Providence Grays

A Successful Bethpage

2008-08-06T17:28:00.000-07:00

After what's been a rough season for the Grays on a number of levels, we managed to put in an excellent performance at this year's Base Ball at Old Bethpage festival on August 2nd and 3rd. It was a well-timed boost for everyone who made the trip.

We started on Saturday by beating Elizabeth 18-7. It was a well played game, Scott Olson pitched, and we held the lead most of the way while avoided any disaster innings.

In between games I bought two bats from Bulldog, including an awesome 40" model, which was immediately put into use against Elkon in an 1864 match. After a rain delay of an hour or so, the second game went pretty similarly to the first, Scott pitching, consistent defense, no meltdowns, and we won 10-7.

At that point, half the team called it a day, while the other half, showing the trademark Grays lack of common sense, agreed to fill in for a third consecutive game, making up half of a picked nine to play the Beaneaters, as everyone on Elizabeth, their scheduled opponent, other than Mike Flanigan decided to go home when it was raining. Tony McClellan pitched well in a 13-3 losing effort, with Scott catching.

We then retired to a period barn on the park grounds for the traditional barbecue and a very pleasant surprise. Big Bat, from the New York Mutuals announced that the Old Bethpage Village and the tournament had created the Joe Start award
for "For excellence in historical presentation and dedication to 19th Century Base Ball," and that the Grays were the award's first recipients. This was, needless to say, very gratifying, especially when it feels like the vintage game as a whole is getting less accurate rather than moreso.

Our first game Sunday was against the Boston Beaneaters, who have basically pummeled us in previous engagements. Yesterday, Mike Duggan pitched a fine game for us, and we grappled them into a 7-7 tie after 9 innings, at which point our time was up, and we had to move onto the next game. We blew a few chances to put the game away in the final innings, but in this case a tie has to count as a significant upset for the Grays.

The final game against the Glen Head Zig Zags was equally close, with Mike again pitching a second consecutive game in another display of Grays imprudence. This time we sealed the deal winning 13-12, with Eric Olson boldly charging home from third on a come-backer to the pitcher by EAC member Mike Flanigan, who filled in at center field in both games.

All in all, it was the best weekend the Grays have had in a long time.

Team photo by Ray Shaw, see more of his photos from the festival here.

Wincing at the old ball game

2008-06-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

Ed Achorn has a nice feature on the Grays in today's ProJo.

Grays Open Practice Season Indoors

2008-03-08T09:41:00.001-08:00

Just as the historical Grays had space to work out under the grandstand at the Messer Street Grounds, and the 19th century Brown base ball team worked out at Sayles Hall, the contemporary Grays will start the season with an informal workout at the Moses Brown indoor batting cage, 9:00 AM on Sunday, March 9. Directions:

Folks should park in the lot off Hope St. which is right at the intersection of Hope St and Thayer St, just south of the Hope High Tennis Courts. Once parked, walk up the little hill towards all the school buildings. The field house is the large building with the curved roof towards the left. Use the West entrance of the field house which is nearest the baseball diamond. I will keep this door open. Once inside, the room with the cage in it will be on your left.

Grays Open Practice Season Indoors

2008-03-08T09:41:00.000-08:00

Folks should park in the lot off Hope St. which is right at the intersection of Hope St and Thayer St, just south of the Hope High Tennis Courts. Once parked, walk up the little hill towards all the school buildings. The field house is the large building with the curved roof towards the left. Use the West entrance of the field house which is nearest the baseball diamond. I will keep this door open. Once inside, the room with the cage in it will be on your left.

First Grays Practice March 16th -- New & Prospective Players Invited

2008-02-27T19:29:00.000-08:00

The Grays official first practice of 2008 will be March 16th at 9:00 AM at Ardoene Field in Providence. The full practice schedule and game schedule (still being completed) can be seen here.

The Grays are actively looking for new players. More details here.

New Grays Site Launched

2007-12-06T20:34:00.001-08:00

The Providence Grays insist on a website update every ten years to keep up with the latest technology. Thus, our new website, featuring over 200 photographs from 10 years of Grays vintage base ball.

Enjoy.

Elmwood Little League Gets Lights!

2007-12-06T20:26:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to our friends in the Elmwood Little League for getting lights installed on their major league field.

We don't know how they found gas lights that bright, but we're excited for them and planning an exhibition between the Grays and some of their coaches to inaugurate the lights in the spring.

The Grays Return To Providence, September 29

2007-09-25T17:54:00.000-07:00

The Providence Grays Vintage Base Ball Club is proud to return to Providence to play their first game within the city limits in several years, facing off against the Elizabeth Athletic Club at on Saturday, September 29 at 1:00 PM, at Joseph Williams Field (map below).

We will play two games, one with the rules and equipment of 1884, the year the original Grays won their second National League pennant and the first World's Championship of base ball, and the second corresponding to 1891, a key year for the original Elizabeth Athletic Club.

