On Saturday past, as the nation was preparing to memorialize is war dead, the peaceful hills of western Connecticut sprung to life with the sound of bats and balls and men partaking of the national pastime. All of the region, had experienced a wet and soggy spring unsuitable for any form of balling activities yet on that day Mother Nature smiled on the little community along the Housatonic as the local nine greeted the visiting ballists from New York City for a refreshing day of ball and conviviality at the base of Caty Mountain. 'Trolleycar' Schlapp and his storied Gotham Nine used every possible conveyance from iron horse to stage to find the tiny hamlet of Sandy Hook and pay McLaughlin Vineyards a visit.

The day was bright and crisp and a gentle breeze swept across the undulating, freshly mowed turf. Though perfectly groomed, the unique grounds with its stone walls, close-in tree line that runs abruptly up hill along with the vegetable garden that hugs the line in right, the grounds stood in stark contrast to the Gothams urban home in Central Park, Manhattan. Even though many of the visitors were heard to question whether base ball could actually be played in such an irregular setting, they soon came to terms and embraced the pristine park as an example of base ball the way it was played before chain link and groomed diamonds sullied the game forever.

 


  
 
 

 

 
 

 'Bingo' Long shoots a long fly to the maples in right center against the New York Gotham at McLaughlin Vineyards. (Click for Color)
  
   
  
     
 

Afflicted by typical Holiday malaise and a serious depleted corps, the once formidable Newtown Sandy Hooks mustered a valiant assemblage of mainstays, rookies and guests to take on the equally depleted club from the Great City. Veterans Snyder, Long, Albano, Weiner and Paes were joined by newcomers Silkowski, Brandt and Kirkpatrick from the Bridgeport club, Mike Rambone, home from his studies at the Normal School in Storrs, and Ryan Pendergist, just returned from a rigorous trek of Darjeeling and Katmandu, manned their outposts in the garden.

The Newtowns and the Gothams battled tooth and nail for nine electrifying innings of 1867 rules base ball until the Sandy Hooks took advantage of a bevy of fielding miscues to squeeze-out a well deserved 13 to 9 victory in the closing frames of the contest. The battery of 'Muhl' Snyder and 'Mudcat' Albano were instrumental in maintaining equilibrium around the plate. Albano made numerous acrobatic catches of foul tips that helped neutralizing potential rallies.

Offensively, 'Express' Pendergist, still fortified from living at 7000 feet above sea level in the Himalayas, used the impromptu diamond as his playground in his homecoming effort. He hit a remarkable five for five while racing around the paths with the reckless abandon in a manner characteristic of Pendergist senior, who was sidelined for the day. Jim 'Red Shirt' Brandt performed particularly well in his inaugural match as he manufactured four safeties (including two doubles) in five trips to the dish. Albano and Snyder rapped out four hits apiece and 'Ginger' Kirkpatrick, making a return to the Sandy Hooks from his full-time position on the Bridgeports added five safeties of his own to help fuel the previously lethargic home side.

 

 
  
 

 Ryan 'Express' Pendergist, one week back from Himalayan study, drove the Newtown Sandy Hooks to hard-fought victory. (Photo from 2007 season)
  
   
  

In a second '1864' match, the invigorated Gothams, fortified by pizza, Sandy Hook Soda and Vista Amber turned the tables on the further expended Sandy Hooks. Highlighted by an inside the park grand slam homer that seemed to carom around every nook and cranny in far center field, the Gothams manufactured an insurmountable 17 to 10 lead over the Newtowns. Brandt again slugged four hits, including two doubles and three aces to further cement a starting position on the Newtown Sandy Hook roster. 'Muhl' Snyder contributed a single, double and triple to the cause. Silkowski and Long added a couple safeties while Steve Rambone, playing for his first time along side of son Mike, crushed a double that accounted for three runs in the sixth. However, it was to no avail as Newtown hurler 'Mitts' Silkowski supported by substandard fielding was unable to snatch victory from the hands of defeat.

The weary Hooks now down to five regulars in the 'nightcap' had given all they had in defense of their home turf but the day and eighteen innings could not end soon enough for Snyder and his determined men.

Both nines played with great gusto and fine camaraderie, and all retired to pop a few corks to toast a great friendship and a perfect day spent in a perfect location. The Sandy Hooks accumulated 23 more runs for Hits for Harmon which brings the sum total to 43 runs for the new season.

