August

In the world of baseball, the beginning of August means more than just the start of a new month.  At the major league level, with the trading deadline past, rosters are basically set and there are roughly 60 days left to determine who will make the playoffs. Far, far below the majors is vintage baseball, but here again, August is a significant point in the season.  For most teams, the season is in the home stretch.  After yesterday's two games with the Logan Club of Lambertville, the Neshanock have only four dates left before we bring down the curtain on the 2025 season.  Since no one knows what the future brings, it's even more important to enjoy and treasure each game.

Both the Neshanock and the Logan Club are grateful to the Lambertville Historical Society and the City of Lambertville for hosting the game for the third consecutive year. Photo by Sam Ricco

Founded by Sam "Ewing" Ricco and Scott "Snuffy" Hengst of the Neshanock, the Logan Club is New Jersey's newest 19th-century baseball team.  The first of two seven-inning games by 1864 rules got started with Flemington at the striker's line.  The Neshanock struck quickly and tallied three times before the side was retired.  Unfortunately for Flemington, the lead didn't last long. Four straight Logan hits tied the score, with the local team threatening to do more damage.  Setting the tone for the day, however, the Neshanock defense rose to the occasion. First, shortstop Thomas "Hawk" Prioli started a double play. Then Mark "Gaslight" Granieri retired the side with another of his renowned plays on a foul bound-out.

As always, Ken "Tumbles" Mandel is at the center of the action.  Like most of us, Scott "Snuffy" Hengst isn't quite sure what to do with him.  Unless otherwise noted all photos by Mark Granieri

After a scoreless second inning, Flemington tallied five times in the third and added two more in the sixth on the way to a 10-3 win.  The Neshanock attack was led by Chris "Sideshow" Nunn and Rene "Mango" Marrero with three-hit clear scores.  "Gaslight" added a two-hit clear score of his own, although it wasn't exactly a thing of beauty.  For new blog readers, a clear score means the player didn't make a single out in the game, either at bat or on the bases.  Also adding two hits were Joe "Mick" Murray and Ken "Tumbles" Mandel.  Equally important to the win was the errorless defense behind pitchers Bobby "Melky" Ritter and Dave "Illinois" Harris.  Dan "Sledge" Hammer had a three-hit clear score for the Logan Club.

The Neshanock are delighted to welcome the newest member of our community - Levi Nunn, seen just below his older sister's left elbow.  Left to right Jessica Nunn, Matt Nunn, Chris Nunn (Dad), Chelsea Nunn, Jim "Jersey" Nunn, Lauren Marchese Nunn (Mom) and Mary Nunn

The end of the first game was followed by a feature of every Neshanock game, which I don't think I've mentioned before.  Neshanock players stayed on the field and gave the kids in the crowd a chance to hit with a wooden bat - perhaps one of the few times they'll have that opportunity.  When the second game began, the Logan Club tallied once in the top of the first. However, the Neshanock answered with two in their half, keyed by a prodigious double by "Hawk" that would have been a home run had it not been for the ground rules.  Flemington added two runs in the third, thanks to a crucial contribution from the bottom of the order.  After "Tumbles" and Jim "Jersey" Nunn singled, Chris "Lowball" Lowry hit a long bound out to right that allowed both runners to score. The Neshanock needed those runs as the Logan Club scored twice in the top of the seventh before Flemington held on for a 4-3 win.  

Sam "Ewing" Ricco and the Logan Baseball Club

What was really of note in both games was the Neshanock defense.  Flemington committed just one muff while allowing only three runs in each contest. In the outfield, "Sideshow" combined his speed with two of the best hands in vintage baseball to handle everything that came his way.  "Tumbles," Matt "Fly" Nunn and Ernie "Shredder" Albanesius shared the duty in center and right, using good positioning to run down balls on the bound.  The left side of the infield put in a dominant performance with "Mick" and "Hawk" catching everything they could reach and then unleashing throws that "Mango" and Tom "Thumbs" Hoepfner handled flawlessly at first.  "Lowball" and "Jersey" were efficient at second while "Gaslight" and "Thumbs" took care of any foul balls.  Part and parcel of the solid defense was the stout pitching of "Melky" and "Illinois."