The EAC is a regular opponent of the Grays. They maintain a high level of historical accuracy and usually provide a tight contest. Hope to see you there.

Also, a trailer for Wooden Bats and Dusty Hands: The Grays, a documentary shot several years ago about the club, is now available on YouTube, if you want a little preliminary feel for the action.

Joseph Williams Field is located on the map below. The Elmwood neighborhood provides an excellent setting for vintage base ball. Joseph Williams Field lies across Adelaide Avenue from Roger Williams Park, a restored Victorian pleasure park, with period houses lining the adjoining streets. Babe Ruth played for the International League Grays at Melrose Park, formerly located a half-mile north of Joseph Williams. Another half-mile north of there, in 1875 the Adelaide Avenue Grounds hosted two games on the schedule of the National Association, considered the first major league.

View Larger Map

Split in Woonsocket

2007-09-16T11:17:00.000-07:00

On October 6, 1884, the Providence Grays found themselves in Buffalo without a healthy pitcher. Rather than pull someone out of the stands or ask Charlie Radbourn to pitch left-handed, they limped through the game by using their right fielder, shortstop, and center fielder in the box. Buffalo beat them, 13-7.

On September 15, 2007, the Grays repeated this experiment in Woonsocket, R.I., with better results. The team's three regular pitchers, S. Olson, Dryer, and Lucas, were all unavailable. Nor were the star catcher Gilligan Faria, or other regular players such as E. Bratt and E. Olson. "Old Reliable" Travers, once considered the best pitcher in base ball until his golden left arm went lame two years ago, was assigned to umpire. The opponents were the Cornish Game Hens of Providence, no easy competition even with a full complement of Grays on hand. Four pitchers were thrown into the fray for the double-header: Bogosian (who has pitched on rare occasions in the past), and then McClellan, Stattler, and Duggan (none of whom ever expressed any previous ambitions as a pitcher). Catching this assortment were Captain Dryer (not a catcher by trade, and hobbled by numerous injuries even before the fusilade started) and Grist, who had not appeared in a game in months. "Sauerkraut" Watson, a veteran of the Grays' first campaign way back in 1998, was also pressed into duty. He was a fine infielder "back in the day" but was making his first appearance of the season.

The Grays fell quickly behind in the first game by a score of 8 to 1. Bogosian threw a speedy ball and had good control of it, but he needed a Gilligan to catch him. After catcher Dryer limped after one too many balls to the backstop, a change was made, with McClellan, the newest nember of the team, sent in to pitch. McClellan did not look like a pitcher in the box, but he pitched like a pitcher. Dryer was able to handle his soft tosses, but the Game Hens were not able to solve his delivery. The game was halted by a brief scare when Hens catcher V. Torilli took a foul ball to his throat. He was able to walk off the field on his own power (accompanied by a round of champion's applause) and was taken to a local physician, who removed Torilli's damaged neck, re-attached his head, and sent him back to the field to lead his troops from the bench. Meanwhile the Grays remembered their hitting strokes and mounted a furious sustained rally, finally taking the lead in the eighth inning and winning by a score of 16-13.

After the game, Captain Dryer was removed from the field in a wheelbarrow and taken to the glue factory like a worn-out old hoss. In his battered delerium, he gasped out instructions that Stattler was to pitch the second game, and that Stattler was also to serve as acting captain. As Stattler had never pitched an overhand game in his ten-year base ball career, expressions of alarm were heard throughout the Grays camp. Stattler took the box in accordance with Dryer's wishes, and made his best attempt to imitate the motions of other pitchers he had observed from his customary perch in right field over the years. In three innings of work, he struck out one Hen and walked none, but recused himself from further box work after the Grays fell to a 10-0 deficit. Duggan took the ball and looked much more like a pitcher, keeping catcher Grist on the hop. Grist is one of the liveliest catchers in base ball. Although he sees only limited playing time, he still leads the league in running into fences at full speed. He somehow got through the game with his limbs and skull intact. Hens hurler Blue Reilly proved a puzzler as always, and was nearly unhittable except for the fifth inning, when he allowed the Grays to score nine runs. Then he grew serious once again. He relies upon guile and has a "hat trick" which the Grays fell for again and again. He is also to be commended for pitching an entire game, which none of the day's other pitchers were able to accomplish. The game ended with score Hens 19, Grays 10, which given the personnel at hand, was a closer score than the Grays had any right to expect.

Noted in passing:

The games were played at Renauld Field in Woonsocket, site of the semi-legendary "Old Hoss Cup" tourneys of 1999, 2000, and 2001. Thanks to Ray Bacon, the cheerful co-proprietor of the Museum of Work and Culture, for his gracious hospitality, and to the proprietors of the Cracovia restaurant for supplying the teams with kielbasa sausages between games.