 

The Orators will host the Sandy Hooks at Seaside Park in Bridgeport next Sunday. Everyone is invited to join the two clubs in what should be a delightful day at water's edge.

On June 7th the Sandy Hooks will host the Thames Club of New London at McLaughlin Vineyard.


  
   

 

 
 

New Hook Jim Brandt puts the wallop (one of eight hits he earned for the day) into a Schlapp hurl on a picturesque day at the Vineyard
  
     
 

 
 

Governor Schlapp and the historic New York Gotham Club
  
   


 

NEW YORK GOTHAM - Baseball's second oldest team after the Knickerbockers, the Gothams held their team meetings at 298 Bowery and their home games at the St. George Cricket Club on Staten Island.

The first box score of a baseball game in the New York press comes in 1853 when stories in the Spirit and the New York Mercury report a game played at the St. George Cricket grounds. The excitement around these games played between the Gothams and Knickerbockers spurred many other teams to form in the New York area. The oldest definitively known baseball photograph is of the 1856 Gotham Club. The same year the club was implicated in a player stealing scandal- the first of it's kind! Another first occurred in 1858, when several Gotham players were involved in the first ever "All-star Game"- along with players from the Knickerbockers, Eagles, Empires, and Unions- against all-stars from the prominent Brooklyn squads at the time (Atlantic, Eckford and Excelsior). The New York squad won a three game series.

The fall of the Massachusetts rules game (slightly different game than the New York rules game) was partially aided by one of the Gotham players who moved to New England and began teaching them the New York game. In 1858 The Gotham's president, William VanCott was chosen as the first president of the National Association of Base Ball players.

During the early and mid 1860's three of baseballs earliest and brightest stars, George and Harry Wright, and Candy Cummings played for the Gotham Club for several seasons. All are in enshrined in the Baseball Hall of fame in Cooperstown. In January of 1865, the Gothams helped to give new meaning to "Baseball Fever" as they engaged in a series of games played on Ice against the Brooklyn Atlantics. In the late 1860's, as many teams began paying their best players, the Gothams fell prey to stronger teams and eventually folded in the late part of the decade only to be revived in the mid 70's with new management and new players.

This second Gotham team was the precursor to the present day San Francisco (formerly New York) Giants.

 

 

5/24/2008 - Newtown, CT - On this fine day, The Newtown Sandy Hooks and the New York Gothams displayed a superb form of base ball behind the McLaughlin Vineyard, which could not have been a better setting for base ball. Each club even had their own share of success as Newtown won the initial match 14-9 and the Gothams prevailed in the 2nd game 18-10.

Game 1 vs. Newtown Sandy Hooks - 1865 Rules:

The setting was perfect, but the Gothams were not so at the forefront of this match. The Gothams were Chicagoed in the 1st, whilst the Sandy Hooks tallied 4 aces. Rugs produced the Gothams first ace in the 2nd with a one-base hit, then pilfered 2nd base and scored on a wild pitch, but the Sandy Hooks tallied twice in the 2nd and once more in the 3rd to build a 7-1 lead seemingly putting the Gothams to rest. The Gothams eventually woke from their deep slumber on the field to tally an ace in the 4th and exploded for 5 more in the 5th when Chauncey, Wickets, Scratch, Trolley, Flash and Rugs all reached on one-base hits and pilfered a base on their way to tallying an ace. Lo and behold the Gothams managed to tie the score at 7! They would not be complacent at that though as 2 more aces were tallied in the 6th to take a 9-7 lead, The scoring began when Tip Top walked up to the Line to not strike the ball, which he managed to better than any Gotham before him on this splendid day. Both he an Collector managed to reach base via the base on balls and each swiped a base before tallying their ace.

Things were clearly looking up for the Gothams as Trolley Chicagoed the Newtown Club in both the 4th and 5th frames while also managing to pick 2 suspected thieves off of 1st base attempting to pilfer 2nd. The winds then began to shift in the Newtown club's favour. They tallied 5 times in their half of the 6th to take a lead they would not relinquish. The Gothams were Chicagoed for the remainder of the match, whilst the Sandy Hooks tallied twice more to win the match outright by a final tally of 14-9. It should be noted that Flash made several fine fielding plays as the Gothams 3rd base tender on this afternoon.