Brad "Brooklyn" Shaw - "Founder of the Feast"

The Logan Club played well in both games, especially on defense.  "Ewing" and "Snuffy" have the Lambertville team off to a good start.  Although Flemington won both games, today was really a victory for New Jersey vintage baseball.  The enthusiastic and attentive crowd is solid evidence of the demand for games like this. We need teams like the Logan Club to make this happen.  Brad "Brooklyn" Shaw, founder of the Neshanock and a mentor to the Logan Club, was at the games along with his wife Phyillis.  At the end of the second game, he talked about how proud he is of both teams.  We're equally proud and grateful to him.  Let's hope that while August may mark the beginning of the end of the 2025 season, it's also laying the framework for a stronger New Jersey vintage baseball world.

Weekend in Gettysburg

It's not uncommon for families to spend part of every summer at a favorite destination. Some families, for example, go to the New Jersey shore for the first two weeks of July, while others make an August visit to Cape Cod.  Since 2010, the Flemington Neshanock family has spent the third weekend of July in Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania.  While these visits have included the historic battlefield, the primary purpose of the trip is to participate in the Gettysburg National 19th Century Base Ball Festival.  Founded and operated by the Elkton Eclipse Club, the event has grown from six teams to one of the largest vintage baseball gatherings in the country, this year featuring 25 clubs.  

This year's t-shirt honoree was Tom "Schoolboy" Duffy of the Elkton Eclipse - well played and deserved, sir! (Unless otherwise noted, all photos by Mark Granieri)

Perhaps equally impressive as the number of participants is the festival's broad geographic reach, attracting clubs from as far away as Michigan, Tennessee and Maine.  Having teams from so many different parts of the country enables the organizers to design a schedule where the Neshanock, and the other participating clubs, play opponents they wouldn't, and probably couldn't, play anywhere else. But while Flemington has typically played four different teams each year, the games tend to fall into one of several categories.  It seems worthwhile, therefore, to look at the Neshanock's 2025 Gettysburg experience from that point of view.    

Left to right - the aged scorekeeper, Chris "Lowball" Lowry, Paul "O'Neill" Cincotta, Rene "Mango" Marrero, Matt "Fly" Nunn, Danny "Lefty" Gallagher and Ken "Tumbles" Mandel.  Photo courtesy of the Kingston Guards Base Ball Club

Every year, there seems to be a game with a team playing at Gettysburg for the first time.  This year's opener against the Kingston Guards from Ulster County, New York, was such a contest.  The Kingston club's name comes from the 120th New York Infantry, a Civil War regiment that served with distinction at Gettysburg, not far from the site of Saturday's match.  Flemington got off to a fast start, tallying nine times in the first three innings en route to a 13-4 victory.  Flemington was led at the striker's line by Rene "Mango" Marrero and Matt "Fly" Nunn both of whom earned four-hit clear scores.  Danny "Lefty" Gallagher and Paul "O'Neill" Cincotta each had three hits, with "Lefty" hitting his first, but far from last, home run of the weekend.

The legend of Ken "Tumbles" Mandel grew over the weekend as he not only played four games but also helped another team short of players and umpired another contest.  In addition, he "contributed" an unforgettable, but hopefully never to be repeated, base-running maneuver.  As seen here, by Sunday, he had learned not to stray too far off third base.

Mark "Gaslight" Granieri had two hits for Flemington but was even more productive at catcher, recording seven putouts on foul balls.  Wilely veteran that he is "Gaslight" also pulled off a trick play on a foul bound out.  Since there are new readers to the blog this year, this seems like a good time to explain a major difference in 1860s baseball.  Simply put, baserunners cannot advance on a foul ball, but must return to their base or risk being put out.  This facilitates trick plays where, after a foul ball, a seemingly errant throw, tempts the runner to leave his base, only to learn to his chagrin that he is out because he cannot advance on a foul ball.  We hope this explanation is helpful to new readers, anonymous as they may be. 