Before the games, several of the Grays, including Hoffman, Dryer, and Duggan, spent an hour teaching local youths how to play base ball. Karl Allaire, a veteran professional of the gloved base ball circuit, also taught the children his variant of the game. The Grays have been seeing more and more of these leathern gloves of late, and suspect they may be more than a passing trend.

The games of the 15th ended the long season's series between the Hens and Grays. The Hens won four official games, and the Grays won three in addition to a four-inning exhibition game. We would declare the Hens the official Rhode Island champions except for the Bristol Blues, who have beaten both the Hens (twice) and Grays (once) this season. The Blues and Hens will face off on September 29. If Bristol wins, they must be regarded as state champions. If the Hens win two games on the 29th, the picture will be more cloudy, so the Coventry Citizens will probably be declared champions, as they have not won or lost all season long.

How did the Grays acquit themselves so well on the 15th without any of their famous veteran stars? The secret of this year's team is the strong play of its younger regular players. Outfielders B. Bratt, Bogosian, and Hoffman are all fluent in every aspect of the game, though they rarely get the opportunity to patrol the outer garden simultaneously. What team can boast three fly-catchers of that caliber? B. Bratt in particular should hardly be a secret at this point, as he has been the regular center-fielder since 2003, but opponents seem to remember him only as "that fellow in the ragged pants who beat us last year." Bogosian is oft-injured but is perhaps the swiftest player on the club when well, and is blessed with a powerful throwing arm. Hoffman has undertaken a rigorous training program, and has this year become a fearsome batsman as well as a steady left fielder. Moving to the infield, few teams can boast a slugging third baseman who can smack the ball as far as Dusel; his double to the center field fence in Game Two was a thing of beauty. And the team's two remaining first-year players are both great successes. The Grays have tried "Tony" McClellan at almost every position this season, hoping he will prove a failure so they may sign him for a lower contract. However, he excels at them all with cheerful efficiency and grace. Pitcher, catcher, outfield, infield are all the same to him. The other youngster, "Mike" Duggan, has been asked to show less versatility, as he established himself as the king shortstop during his first practice back in April. He may be the smoothest shortstop in the team's long history, and makes his presence known with the Burlingame bat in his hands as well.

Stattler has apparently played his last game with the Grays. He is said to be leaving for New York at the end of the month. He had hoped to boost his negotiating power with a strong pitching performance, but would be advised to leave that effort off his base ball resume. At the end of the second game, Umpire Travers presented him with the official scorecard and the game ball as mementos.

Woonsocket on September 15

2007-09-12T14:39:00.000-07:00

The Grays will play two games in Woonsocket against our local rivals, the Game Hens, at noon on September 15.

The games will be played at Renaud Field, Newland Avenue, Woonsocket. Take Route 146 to Route 99 North, the Woonsocket Industrial Highway. Follow that to the end and make a left on Route 122, Cumberland Hill Road. About a mile down the road, make a right on Newland Avenue, and follow it to the end. Renaud Field is part of Cass Park at the end of the road.

The day will begin with a youth clinic at 10:30 a.m., in which members of the Grays and local professional ballist Karl Allaire will instruct children in base ball techniques. The two games, played by 1884 and 1886 rules, will begin at noon. Admission is free.

This event is hosted by Woonsocket's Museum of Work and Culture, and sponsored by the Ciy of Woonsocket, the Woonsocket Teacher's Guild, and local star ballist Rocco Baldelli.

The Grays' performance at the late Roxbury N.Y. festival on September 1 and 2 was never mentioned on these pages. The Grays played brilliantly on the first day, beating two strong teams (Hancock and Elizabeth) by comfortable margins, Olson holding them to a combined five runs in pitching both games. However, the wheels fell off the Providence train in the finals on Sunday, Roxbury winning the championship by a score of 25 to 9. Thanks to Peg Ellsworth and the town of Roxbury for another great tournament. The Grays' record now stands at 15 and 9.

Split with the Atlantics

2007-08-25T17:28:00.000-07:00

The Grays felt fortunate to split today's double-header with the Brooklyn Atlantics in Narragansett. The Atlantics came into the game with a 25-4 record and are by any measure one of the best teams in vintage base ball.