Individual Stats - Game 1:

Collector - 2-4, 2 2B, 1 Ace, 1 BB, 2 SB
Wickets - 2-5, 1 Ace, 1 SB
Scratch - 3-5, 1 2B, 1 Ace, 2 SB
Trolley - 2-4, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 Aces, 3 SB
Flash - 1-5, 1 Ace, 1 SB
Rugs - 2-5, 1 Ace, 2 SB
Wombat - 3-5, 2 SB
Tip Top - 0-3, 2 BB, 1 Ace, 1 SB
Chauncey - 1-5, 1 Ace

Game 2 vs. Newtown Sandy Hooks - 1864 Rules:

The 2nd match was an exciting one for the fans to see. Newtown opened up strong with 3 aces in the top of the first, but the Gothams came back by beginning their plan of attack by not striking the ball. Both Collector and Wickets reached first by the base on balls and pilfered their way around the bases to tally twice. Both teams were Chicagoed in the 2nd, but not without the beginning of a special event. Tip Top approached the line for his first at bat, and with utter determination refused to strike at the ball and reached for the first time with a base on balls, more of this news to come after. After the Sandy Hooks tallied twice in the 3rd, the Gothams answered quickly with 3 aces of their own to tie the score at 5 all. Wickets began the attack by...what elsenot striking at the ball and walking to 1st, which was followed by a 2-base hit from Scratch, a one-base hit from Flash and a base on balls from both Wombat and Tip Top once again, in all 3 aces had been tallied.

The 4th frame brought more of the same. 2 aces were tallied for Newtown, before an onslaught of striking the ball, not striking the ball, and pilfering bases at will led to 5 aces and a 10-7 Gotham lead. The main culprits were a 2-base hit by Scratch and bases on balls by Collector and that striking-phobic Tip Top. After Trolley Chicagoed Newtown in the 5th whilst picking off his 3rd base runner of the day, Wickets used his fleet feet to reach first safely and steal his way around the bases for another Gotham ace. The Newtown strikers came alive in the 6th with 3 aces to get within 1, but that was as close as the game would be. After Wombat singled and pilfered 2nd base, Tip Top once again took his position at the line and refused to swing and was safe at 1st on his 4th base on balls of the game! Collector, however, had enough of all this walking and smashed the ball far over the center fielder's head for his first home run as a Gotham to put the Gothams up 14-10 after 6 frames.

Trolley Chicagoed the Sandy Hooks for the remainder of the match and even picked off his 4th base runner of the day in the process, thanks in part to a spectacular play (one of several I might add) made by the Gotham left fielder Collector. He unmercifully robbed the Sandy Hooks Captain Mule of a sure extra base hit by running straight back to catch a ball on the bound after it had long flown over his head! This may indeed make up for Mule's hit earlier in the game in which he induced the Gothams non-striking 2nd base tender Tip Top to actually duck and run out of the way of a ball hit right at him by Mule! The Gothams tallied thrice more in the 7th and once more in the 8th to bring the final tally to 18-10 in favour of the mighty Gothams.

Although it occurred as the Gothams were pulling away, More Gotham history was made in the 8th inning. Tip Top took not striking at the ball to a new higher realm. He again refused to swing and reached first for a Gotham record-breaking 5th time via the base on balls (7th time in the 2 games) in this match breaking the one-year-old record formerly held by Wombat, the current Gotham first base tender, who by the way was overheard stating "I can't believe he did it, I was sure I'd be in the record books for all time. I'll find a way to thwart that muffin next time!" Amazingly the Gothams as a team reached base 11 times by base on balls in this match.

In the end an amazing day of baseball was had between these two clubs and the day did not end after the 9th inning was completed. The Newtown club proved to be excellent and gracious hosts by providing wine and pizza for all in attendance. What a day it was. Until next timeHuzzah!!!

Individual Stats - Game 2:

Collector - 1-4, 1 HR, 2 BB, 3 Aces, 3 SB
Wickets - 3-4, 1 2B, 2 BB, 4 Aces, 5 SB
Scratch - 2-6, 2 2B, 2 Aces, 2 SB
Trolley - 4-6, 1 2B, 2 Aces, 2 SB
Flash - 2-6, 2 Aces, 1 SB
Rugs - 2-6, 2 Aces, 2 SB
Wombat - 1-3, 2 BB, 2 Aces, 3 SB
Tip Top - 0-0, 5 BB, 1 Ace, 1 SB
Chauncey - 1-5

From the pen of Ken 'Trolley' Schlapp

 

 

 

 

 


  
   
 

 


  




 
     
   
 
 

 

 

   
 

 
     

 

 
  
 

© Newtown Sandy Hook Vintage Base Ball Club, Newtown, CT