The Essex Base Ball Club was founded in 2002 by the Danvers Historical Society. We take our name from an actual club playing base ball in Danvers in 1859. The Essex Base Ball Club played its inaugural match on July 1, 2002 vs. the Melrose Pondfielders before 1,000 cranks assembled around an open field in Endicott Park, Danvers, MA. Since then, the EBBC has traveled throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, Maryland, and Connecticut playing & promoting vintage base ball. In 2013 the Essex Base Ball Club will become to travel team for the Essex Base Ball Organization and will host teams from all over the country. We have found several references to clubs calling themselves the Essex Base Ball Club but the newest and most local is a club from Newburyport, MA that played in 1867.
Essex vs. Portsmouth Rockinghams July 4th 1867 #1
Essex vs. Portsmouth Rockinghams July 4th 1867 #2
In 2013 the Essex Base Ball Association will consist of four clubs modeled after clubs that played in Massachusett and New Hampshire in the 19th century. The first of the teams are the Lowell Baseball Nine of Boston, MA. Founded in 1861 they named themselves after John A Lowell a crack ballists at the time and one who helped form the club.
The Lowells played their home matches on Boston Common and were among the best Nines in New England during the late 1860’s.
Team picture of the Lowell Baseball Nine in 1865
Lowell Base Ball Nine 1866
The second club of the association is the Lynn Live Oaks. The Lynn Live Oaks from Lynn, MA played in the International League in 1877 and 1878. The Lynn Live Oaks have several claims to fame the first being that Candy Cumming, the inventor of the curve ball played and managed the club in 1877.
In 1878 African American pitcher Bud Fowler played two games for the Live Oaks.
Bud Fowler
Candy Cumming Hall of Fame plaque
The third club is the Newburyport Clamdiggers. The Clamdiggers played part of the 1885 and 1886 season in the New England League.
1886 Newburyport Clamdiggers
The fourth and newest club of the Essex Base Ball Association is the Portsmouth Rockinghams of Portsmouth, NH. The Rockinghams were a team that played in Portsmouth in 1866 and 1867.
Portsmouth Rockinghams
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Essex Base Ball Club 
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