The first game was one of the best-played games of the year, played by the Grays' own 1884 rules in front of an enthusiastic crowd which numbered in the dozens in addition to the usual cluster of family members and retired players. Scott Olson turned in another pitching gem. After years of excellence at third base, center field, shortstop, and catcher, he has become a real star pitcher as well (next he may be tried in right field to test the full range of his talents). Brooklyn countered with some fine work by "Shakespeare" Van Zant. Heading into the ninth inning, the Grays clung to a 5-4 lead. "Tree" Ness, leading off for the Atlantics, took two strikes but then managed to work Olson for a base on balls. He made his way to third base with two outs. His son "Toothpick" Ness then bunted at the ball, blocking it with his bat in such a way that it rolled just a few feet in front of home plate. Pitcher, catcher, batter, first baseman and right fielder converged on the baseline in a confusing throng as "Tree" raced home, a desperate throw to first was made but not held, and thus the score was tied. Bunting at the ball is not a manly approach to batsmanship, of course, but this one was skillfully executed and temporarily saved the day for the Atlantics. With the score tied in the bottom of the ninth, E. Bratt led off for Providence with a well-struck hit to left. A wild pitch and a passed ball brought him to third base with one out. Hoffman came to the plate for Providence and sent a stinging line drive directly at the third baseman's feet. Almost no man would have caught that ball, even with futuristic leathern gloves. The third baseman blocked the ball nicely, but it rolled softly to his left as Bratt raced home with the winning run. Final score, 6-5 Providence.

After beating the Atlantics in such a thrilling manner, the Grays briefly fancied themselves the Champions of 2007. As they took their positions for the next contest, they continued to replay the dramatic ninth inning in their minds, their reveries only occasionally broken by the whizzing of line drives past their in their swollen heads. The Atlantics, playing by their familiar 1864 rules, demonstrated their prowess in raining down two-hop soft line drives upon the Providence outfielders, and circulated around the bases at an alarming rate. By the sixth inning, Providence was merely striving for dignity runs and finding precious few of them. The final score was 17 to 6.

The Providence record for the season is now 13-8. Considering the exceptional strength of the team's schedule, this record is something to be proud of. Strong performances in the remaining games may still give Providence one of the best records in the game. Next up: the annual tournament in Roxbury, N.Y. on September 1 and 2.

Noted in passing:

"Arnie" Lucas umpired both games. He has developed into one of the better umpires in the game despite his youthful age. With his great size, and carrying a large bat as a cane, he inspires very little kicking at his decisions.

Thanks to the semi-retired Providence second baseman Jason Considine for making arrangements for these games with the town of Narragansett. The field was lovely, the promotion thorough, and the presence of an official scorekeeper appreciated.

Outfielder Stattler has been making noise about a pay raise, as he has been earning the same salary since 1998. In addition to his work on the field, he also sells scorecards at the games, and has served dutifully as treasurer in the Providence Base Ball Association's luxurious mahogany-panelled counting house. However, President Norton has been reluctant to accede to his demands when such strong-hitting outfielders as Hoffman, B. Bratt, and Bogosian are already under contract. The Brooklyn Atlantics, playing in a larger city and drawing larger crowds, have promised to double Stattler's salary. It appears that Norton may sell Stattler's release to Brooklyn in the off-season for some small sum, bringing the matter to an amicable conclusion for all concerned parties.

First baseman Brian "Old Reliable" Travers missed his first games of the season. He has only missed seven since joining the team in 2000, and one of them was a town-ball exhibition played against small children in a farm field.

Games in Narragansett

2007-08-22T12:16:00.000-07:00

The Grays have two exciting games scheduled for Saturday August the 25th in Narragansett, R.I. Two games will be played, starting at 11 a.m. 1864 and 1884 rules will be demonstrated. The visiting team will be the Brooklyn Atlantics, one of the most talented, entertaining, and historically accurate teams in vintage base ball. These games will be true test of the Grays' recent resurgence. The Atlantics will also face the Bristol Blues on the following day.

The games will be held at Sprague Field: take Route I-95 to Route 4 heading south. Route 4 merges into Route 1 south. Then take the first Wakefield exit; at the top of the exit ramp take a left. Go back over the highway and take a right at the first stop sign. Follow the road down the hill and look for Narragansett Elementary School. The entrance to the field is immediately beyond the school. The nearest address is 55 Mumford Road, Narragansett, R.I.

Practice to be held

2007-08-15T10:44:00.000-07:00

To prove beyond doubt that the Grays mean business, Captain Dryer has announced a rare mid-season practice for Saturday August 18. It will be held from 8:45 a.m. until approximately 11 a.m. at Mello Field on Route 114 in East Providence, just north of Route 44. Prospective players are invited to attend.

Bethpage festival

2007-08-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

The Grays had a triumphant weekend at the 10th annual Vintage Base Ball Festival in Old Bethpage, New York. The festival is held on two beautiful fields in the birthplace of vintage base ball, and serves as a sort of family reunion for teams across the northeast. Though there is no formal championship at this wonderful event, the Grays won all four games they played, and demonstrated to all observers that they can still be a mighty force.