Special thanks to Neshanock alumnus, Dan "Sledge" Hammer, right, for a splendiferously umpired match 

At the time of Saturday's second game coin toss, none of the participants could have foreseen what lay ahead

Typically, at least one game at Gettysburg is close, and it would have been difficult to have one closer than the Neshanock's second game on Saturday against the Addison Mountain Stars from western Pennsylvania.  We had the chance to watch the Addison team's first game and knew they were heavy hitters.  Once again, the Neshanock got off to a fast start and led 5- 1 after three innings.  There was, however, no way to shut down the Addison offense.  The Pennsylvania team tallied six times in the fourth and twice more in the sixth to lead 9-5.  Flemington rallied in their half of the sixth to tie the game at 9-9, but it didn't stay tied for long.  Addison tallied four times, but their lead proved equally short-lived as the Neshanock rallied again to take a 14-13 lead after seven innings.

Dave "Illinois" Harris

Flemington added a run in the eighth and held a two-run lead as the game went to the ninth.  To no one's surprise, Addison rallied again to tie the game and then kept the Neshanock off the scoreboard in the bottom of the ninth.  Addison tallied once in the top of the tenth and had two runners on base with their dangerous leadoff hitter at the striker's line.  It was a classic pitcher-batter confrontation.  In the end, Neshanock pitcher Bobby "Melky" Ritter prevailed, striking out the batter after what seemed like endless foul balls kept the at-bat alive.  Down one, the Neshanock loaded the bases with two outs and came literally within inches of tying and perhaps winning the game, but Addison prevailed 16-15.  

Joe "Mick" Murray

"Mango" again led the Neshanock attack with four hits while "Lefty," "O'Neill," and Sam "Ewing" Ricco contributed three apiece.  Additional offensive support came from Chris "Sideshow" Nunn, "Gaslight," Joe "Mick" Murray and Jim "Jersey" Nunn, each with two hits.  On the defensive side, "Gaslight" exceeded his first game performance, recording ten putouts on foul-bound outs, a Neshanock record.  Again, for the benefit of new blog readers, batted balls, fair or foul, caught on one bounce are an out. 

 

The number of Flat Rock players participating in the coin toss anticipated their offensive production

The Gettysburg Festival attracts some of the country's best vintage baseball teams - teams that are fun to watch, but not necessarily to play.  Flemington was in that position on Sunday morning in a match against the Bear Clan Club of Flat Rock, Michigan.  Surprisingly, the Neshanock trailed only 3-2 after two innings, thanks in part to another "Lefty" home run.  In the bottom of the third, however, Flat Rock's heavy hitters took over.  When the dust finally cleared, the Michigan team had tallied 13 times and had more than enough runs for a 19-5 victory.  "Lefty" had one other hit besides his home run while "Mango," "Jersey," and "Fly" had two apiece.

Bobby "Melky" Ritter 

Not sure if it was a head or a tail, but Flemington won the toss

Everyone enjoys the Gettysburg Nineteenth Century Baseball Festival.  I've been to all but one and I've never heard anyone say they didn't have a good time.  But by the time the last game on Sunday rolls around, most players and families are paying as much attention to the clock as the scoreboard.  Flemington's final game was against the Westfield Wheelmen, and the team from Massachusetts took an early 2-0 lead.  

Danny Gallagher finishing off his sixth and final home run of the weekend

Flemington quickly responded, scoring four times in the first and adding five more in the third.  Westfield got four back in the top of the fourth, but the Neshanock matched that and prevailed 13-7 in a game shortened by the time restrictions.  "Lefty" had a three-hit, clear score with all three hits home runs, giving him six for the weekend.  "Sideshow," Mango," "O'Neill," "Jersey" and Chris "Lowball" Lowry each had two hit games.  "Mango" and "Lowball" earned clear scores in the process.  "Gaslight" finished up a memorable defensive weekend by short-circuiting a Westfield rally with the foul ball trick.

