More photos from Jan’s Pitch

The Essex Base Ball Organization can’t thank Matthew Muise enough for all of the great pictures he took of the league throughout the year. Here are his shots from the Jan’s Pitch for Breast Cancer and the Arts.

Matt brought his student Julia Zanette to the game and her shots are equally as great. Part 1 and Part 2

We would like to thank everyone for a great 2013 season and we have already started planning for 2014. If you would like to schedule a game, demo, lecture, or kids clinic contact Brian “Cappy” Sheehy at historyball@yahoo.com

Jan’s Pitch Fundraiser Recap

The Essex Base Ball Organization and friends finished off the season in grand fashion this past Saturday, as 300 plus cranks and over 30 ballists participated in the first annual Jan’s Pitch for Breast Cancer and the Arts. Throughout the day four games were played but throughout the day scores and what team you played on was not important. What was important was that we raised over $6,000 for breast cancer and an art program at the Arlington School in Lawrence, MA. There are far too many people to thank for helping us create such a great event but thanks must be extended to Jim Dorau at Ipswich Ale, Bethany Groff at Historic New England, Joe Mac DJ, and everyone else who donated their time and money to this event. We are looking forward to planning the same event in 2014.

Photos

Jan’s Pitch for Breast Cancer and the Arts

On Saturday October 19, the Essex Base Ball Organization will host Jan’s Pitch for Breast Cancer and The Arts – a day of vintage base ball, great food, live music and much more at Spencer Peirce Little Farm in Newbury, MA.

The event honors Janice Sheehy, who lost her two-and-a-half year battle with breast cancer earlier this year. Sheehy was a talented and dedicated art teacher in the Lawrence, MA school system – and mother to Brian Sheehy, president of the Essex Base Ball Organization, and Chris Sheehy, captain of the Lowell Base Ball Club.

Proceeds from Jan’s Pitch will be split between Susan G. Komen For The Cure, the world’s largest breast cancer organization, and The Janice Sheehy Art Fund, established to provide materials for the Arlington (Middle) School in Lawrence the opportunity to hold an art show and provide students scholarships to receive art lessons.

The day will include four vintage base ball games beginning at 10am, featuring players from teams based in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut. Vintage base ball is played according to the rules of 1864 – with wooden bats, authentic ‘lemon peel’ baseballs, and no gloves. During and after the games visitors can sample food from local eateries, listen to live music and Joe Mac DJ, enjoy delicious beers from the Ipswich Ale ‘Tap Truck,’ and fine wine from Mill River Winery. Tom Zapalla will be on hand selling his new book “The Cracker Jack Collection: Baseball’s Prized Players”.

Come join us for a great day. Admission is $5. Anyone interested in buying tickets in advance or in making a donation click here. We also have tee shirts for sale

Newburyport Clamdiggers Win Championship

2013 Newburyport Clamdiggers

The Newburyport Clamdiggers were victorious in this weekend’s playoff games, beating the Portsmouth Rockinghams 7-4 in the semi finals and beating the Lowell Nine 10-7 in the championship.

 

Game 1 saw a very well played defensive game by both teams. The Clamdiggers came out on top, but the showing by the first year Rockinghams was very impressive and could have gone in their favor if not for some fine defensive plays by the Clamdiggers.

 

Game 2 was a back and forth battle. The Clamdiggers and Lowell Nine saw the lead change 7 times. The Clamdiggers were down 1 run in the top of the 9th and started the inning off with 4 straight hits and tallied 4 runs in the frame. Facing a 3 run deficit in the bottom of the 9th Lowell threatened with the first two batters getting on base, but good pitching and timely defense led to 3 straight outs and a championship win for the Clamdiggers.

 

A big THANK YOU to all the fans that have made this season a great success. Without you we do not have a league and look forward to seeing you at our Jan’s Pitch event Saturday, October 19th OR at a future game next season!

EBBA on WGBH

Jim “Prince” Bodwell

We would like to thank Edgar Herwick of WGBH’s Greater Boston program for putting together such a great segment on what we are doing at Spencer Peirce Little Farm in Newbury. Click Here for a link to the video