The team's two Saturday games were played by 1884 rules. The simplest way to win an 1884 game is to have a great pitcher and a great catcher to hold him. Check and check. Scott Olson pitched both games and Gililigan Faria caught for a total of sixteen grueling innings each. In the first game, they beat the Providence Game Hens 9 to 5, a well-played game that was marred only by the serious disablement of two Hens, one of whom fractured his leg in a third-base collision. We wish him the quickest possible recovery. His place was taken by hard-hitting Brian Sheehy of the Beaneaters, however, so the Grays did not profit from the Hens' misfortune. In the second game, Olson took the ball against the Elizabeth Athletic Club, who are perhaps as evenly matched with the Grays as any team could be. The Grays struggled with Flanagan's left-handed rising submarine pitches, but Olson and Faria were invincible and won the game by a score of 2 to 1, one of the great defensive battles the Grays have ever fought. Both teams deserved to win.

Has there ever been a pair of vintage ballists who have played together for as long and as brilliantly as Scott Olson and Gilligan Faria? Olson has distinguished himself at every spot on the diamond and has been called the most powerful hitter in vintage base ball. Gilligan is, of course, the master catcher, and impresses every observer from veteran to novice with his pitch-blocking and throwing. They have both been among the greatest players in the game for ten years now, playing in nearly every game of a grueling schedule. The Miklich-Jordan duo of the Mutuals would be the strongest competition for the honor that this writer is familiar with. However, our vote is for the two modest men from Bristol, Rhode Island. Alongside Charlie Dryer and Brian Travers, who have been with the Grays nearly as long, the team has counted on star performance at the key positions (pitcher, catcher, first base, and shortstop) for many years now. They have each played in at least 200 games for the Grays. Without slighting the contributions of many other fine players, this core is the main reason why the Grays have been able to compete with the best teams in the sport so consistently for so many years.

While Saturday's games spotlighted Olson and Gilligan, Sunday's games were a true team effort. The first game was against the new Bridgeport Orators team by 1864 rules. The Grays won 9-2, scoring most of those runs late in the game. The Orators look to have a bright future on the ball field, though it has not quite arrived. They are young, athletic, play with great respect for the game and its history, and most importantly they field nicely without gloves. Batting in a bound-rules game is a distinct skill, and these lads will soon translate their long fly balls into stinging line drives. The second game was a victory over the Hartford Dark Blues by 1876 rules. Since the previous week, the Dark Blues were bolstered by the return of their captain and star Greg Franks, and also filled out their ranks with three of the Bridgeport players. They took an early lead over the Grays, and after seven innings the Grays lead was only 9-8, but the Grays drove their horses hard in the final innings to win 16-8. Every one of the Grays earned their salary in these Sunday games: Captain Dryer with tricky underhand pitching, Dusel and Lucas with zesty slugging, Hoffman with several pretty catches in left, Travers with some fancy scoops at first base, McClellan with several rolling bound catches behind the plate, Duggan with the catch of the day at shortstop, Stattler with a couple of his old-fashioned fair-foul hits, and Eric Olson acquitting himself well in the unfamiliar territory of centre field until a warren of rabbit holes caught his ankle and ended his afternoon.

Thus ended a fine festival. Many thanks as usual to Mssrs. Fesolowich, Miklich, Jordan, Monti, Higham, and all the other members of the Bethpage base ball community who umpired, scheduled, raked, and hauled water to make this festival live up to its longstanding reputation as a highlight of the summer.

Noted in passing:

Ken Schlapp's Gothams looked like they have been doing some recruiting, pulling off a decisive victory. But were those new recruits really "Dean the Dream" and "Flash" of the Atlantics earning extra pay on their off day, or just look-alikes?

Old-time base ball cranks were glad to see old Mutuals star Tom "Kid Speed" Heinlein pitching for a local team. He was thought to be permanently sidelined with back troubles, but he looked spry beating out an infield single in his halcyon form. He may be no kid at this point, but "Sir Speed" still fits nicely.

Base ball historian David Nemec was on hand peddling his collected works; his great "The Beer and Whiskey League" occupies a prominent place on the shelves of many ball-players. He was also offering a work of fiction, "Early Dreams," which tells the story of a journeyman player in 1884. Time permitting, a review will follow.

Mike Paes of the Bulldog Bat Company was also on hand, showing off his fine craftsmanship as well as taking the field with his nine, the Newtown Sandy Hooks. He talks of entering the base ball manufacturing realm.

The annual cook-out was held at the ball-grounds this year, rather than at a players' home. This was probably done to thwart the Providence nine's annual dominance at the horseshoe pit.

The Neshanock club of Flemington looked stylish in their new floppy caps. Captain Shaw is said to keep a small rodent under his hat, who helps him in his field decisions.

Luck was not with the Game Hens. After their tough loss to the Grays, they lost very close games to Elizabeth and the gritty Glen Head Zig Zags. A handful of runs would have given them a sweep.

The Eclipse club of Elkton, Maryland once again took the prize for the longest journey to Bethpage.