One final hurrah before the long ride home

I want to reflect a little more on the Neshanock's classic struggle with the Addison Club.  In my sixteen or so years of vintage baseball, I've been part of many close games.  Some were satisfying wins, while others were heartbreaking, if not bitter, defeats.  But I couldn't remember a game like the one on Saturday.  Like the others, it was obviously a very close game, but it was somehow different.  After a lot of thought, what stood out was the effort of both teams.  This is in no way to say there isn't plenty of effort in other games, but in my experience, in this one, the effort was off the charts.  I think the chances or opportunities for such memorable games are far greater at Gettysburg.  And that's one more reason all of us in the vintage baseball world should be grateful to the Elkton Club for making it happen, every year on the third weekend in July.  

Deemed Worthy

How long has it been since the Neshanock played at Greenway Meadow Park in Princeton?  Long enough for the local municipality to construct a roundabout at the entrance to the parking area.  Although it doesn't seem like it's been that long, it's been three years since Flemington last played at the park in the Historical Society of Princeton's annual event. This was not by choice. In 2023, rain wiped out the game, while in 2024, excessive heat led to a cancellation.  This past Saturday offered a little bit of rain and heat, but fortunately not enough to interfere with our match with the Newtown Strakes

Our friends (and worthy foemen), the Newtown Strakes - all photos by Mark Granieri

The Strakes are well known to the Neshanock through the annual Memorial Day game, ably hosted by Kevin O'Shea, team captain, and the rest of the Newtown club.  Opponents aren't that easy to come by, and we're grateful they helped us out on Saturday.  Although they play only a few times a year, the Strakes, as Flemington knows full well, can more than hold their own against vintage teams that play regularly.

It was great to have our old friend Meshack Desane playing with us again on Saturday.  We hope he'll make it a habit

Flemington went first to the striker's line on Saturday and got off to a quick start, tallying nine times over the first three innings.  When the Neshanock added one in the top of the fifth, Flemington was ahead 10-2, but no one on the Neshanock bench was getting over-confident.  The Memorial Day game started the same way, but Newtown came back to win that match.  Sure enough, Newtown tallied five times in the bottom of the fifth and gradually clawed their way back to tie the match at 10-10 after eight innings.  After Flemington failed to score in the top of the ninth, Newtown quickly scored the winning run for a come-from-behind 11-10 win.

Paul "O'Neill" Cincotta looks for an opening in the Newtown defense - there weren't many

As frustrating as the loss was, there was some good playing on the Neshanock side. Thomas "Hawk" Prioli and Mark "Gaslight" Granieri both had three hits, with "Gaslight" earning a clear score.  In addition, both "Hawk" and "Gaslight" made notable defensive contributions.  "Hawk" pulled the hidden ball trick on an unsuspecting Newtown base runner while "Gaslight" threw out a runner trying to steal second.  The latter play is so rare, it's hard to find a metaphor to do it justice.  The wily Nehsanock veteran also made a fine play on a seventh-inning bound out. Also contributing offensively were Sam "Ewing" Ricco, Jeff "Duke" Schneider, Paul "O'Neill" Cincotta and Meshack "Shack" Desane with two hits apiece.  Defensively, Scott "Snuffy" Hengst made several good plays in left, while Bobby "Melky" Ritter pitched another solid game. 

Even after the match is over, there's work to be done - Thomas "Hawk" Prioli recovers the flag and the bases

So far this season, one thing has stood out in each game.  On Memorial Day, for example, it was the crowd.  In our last match at the Howell Living History Farm, a low-scoring game played under high-scoring rules was noteworthy.  What struck me about Saturday's game was how close the game was for the first eight innings.  A tie score at that point isn't that unusual, but both teams had the top of their order up in the ninth inning.  That means both teams scored the same number of runs, in roughly the same number of at-bats over eight innings. It was a very evenly played game. While losing was disappointing, there's something to be said for close, well-played games regardless of who wins.  It's enjoyable for the fans, fun for the two teams, and above all, worthy of the game itself.

