the Cecil Base Ball Club of Chesapeake City.  The match is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 15 beginning at 2:00 p.m. at the Terrapin Station Winery in Rising Sun, Maryland.

Vice-President Johnson Throws Out First Ball of Season

Saturday was Opening Day for Vintage Base Ball on Long Island. On a beautiful sunny day with a light wind, the Vintage season began with ceremonial first pitch by the honorable Vice-President Andrew Johnson. To celebrate the season opener the Atlantics invited the Flemington Neshanock from New Jersey and the Gotham BBC from New York to take part in a round-robin triple header.
The first match between the Flemington Neshanock and the home club Brooklyn Atlantics was umpired by Rafael ‘Wickets’ Garcia of the Gotham BBC and featured a pitching match-up of Richard ‘Tree’ Ness against Robert ‘Bobby’ Ritter The Neshanock batted first but would not score an ace until the sixth inning.  Meanwhile the Atlantics offense methodically tallied aces in bunches to take an 11 run lead through five innings.  The Neshanock scored 5 aces over the last four innings but ultimately fell to the score of 12-5 to the home team. The second match featured the Flemington Neshanock against the New York Gothams umpired by Dean ‘Dream’ Emma. The teams went back and forth, tieing the game at 4 aces each after two innings and 6 aces each at the end of the four innings.  Poor defense by Flemington in the 5th and 6th innings allowed the game to get away and lead to a 17-9 victory for the Gothams.  Excellent defensive play by Oates of the Gothams kept the Neshanock players off the bases for most of the game. The third match of the day between the New York Gothams and Brooklyn Atlantics was umpired by Dirt of the Mutual BBC.  After both clubs scored in their first at bats, the Gothams tallied 7 aces in the third inning on timely hits and some poor defense by the Atlantics.  Meanwhile the Gothams played excellent defense and their pitcher Billy ‘Coach’ Piela kept the Atlantic batters off balance for most of the game.
The Atlantics scored four aces over the final two innings and left two men on base in the 9th to stage a late rally.  However it was too late as the Gothams were victorious by the score of 11-7. In a complete game effort, Frank ‘Hammy’ Obidienzo kept the Gothams scoreless in the final four innings but suffered the first loss of the season. The Atlantics next play on Saturday April 14th at 11AM at the Smithtown Historical Society Grounds against the Providence Grays.  There will be an underhand/overhand doubleheader featuring games played to the rules of both 1864 and 1884..

2012 Season Preperations Begin

While the new year is just around the corner and it seems that Spring is far off, the clubs of the MAVBBL are making preperations for another campaign which kicks off on March 25th and goes right through the end of October 2012. The MAVBBL has expanded once again adding the Lewes Base Ball Club from southern Delaware and the Old Dominion Club of Northern Virginia. Lewes will join Elkton, Philadelphia, Delaware, and Chesapeake City in the Eastern Conference. The Southern Conference will consist of the Talbot Fair Plays, the Chesapeake Nine of Baltimore, the Arundel Excelsiors, the Mechanicsburg Nine, the Potomac Nine of Washington and the Old Dominion BBC of Virginia. Havre de Grace is in the process of re-forming and will merge with the Chesapeakes from Baltimore until they are back on their feet again and will rejoin the Eastern Conference once again. The Northern Conference will once again consist of the Elizabeth Resolutes, the New York Gothams, the Flemington Neshanock, the Brooklyn Atlantics and the New York Mutuals. A new club is forming in Gettysburg as we go to press and will play some matches in 2012. Look for schedules to be posted shortly from each of the clubs as they complete them for the upcoming campaign. The first match is the ever popular Chopper Classic in Elkton at Terrapin Station Winery where Philadelphia will play Chesapeake City and Arundel while Elkton will play Arundel on March 25th. After a week off for clubs to attend the National VBBA Conference at Old Bethpage on March 31 and April 1, the season will kick off in earnest on April 7th. Stay tuned for more details!

Championship Tournament Lives Up to the Hype!

Brooklyn Repeats with 13-7 Triumph

When the six club tournament field was announced for the MAVBBL Championship at Fort DuPont in Delaware everyone knew it was six really good 19th century base ball clubs.  What they didn’t know was how good the games were actually going to be.  On a dreary day in Delaware City, the six clubs assembled to crown the league champ in a season that started in the beginning of April.  In the first game, the heavily favored newly crowned Maryland State Champion Chesapeake City Cecils did not have a very good game defensively and were dropped 10-4 by the host Diamond States.  In the other first round match, the Gothams and Fair Plays went back and forth until Talbot added 2 runs late to advance to the semi finals 16-14.  In the semi finals, the found their old nemisis, the Elkton Eclipse.  In the first inning the Fair Plays struck first with a run before Elkton came back with 4 in their half of the frame.  In what looked like it may be a blow out or at least a high scoring affair, the Eclipse held on to advance to the championship with a 7-5 victory.  They would take on the Brooklyn Atlantics who needed extra innings to get by the upstart Diamond States to reach the championship. 

To defeat the Atlantics a club needs to not give the club from Brooklyn more than 3 outs an inning, and unfortunately, the Eclipse gave away more than the 3 hands dead each inning but in a well played match, the Eclipse were no match for the defensive gems that the Atlantic threw at them as Brooklyn came away with a 13-7 win to win their second straight title.  The Atlantic had a 5 week layoff and while they looked rusty at times, showed enough strength to outlast the field to take home the championship again.  Great job by the Diamond States in hosting this year’s event!

MAVBBL Championship This Weekend

Delaware City, DE– The MAVBBL League Championship Tournament is slated to start Sunday, October 2nd at Ft DuPont in Delaware City, Delaware.  This is the first time the first state will be holding the event which features the top 6 clubs in the league.  Admission and parking are free and the day kicks off at 10:00am and the champion will be crowned around 4:00pm.  Come out and see six of the finest 19th century base ball clubs battle using the same style equipment and uniforms and playing by the same rules and customs of 1864.

At 10:00am, the Talbot Fair Plays will take on the New York Gothams while the Cecil Club of Chesapeake City plays the host Diamond State BBC of Delaware.  Waiting in the wings for the winners are the champion and runner up from last year.  The winner of the Talbot/New York game will play the Elkton Eclipse at Noon while the victor of the Chesapeake City/Delaware match plays the Brooklyn Atlantics.  The 3rd place game will take place at 2:00pm between the Noon losers and then at 2:15 the Championship will take place to determine this year’s league champion.