Recent games

2007-08-03T05:01:00.000-07:00

On July 28, the Grays went to the Hen House in Warwick to play the Boston Beaneaters. Scott Olson held the dreaded Beaneaters in check for seven innings with a 6-5 lead. Unfortunately, base ball games last for nine innings, and the Beaneaters remembered their thunderous batting skills and won 17-6. The loss was still encouraging, as the Grays seem to be coming at least within range of the Boston boys, and may yet beat them someday soon. The Beaneaters then went on to beat the host Game Hens 16-2, making the Grays feel better about their own loss.

On July 29, the Grays went to Hartford to play two underhand games against the Hartford Dark Blues, winning both games by comfortable margins. The Grays and Dark Blues have had a special affinity since forming a joint squad to attend the 2003 Silver Ball tournament in Rochester, N.Y.

This coming weekend, August 4 and 5, the Grays will be attending the tenth annual Vintage Base Ball Festival in Old Bethpage Village on Long Island, playing two games each day. The Grays have beena fixture at this festival since 1998, and it is always a highlight of each season.

This weekend's games

2007-07-27T05:29:00.000-07:00

The Grays have two dates this weekend.

On Saturday July 28, they will play in a mini-tournament at the Game Hens' home field on Wayne Street off Warwick Avenue in Warwick. The Grays will begin against the much-feared Boston Beaneaters at 11 a.m., with the winner to face the Game Hens.

On Sunday July 29, the Grays will face the Hartford Dark Blues, one of the grand old teams of vintage base ball, at their home field at South Winsdor High School, 161 Nevers Road, South Windsor, Connecticut. Games will start at 11 a.m.

Home-runs sink the Grays

2007-07-17T05:14:00.000-07:00

The Grays lost two more games to the Providence Game Hens on Saturday, July 14, on a hot, dry day. Frequent gusts of wind drove enormous clouds of sand across the Mello Field infield, sometimes obscuring the flight of the ball. In short, it was like every day of the year: a beautiful day for base ball.

The first game was lost by the unpleasant score of 23-13. The Hens won on the strength of very strong batting. They made four home-runs over the distant fences, including three of the consecutively. The Hens are normally a strong nine, but had never been known to put on this sort of display before. They won the battle, but the home runs may cause them to lose the war. New York Clipper scribe Henry Chadwick, who knows more about base ball than any man living, insists that over the course of a long season, the effort expended in this sort of activity will surely tend to wear down the energy of even strong, clean-living young athletes like the Hens. More importantly, no spectators will ever pay to see sluggers flailing away at the ball like so many lumberjacks.

After the first game, President Norton dispensed with the services of the professional umpire and donned the gray jacket himself. While this was obviously done to reduce expenses on the home grounds, Norton also officiated a fair game, stood bravely behind the catcher, and survived with his nose intact.

In the second game, played by 1886 rules, the Hens were clearly exhausted by their thunderous home-run bat-swinging and base-running, and made only eight runs. Several of their players also had to retire from the field due to the strain, and they finished the last inning with only seven men. However, the Grays were no better off, and lost by a score of 8-4.

The Grays' record now stands at 6-6. The club won its first six games, and has now lost six in a row (discounting the abbreviated exhibition victory). They are falling behind in the chase for the pennant, and need to demonstrate more moxie to regain their winning ways.

One curious feature of the day was the fact that none of the pitchers for either team in the double-header was able to complete their game. Their delicate arms were apparently being rested for some other pursuit. Home-runs! Change pitchers! The late exhibition of futuristic base ball by the Pawtucket Red Stockings has apparently influenced both teams. Perhaps next we will see Bryon Bratt and Neal Bogosian patrolling the out-field with a large leathern gloves on their hands? Let us pray not!

Schedule change / Farewell, Temple

2007-07-11T19:36:00.000-07:00

The Grays have announced an emergency schedule change for the upcoming weekend. The team will play this SATURDAY July 14 only, from 11 to 4 at Mello Field in East Providence against their local rivals, the Providence Cornish Game Hens. The Grays will rest on Sunday the 15th.

Both of this weekend’s previously scheduled dates have been canceled. The Grays will not be traveling to Connecticut on Saturday, nor will they be playing anywhere on Sunday. Ball-playing remains illegal on the Sabbath-day, of course. This does not normally deter the Grays, but Sabbath activists have apparently tipped off the constables about this date, and the game has been quietly postponed to prevent fines and arrests.

In other news, one of the club’s best young players has defected to an outlaw team. Jeff Temple, a promising second baseman, has been poached by a Texas club and will commence playing with them immediately. Jeff has made a big impression during his three months with Providence, and has quickly become one of the team’s most popular players. With a family to support, his decision was understandable, as the Texas contract was said to be quite extravagant. In short, the Cincinnati Red Stockings were the ones who polluted base ball with their switch to overt professionalism in 1869, and we can no longer expect players to remain loyal to their employers as they were in the amateur days. Fare thee well, Jeff!