Picturing Vintage Baseball

The primary purpose of my blog posts about Neshanock games is to give readers a sense of what a vintage baseball game is like.  Sometimes I wonder if I go into a little too much detail, and sometimes, even when I don't wonder, others do it for me.  As an alternative approach, this post will take a second look at the Neshanock's Memorial Day game in Newtown, Pennsylvania, through Lauren Marchese Nunn's insanely cool photos with minimal commentary.

  Sam "Ewing" Ricco - Neshanock Third Baseman

There are no easy plays in vintage baseball

Thomas "Hawk" Prioli at short, while Paul "O'Neill" Cincotta looks on

Kevin O'Shea Newtown Strakes Captain

Ken "Tumbles" Mandel - an impossible act to follow

Once and Future Opponents 

Two for the Price of One

Every vintage baseball game requires decision-making, especially making out the lineups both at bat and in the field.  Those decisions are even more complicated when the Neshanock has a large turnout, as we did on Saturday at the Howell Living History Farm.  It's seldom simple, but since it's part of every game, it's at least a familiar experience.  Thus far in 2025, however, those decisions haven't been anywhere near as difficult as trying to figure out problematic weather forecasts.  Of the five dates thus far, Memorial Day was the only time, there wasn't any concern about the weather. Once again on Saturday, the forecast was for showers, and once again we decided to show up and see what happened.  That approach didn't work so well for the opener in Clinton, but on Saturday, we, fortunately, only experienced intermittent drizzle. 

Did Hog Weighing attract a bigger crowd than the Neshanock and Resolutes? We'll never tell!

The one downside on Saturday was that the weather was a deterrent to what is typically a large fan turnout.  It was unfortunate because the two games with the Elizabeth Resolutes were a rare opportunity to see Civil War era baseball played by two different sets of rules.  Our good friends, the Resolutes, New Jersey's senior vintage club, prefer to play by 1870 rules, while Flemington typically uses the 1864 version.  To honor both approaches, at least once per season, we play two games, one under each set of rules so the fans can see the differences.

Although the weather held the numbers below normal, those in attendance were attentive and interested. All photos by Mark Granieri

Saturday's first of two seven-inning games was played by 1864 rules.  Elizabeth scored four times while holding the Neshanock in check and led 4-1 after three innings.  With only four innings left to play, the top of the Neshanock order, keyed by a clutch hit from Mark "Gaslight" Granieri rallied to tie the game. Still tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth, the lower half of the Flemington order led the way to a nine-run inning and a 13-4 lead.   Elizabeth got two back, but it wasn't enough as the Neshanock earned a 13-6 win.  Five Flemington strikers got two hits apiece, led by Danny "Lefty" Gallagher and Paul "O'Neill" Cincotta, who both earned clear scores.  They were joined in the two-hit club by Chris "Sideshow" Nunn, Sam "Ewing" Ricco and "Gaslight."  Jim "Jersey" Nunn also earned a clear score.

As much uniformity as we will ever see from the Neshanock

Back in the days when the major leagues scheduled doubleheaders, they were promoted as two games for the price of one.  Although there was no charge for admission at Howell Farm, the fans still got two games, with the second game played by 1870 rules.  While there are a number of differences between 1864 and 1870 baseball, the most important is the elimination of the fair bound out. For the benefit of new blog readers, through 1864, any batted ball, fair or foul, caught on a bounce was an out.  Beginning in 1865, however, fair balls had to be caught on the fly.  Giving the defense one less way to retire a batter obviously favors the offense. Predictably, games played by 1870 rules tend to be more high-scoring and no lead is safe.  Such was the case a year ago at Howell when Flemington led 15-4 heading into the last inning and had to hold on for a 15-13 win.

