Tough Day at the Diamond….

This past Saturday the Essex Nine traveled to Hudson, MA to take on an alumni team from the High School. Unfortunately for the Essex Nine these inexperienced vintage ballist were experienced modern baseball players and great athletes. Most players new to the vintage game shy away from catching the ball on the fly but these players picked up the style of play in less than an inning and made some great plays to take away hits from the Essex players. Cappy made the mistake of trying out some fair fouls early in the game and the Hudson players took some notes and within no time were ripping them left and right. It was a fun day that saw the Essex Nine fall in defeat 14-6. We would like to thank the alumni for hosting the game and hope that they raised some money for scholarships.

The Essex Nine is back to action Saturday August 28th at 12pm on Georges Island where they will take on the Park Rangers. For more information on how to get to the island http://www.islandalliance.org

Sloppy

A mixture of Essex and Lynn players traveled to New Gloucester Maine to take on the Dirigo BBC. The day was perfect for vintage base ball action but unfortunately the fielding on the Essex side did not live up to the ideal day. Despite numerous errors the Essex/ Lynn contingent was able to win both sides of the doubleheader. The Dirigo team had some new players and everyone is encouraged that vintage base ball seems to be picking up in Vacationland. The Dirigo guys are fine gentlemen and we would like to thank them for their hospitality.

Saturday August 21st the Essex Nine will travel to Hudson, MA to take on a group of Hudson High Alumni. The event will be part of a fundraiser to help raise money for scholarships. An article from the Hudson Sun http://www.wickedlocal.com/hudson/sports/x297560372/Hudson-to-host-old-time-baseball-game

Jammed Pack Weekend

On Saturday the Essex Nine traveled to Brimfield, MA for “The Civil War Reenactment: The Battle of Brimfield”. For the day a local group of softball players put down their metal bats and gloves and tried their hand at 1861 rules. Despite being a little short handed the Essex Nine was able to borrow a few cranks from the crowd to fill out the roster. The Essex Nine expected to control the game from the beginning the experienced softball players sprayed the ball all over the field. The final score was not remembered but a great game of 1861 base ball was played. After the game Brian “Cappy” Sheehy headed over to the main tent and gave a lecture on the history of 19th century base ball.

Sunday a mix of Essex and Lynn players joined the Bristol Blues and Ipswich Brewers out on Georges Island for a full day of games. In the first game Essex/ Lynn battled the Bristol Blues back and forth but ended up victorious 14-10. The Essex/ Lynn squad was aided by a 7th inning in which all 10 of their batters went up to the plate. In the second game the Blues took out their frustrations on the Brewers, winning handily. The last match was an abbreviated affair but once again saw the Essex and Lynn contingent win the match.

A mix of Essex and Lynn players will head up to New Gloucester Maine this Saturday August 14th to take on the Dirigo BBC of Maine.

Celebrating the Babe in Beverly

In the fall of 1919, Babe Ruth and a team of barnstorming Major Leaguers played a game at Cooney Field in Beverly, Massachusetts. Having hit a then-record 29 homers that season, Ruth didn’t disappoint, hitting a prodigious homer completely out of the Cooney Field, to left-center. It was one of Ruth’s last public appearances as a member of the Red Sox. On Saturday, July 31, the Lynn Live Oaks helped Beverly commemorate the game as part of an afternoon-long event featuring the dedication of a monument (unveiled by a Babe Ruth impersonator), stirring renditions of Take Me Out to the Ballgame and The Star-Spangled Banner, and a vintage baseball game pitting the Oaks against the Melrose Pondfeilders. The Melrose lineup, striking well from top to bottom, jumped out to a big early lead and never looked back, winning 16-6. But throughout the game a steady stream of old and new Vintage Baseball fans visited the Live Oaks exhibit to buy baseballs and t-shirts, talk about the history of the game, and add future Lynn and Essex game dates to their calendars. Lynn wishes Melrose good luck in the Rochester, NY tournament this weekend, and looks forward to its own games on Georges Island in Boston Harbor this Sunday August 8th .
Saturday the Essex Nine travels to Brimfield, MA to take on the newly formed Quabog Valley Railroaders at 12pm. For more information on the event click here http://www.hitchcockacademy.org/content/civil-war-reenactment

Sunday Lynn travels to Georges Island in Boston Harbor to take on the Ipswich Brewers and Bristol Blues. 12pm game Lynn vs. Bristol, 1:30pm Ipswich vs. Bristol, 3pm Lynn vs. Ipswich