Although Temple was very well-regarded here and leaves no debts with the local shopkeepers, the reserve rule against contract-jumping must be enforced. He will thus be blacklisted from the National League for his contract violation, until some team petitions for his reinstatement. President Norton, who also serves on the board of the Old Stone Bank, has also arranged to have Temple’s bank account frozen as a punitive measure, and a committee of the club’s board has been appointed to spread malicious rumors about Temple through the Texas newspapers. These measures should serve to promote loyalty and team spirit among the remaining club members.

Victory at McCoy Stadium

2007-07-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

The Grays chose the right day to play their finest ball of the season, winning a 9-2 match over the Providence Game Hens in front of hundreds of enthusiatic cranks at Pawtucket's McCoy Stadium. The highlight was a fine fielding play by infielders Mike Duggan and Brian Travers. Jeff Temple made something resembling a home-run with a long hit to right field, although the official scorer may have another description for it. Captain Dryer almost made a home-run of his own with a long foul ball. Arnie Lucas was the winning pitcher, throwing a speedy ball estimated by stopwatch to be upwards of 65 miles per hour. McClellan, Giammarco, Grist, Faria, Hoffman, E. Olson, Bogosian, Stattler and both the Bratts all made contributions in a true team effort. Hoffman, in conjunction with the artisans at the D.W.R.I. Letterpress Company, created handsome and tasteful scorecards which were distributed to the spectators. Many rival ballists were in attendance from rival clubs such as Essex, Coventry, Bristol, Mudville, and New Hampshire.

The game was curtailed after four innings, and thus was not an official game. This was done to accomodate a special exhibition of gloved base ball which President Norton arranged as an unusual spectacle for the regular patrons. The two teams were the Knight Base Ball Club of Charlotte, and the Pawtucket Red Stockings, who style themselves the "Pawsox." These teams count only four balls for a base on balls, are not permitted to select their own strike zones, and most importantly wear enormous leather baskets upon their hands with with to catch flies. These baskets did allow for some pretty infield plays, but seemed to hinder the out-fielders; the Pawtucket right fielder dropped one easy fly any of the Grays or Game Hens could have caught. He was said to be a superior player, much courted by the big clubs, and may not have been accustomed to the device. Despite the difficulty of use, these gloves may serve to reduce injuries, and some wide-awake sporting goods manufacturer such as Spalding or Martin may find a market for selling them to ladies' boarding schools who have started ball clubs, so as to protect their delicate hands. As for the Red Stockings and Knights, they appeared to be a lively and athletic bunch, and would readily find a place on any 1884 base ball club should they some day decide to set their baskets aside.

Homecoming day

2007-06-22T19:54:00.000-07:00

The Grays lost a close game to the Bristol Blues on Friday June 22, by a score of 16-13. The game was played at the Bristol Common, scene of the Grays' first game back in 1998, and so many other thrilling moments in the intervening years. The Blues and Grays have shared such a long acquaintance that the result hardly seemed to matter, as the stiff-jointed veterans of both clubs recounted anecdotes from their fabled 2000 tour of Vermont, or compared crooked fingers that have been accumulated on the field of play. Several of the Providence veterans of that first 1998 game turned out at the Common to watch the proceedings, with what seemed to be a wistful look in their eyes.

The game itself was interesting, though lacking in a certain intensity. Some say evening base ball cannot be made to pay, but this game featured a good crowd. However, the players had difficulty arriving at the field by 6 p.m. after hard days at the docks or in the counting-house. Despite a threatening sky, nine innings were played before nightfall.

The score veered wildly back and forth, from a 3-0 Providence lead to a 9-3 Bristol lead to a 9-9 tie by the fifth inning. Bristol then brought in a lady hurler who the Grays were quite unable to solve. Gentlemanly deference is no excuse, as the team was trying their dogged best. Bristol built a solid lead which a ninth-inning Providence rally was scarcely able to dent.

Right fielder Stattler was able to make one of his trademark plays, throwing out a Bristol runner at first base on an apparent single. However, Stattler has yet to make a safe hit of his own for the 2007 season, and some whisper that he may be a "back number." His contract ought to be traded to some New York team while it can still fetch something in return.

Spirits remained high after the loss, and many of the Grays retired to Aidan's Pub, the site of many of the earliest team meetings in 1998 and 1999, where several team members were seen to raise a glass in full view of President Norton. Discipline would have undoubtedly been better enforced if a game was scheduled for the following day.

The Grays are now 0-2 against the Blues when rainbows have appeared in the outfield.

The Grays next take the field at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket on July 1 at 11 a.m., against the Providence Game Hens. In a departure from the team's usual practice, an admission fee will be charged and advance tickets may prove necessary. After the conclusion of this contest, spectators are invited to remain for a curious exhibition of futuristic baseball, in which the Pawtucket Red Sox are to wear large leather gloves upon their hands.