Chris "Sideshow" Nunn (left) and Paul "O'Neill" Cincotta seldom have this kind of backup

Uncharacteristically, however, the second game got off to a low-scoring start, tied 1-1 after two innings before Flemington took a 6-1 lead after three. In the fourth, Elizabeth's first two strikers reached base, but the Neshanock retired the next two batters and were almost out of the inning.  Next up at the striker's line was Ken "Tumbles" Mandel.  Wait, isn't "Tumbles" a Neshanock player and a legendary one at that?  Indeed, he is, but with Resolutes down a player, "Tumbles" manfully volunteered to play for Elizabeth.  Naturally, in such a crucial moment, he came through with a hit that not only kept the rally alive but got Elizabeth started on a five-run inning to tie the contest 6-6. Flemington scratched out three runs in their next two at-bats, but no one on the Neshanock side was confident about a three-run lead in a game played by 1870 rules.  

Joe "Mick" Murray at the striker's line waits for Lawrence Major's pitch to catcher Craig Combs while Sam Bernstein prepares to make the call

In their last at bat, however, Flemington scored seven times and prevailed 16-6 in a game that was much closer than the score indicated.  What was unusual, at least in my experience with 1870 games, is that the Neshanock gave up only six runs, shutting out the Resolutes over the last three innings. Bobby "Melky" Ritter struck out one Elizabeth striker and induced four others to hit foul tips that "Gaslight" handled with his usual aplomb.  When the Resolutes put the ball in play, Joe "Dispatch" Prioli at short and  JP "Grifter" Prioli at third efficiently sent it on to Renee "Mango" Marrero at first.   Flemington didn't lack for offense, especially Chris "Lowball" Lowry's clear score and "Mango's" four hits.  But what made this game noteworthy is that even though the rules favored the offense, the defense was the difference.  It's a reminder that just when we think we understand the game, baseball throws us a metaphorical curve.

"Two Out of Three Ain't Bad"

When I do presentations on early New Jersey baseball, I tell the audience there are three ways they can learn about the nineteenth-century game: the program they're attending, reading a book (preferably mine), and/or they can watch vintage baseball in person.  Very rarely does anyone have the chance to do two of the three things on the same day. But that was the experience of some Hun School students this past Friday.  Thanks to Bart Bronk, the Head of School, the Neshanock were again invited to be part of "Baseball: More Than a Pastime," his two-week class which is part of the school's Next Term program.  The class aims to examine how "baseball's history and current day industry" enhances a comprehensive understanding of the game's "unique place in the collective American psyche."

Unless otherwise noted, all photos by Mark Granieri

It was clearly a busy two weeks. In addition to classroom work, the students visited three minor league ballparks, the Yogi Berra Museum, the Commissioner's Office and the Phillies R&D department at Citizens Bank Park.  For their final project, the students created a Princeton-based minor league franchise.  The Neshanock's role was to introduce the students to the game's history through a classroom presentation and a match played by 1864 rules.

Sam Bernstein leads the always fascinating discussion of how baseball rules evolved - photo by Sam Ricco

The classroom presentation began with my talk about how organized baseball evolved from the clubs of the 1830s and 1840s through the formation of the major leagues.   Sam Bernstein then gave some background on umpiring and described how he works a game played by 1860s rules.  This included a discussion of how the very different rules of the Civil War era changed into today's rules.  As always, this was the topic the audience was most interested in.  We then adjourned to Hun's WILF field, where the students could play by those rules in a game against the Neshanock.  

WILF Field was ready for baseball, right down to the weather vane

While the Neshanock won the game, the most impressive thing was the tremendous enthusiasm the students displayed from beginning to end.  During the post-game speeches, Hun sophomore Jacob Lilenthal stressed how much fun it was for them to play baseball by the old rules.  Throughout the event, I was reminded of how the New Jersey Historical Society uses "object-based" learning to complement classroom presentations. It's one thing to hear about what it was like to be a Civil War soldier, but wearing a replica uniform and carrying a musket with all the related equipment gives a more complete understanding of the actual experience.

