Honoring Commitments

On Saturday, the Bergen County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs hosted the Neshanock and our friends, the Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn, for two games of 1864 baseball. Many thanks to Vivian Davis for inviting us and making all the necessary arrangements for us to play at Overpeck Park..  Thanks also to the Parks Department staff who provided an excellent playing surface despite several days of rain.  We are also grateful for Mark Rotundo's photos.  The Neshanock were very shorthanded but, fortunately, received a lot of help from the New Jersey vintage baseball community.  Despite everyone's best efforts, it was a long day from the New Jersey standpoint.  The Atlantics are one of the best vintage teams in the country, and they showed why,  winning by scores of 19-1 and 31-16.

 

Photo by Dave Harris - All other photos by Mark Rotundo

Back in the nineteenth century, a baseball match had three possible outcomes: a win, a loss, and, perhaps surprisingly, a tie.  Thinking about it, there should probably be a fourth category in vintage baseball - commitments honored.  It's no small matter.  Vintage teams have limited opportunities to play - to miss one because the other team doesn't have enough players isn't right, in fact, it isn't manly.  There's also the host organization to think of, typically a not-for-profit that spent time and money to sponsor a game.  Saturday's games only happened because others, especially players from other New Jersey teams, gave of their time.  As a small thank you, the rest of this post will highlight some of those very manly players.

While pitcher Bob "Riverboat" Smith is a regular member of the Neshanock, he is also a go-to guy for short-handed teams, offering both his services and recruiting others. 

Thanks to Albert Aguero for once again helping out the shorthanded Neshanock

Elizabeth Resolutes Captain Craig Combs, who, along with Matt Pytlowany filled some major gaps in our lineup.

Matt Watkins (pictured here) and Brian Norton filled out the Neshanock lineup.  Brian recorded a five at bat clear score in the second game

According to legendary sportswriter Grantland Rice, "When the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name, He writes – not that you won or lost – but how you played the Game".  Sometimes it's not just how you played, but that you did so!