Crushing defeats

2007-06-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

The Grays suffered two crushing defeats against the Boston Beaneaters aggregation on June 16. The Grays, as usual, had strong team spirit, the poise of veterans, and a fierce desire for victory. The Beaneaters countered these intangibles with powerful hitting, overwhelming pitching, and flawless defense. The precise scores are not important, but scientists in China have estimated from seismic devices that they were somewhere in the range of 30-7 and 17-1. On the bright side, we did score in each game, and avoided being "Chicagoed" as we were last year. New shortstop Mike Duggan was the only one of the Grays who seemed much inclined to batting.

Tony McClellan made his debut for the Grays. He is a promising outfielder, and said to be a son of General McClellan from the late war between the states. By all accounts, he bears little responsibility for the defeats. We hope he and the Grays may soon taste victory. After winning the first six games, the Grays have now lost three.

The next game is on Friday June 22 against the Bristol Blues, in our annual independence commemoration. Play will be by 1861 rules, and will commence at 6 p.m.

Boston Beaneaters make their first visit

2007-06-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

The Grays will host the new Boston Beaneaters club on Saturday June 16 at Mello Field, located on Route 114 in East Providence, just north of Route 44. The doubleheader will begin at approximately 11:30 a.m.

The Beaneaters are a new team, but composed largely of vintage base ball veterans. Essentially, as we understand, they are players from 1860s-era teams who enjoy playing overhand ball on the side. As described at http://essexbaseball.wordpress.com/page/3/:

"The Essex Base Ball Organization will have a new team in 2007, the Boston Beaneaters. The Beaneaters, a team modeled after the National League team that played in the late 1880’s, will be made up of members of the Essex Nine and Waterbury Connors. The team will play exclusively overhand rules and will participate in several tournaments in 2007. The team hopes that the skillful pitching in 2006 of Chris ‘The Monkey” Sheehy and Jim “Crazy Legs” Wigren will carry over to 2007. "

This seems to be a similar conglomeration to the one which crushed the Grays last year under the Waterbury name. The Beaneaters also recently beat the dreaded Hartford Senators by a decisive score.

Practice planned

2007-06-08T05:37:00.001-07:00

Captain Dryer, disappointed by the team's recent performance against the Game Hens, has called a practice for Sunday, June 10 at 8:45 a.m. We will practice at Colt State Park, probably on ther town ball fields to the right of the main entrance road. Please join us if you are interested in joining the team.

Several local games will follow in the coming weeks. See the schedule for details.

Hard-fought battles at the Hen House

2007-05-21T05:29:00.000-07:00

The Grays are no longer undefeated, after splitting a double-header against the Providence Game Hens on May 20. The team's record now stands at 6 wins and 1 loss.

These contests, held at the Hen House in Warwick, featured two of the most ornery teams in base ball. Several players on each team had obviously not observed their 10 p.m. curfews the evening before. Base ball captains take note: if stiff fines are levied for these offenses, players will soon learn to behave in a more temperate manner.

Against all odds, the two games were played with a high degree of sportsmanship and friendly competition. The Grays had thirteen uniformed players on hand, in addition to an entourage of several retired players, stockholders, and other well-wishers. Captan Dryer made good use of all thirteen players, as three men suffered minor injuries. (Definition of minor injury: player was forced to discontinue play, but no ambulance was required, nor was the field surgeon required to make use of his saw).

The first game was a 15-9 victory for the Grays by 1886 rules, led by Scott Olson's pitching and a strong eighth-inning rally. The result of the second game, by 1884 rules, was the mirror opposite: a 15-9 victory for the Game Hens. The Hens' winning pitcher "Blue" Reilly, whose arm is held together with baling wire and dried chewing tobacco, relied mostly upon slow curves and induced an exasperating series of ground ball outs. Mr. Bryon Bratt served as umpire in this latter contest, standing bravely behind the plate in proper 1884 style, and his work was described by one observer as among the best ever witnessed on a vintage ball field.

Although the games were split, the Grays won the undercard: a contest between two of the strongest-throwing catchers in vintage ball. Vinnie Torelli threw out one runner over the course of the afternoon, but the mighty Gilligan Faria of the Grays threw out two. Gilligan continues to draw the admiration of all observers in his tenth year of hard duty behind the plate. Baserunners are advised to hold their places against either of these gentlemen, however.

Last-minute change of venue

2007-05-16T15:10:00.000-07:00

NEWS FLASH!

Our next game, Sunday May 20, will be in Warwick, NOT at our home field. The start time will be 11:00 AM. The Providence Cornish Game Hens will be our hosts, at the Hen House, their home field at in Warwick. The exact location is noted here .

The change in venue is connected with the late typographers' strike, which wreaked untold devastation on the team's property.