Learning by doing

By all accounts, the students enjoyed the day, as did the Neshanock.  Thanks again to Bart and the Hun students.  We hope to come back next year and would be interested in discussing similar opportunities with other schools.  After all, it's not very often we get to teach in two different ways on the same occasion.  As the song says, "Two out of Three Ain't Bad."

 

    

"People Will Come"

On Memorial Day, the Neshanock finally got to play a game without regularly checking the weather forecast.  In fact, it would have been hard to find a better day to play baseball - pristine blue skies and comfortable temperatures.  In such ideal conditions, it was once again a pleasure to make our annual visit to Newtown, Pennsylvania, to take on the home team, the Newtown Strakes.  The Strakes, like the Enterprise Club of River Edge, play an important part in vintage baseball. One of the many things I've learned from scheduling is how difficult it can be to find opponents.  These two clubs, even though they may play only once or twice a year, play an important part in filling out our schedule.  Thanks to Strakes captain Kevin O'Shea and the rest of the Newtown team.

As always, the Neshanock bench was into the game - all photos by Mark Granieri

Having won the bat toss, the Neshanock took the field and held the Strakes scoreless in the first two innings while tallying three times for an early 3-0 lead.  The game went back and forth for the next two innings, but Newtown took the lead and shut out the Neshanock for the last five innings, earning a 10-6 win.  Danny "Lefty" Gallagher, Thomas "Hawk" Prioli, Tom "Thumbs" Hoepfner and Ernie "Shredder" Albanesius each had two hits for the Neshanock.  Defensively, Bobby "Melky" Ritter made two fine plays on hard-hit bound outs while also pitching the entire game.  Playing in his hometown, Ken "Tumbles" Mandel lived up to his nickname on a diving catch of a foul-bound out.  We were also pleased to welcome back Don "Splinter" Becker, who saw his first action after a season-ending injury a year ago.

Sam "Ewing" Ricco about to put bat on ball

So far, each game this season seems to have two stories - the game itself plus something else at least somewhat unique to that day.  Last week, for example, the story was how our baseball friends helped us honor a commitment.  Monday, at least for me, the story was the crowd, one of the largest I can remember.  I mentioned this to official blog photographer Mark "Gaslight" Granieri, who quickly applied his computer-like mind to the issue and put the attendance at 350.  That may not seem like a large number, but in our world, it's a big deal.  Seldom do we get the opportunity to recreate 1860s baseball for so many people.

Bobby "Melky" Ritter pitches in front of part of the large crowd while Paul "O'Neill" Cincotta awaits expectantly

On reflection, there were actually two recreations going on - the 1864 game, which the spectators witnessed and another in which they were participants.  Every vintage game illustrates in some way the differences between modern baseball and the early game.  Seldom, however, is there such a graphic example as what happened in the top of the first inning.  Newtown had runners on second and third with one out when the batter hit a line drive up the middle.  "Melky" grabbed the hard-hit ball on one bounce for an out and then threw home to "Gaslight," who tagged the runner for an inning-ending double play. And just like that, the Neshanock were out of the inning without giving up a run. Under modern rules, at the very least, the inning would still have been going on.

Ken "Tumbles" Mandel gives the post-game speech - an experience never to be forgotten

Everyone present could see from just that one play that 1864 baseball was a very different game.  Few, if any, of the spectators, however, realized that they were also recreating some baseball history.  Beginning in the 1880s through the 1950s, towns like Flemington and Newtown had their own baseball teams.  Those teams played every weekend on local fields, not infrequently with covered wooden grandstands, before relatively large crowds.  Sadly, that baseball world no longer exists.  But a vintage game, especially in such ideal conditions, facilitates not just witnessing the experience, but being part of it.  At the end of "Field of Dreams," seven-year-old Karen Kinsella tells her father, "People will come to see the baseball game."  And in Newtown on Memorial Day, those words came true once more.