"Within These Prison Walls"

In a recent post, I mentioned that I had the good fortune to be at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia for Kevin Millwood's no-hitter early in the 2003 season.  It's one of my favorite baseball memories.  There was, however, one sad aspect to it.  On the drive home, I realized I could no longer share such moments with my father, Hank Zinn who died the previous November (after the baseball season ended, of course).  Baseball in our family goes back to at least 1909 when my grandfather, John Zinn played for the Friendship Club of Hackensack. That makes it hard to think about Father's Day without remembering the game we've loved for so many generations.  Each generation has had their share of memorable moments, especially my father who achieved the most success on the field.

Aerial view of Sing Sing Prison about 1920 - the baseball field was to the right of the smokestack

After beating out almost 100 other candidates to make the Bogota High School baseball team in 1932, Hank was an All-Bergen County outfielder a year later.  He then went on to nearby Montclair State where he was a four-year letter winner in baseball, possibly the first in school history (he was definitely the first four-year football letter winner).  Graduation from college was followed by teaching and coaching at High Bridge High School where his baseball team won the 1939 Hunterdon County Championship.

1937 Montclair State Baseball Team - Hank Zinn is fourth from the left, second row

These are certainly noteworthy accomplishments, but this post is about another of his memorable baseball days, one of the few he ever talked about. It's an experience not many people have ever had and probably even fewer will have in the future.  In 1922 at the tender age of eight, Hank Zinn became the mascot of the Maywood Athletic Association baseball team – a local semi-pro team.  Three years later he was still the mascot when the team took a bus from Maywood with 30 of their “royal rooters” to Ossing, New York for a game at a very different kind of venue.  Ossing is the location of Sing Sing Prison where the Maywood team had been invited to play the prison team. (For some reason, the inmates didn’t play road games).

1922 Maywood Athletic Association baseball team with Hank Zinn as the mascot

The prison baseball team was part of a program introduced by Warden Lewis Lawes who worked his way up from guard to warden.  He believed that recreation could be a tool in rehabilitation and the baseball team was part of that effort.  In addition to amateur and semi-pro teams like the Maywood A. A., the New York Giants played at Sing Sing a number of times.  An especially memorable moment for the inmates was when Babe Ruth and the Yankees paid a visit in 1929.  

Sing Sing Penitentiary Baseball Field - note the difference in the size of the crowds on the two sides of the field

Naturally the experience was somewhat different from other baseball games.  The Maywood “royal rooters” sat in the bleachers along the right field line which they entered through one gate as a group and left as a group. Hopefully they brought their own refreshments since there were no concessions. The 30 Maywood fans were far outnumbered by an estimated 400 inmates sitting in bleachers on the left field line. Possibly among the guards was Bill Leith, who had a Moonlight Graham like career with the Washington National League team in 1899.  At least he got up to bat once.

Hank Zinn (left) and his father enjoy a Field of Dreams moment about 1929.  The farm is in Michigan not Iowa, but you can't have everything

The 1925 Sing Sing team was having an excellent season with a 43-7-1 record at the time of the Maywood game.  No score of that game survives suggesting the home team won easily.  But Maywood did score at least one run.  In the ninth inning, eleven-year-old Hank was put in as a pinch runner and scored to “the applause of the four hundred fans.”  It wasn’t until “late in the night” that the Maywood party returned home.  It wouldn’t be surprising if young Hank had fallen asleep by then.  But it’s also very possible he was far too excited to sleep after such a memorable baseball moment.  One he discussed with his father and eventually with his son.  Happy Father's Day!

Clutch

After a month without a Saturday game (remind me to speak to the schedule maker), yesterday, the Neshanock visited the Howell Living History Farm. At Howell, unlike other regular venues, we've played on multiple fields.  Saturday was at least the fourth different "field" on the farm's 100 or so acres.  Apparently, the choice is driven by the hay harvesting schedule which may suggest why organized baseball got started in the cities not the farm belt.  Once again, the Elizabeth Resolutes were our opponent, a renewal of New Jersey's oldest vintage baseball rivalry.  The Neshanock were very fortunate to have two new players with us. Sean Christman made his debut and Pete DiSciascio played, I believe, for the second time.  We would love to have them join us on a regular basis.

All photos by Mark Granieri

Having lost the coin toss, Flemington started out at the striker's line and tallied three times due in large measure to doubles by Don "Splinter" Becker and Sean.  Elizabeth got one back in their half then closed the margin to 4-3 after three innings and 5-4 after five.  But the Neshanock added two in the top of the sixth sparked by Chris "Sideshow" Nunn's double and his aggressive baserunning.  And the Flemington offense was far from done adding four more tallies over the last three innings on the way to an 11-6 victory.

With these four in charge what could possibly go wrong?

Rene "Mango" Marrero led the Neshanock attack with four hits including two doubles.  Right after him were our two newcomers, Sean and Pete who contributed three hits apiece.  "Sideshow" and Mark "Gaslight" Granieri chipped in with two hits each.  Usually a singles hitting team, Flemington struck six doubles with Chris "Lowball" Lowery also joining the club.  Although there were some muffs by the Flemington defense, in almost every case, the Neshanock fielders limited the damage. At second base, Paul "O'Neill" Cincotta had three assists and three putouts.  

Muffin Pete DiSciascio

If there was a theme to the win, it was clutch play both at the striker's line and in the field.  Two of Pete's three hits were two out hits, late in the game, sending three tallies across the plate.  Especially noteworthy on the defensive side was "Gaslight's" play in the seventh and eighth innings when he retired four Resolute strikers on foul bound outs.  The importance of foul bound outs can't be overemphasized as it's an at bat where the opposition doesn't even put the ball in play.  Bobby "Melky" Ritter's pitching was effective, as usual.  He also recorded two strikeouts, a fairly rare occurrence in vintage baseball.

Sam Bernstein keeps a watchful eye on muffin Sean Christman in his first time at the striker's line

In the last post, I used an 1858 box score to illustrate the long history of prep school baseball in New Jersey. I didn’t pay a lot of attention to the details, but little escapes “Gaslight’s” eagle eyes. He was quick to point out three things that differ from the modern game beginning with the description of the contest as a conquering game.  It’s a fairly common term in the 1850s and 1860s for the deciding game of what was effectively a best of three game series.  I was not, however, familiar with the abbreviation “L.S” instead of “C.F” for center field. “L.S.” stands for “long stop” and was apparently originally a cricket term. 

1858 Box Score probably from the New York Clipper

Most interesting of the three, however, were two almost identical batting orders with the places determined by the players’ defensive positions.  A look at the New York Clipper for the same month revealed at least five other games with similar batting orders.  This approach especially with boy's teams suggests that since captains had limited knowledge of their players hitting ability, they used a method that was systematic and probably limited debate. It didn't take long though for teams to begin strategizing how to effectively use their best hitters, a debate that continues to this day. These box scores capture one phase of baseball's evolution.  A process that also continues and always will.

Back to School

After the weather wiped out our annual Memorial Day game in Newtown, the Neshanock were glad to get back on the field on Friday evening. To say we enjoyed much nicer conditions on our third visit to the Hun School in Princeton is to put it mildly.  Pristine is the only word to describe both the weather and the playing field (some might prefer splendiferous, but we'll go with pristine). The prior two visits were part of the school's Next Term program, specifically a class entitled "Baseball More than a Pastime," taught by Bart Bronk, the Head of School.  The class wasn't held this year, but the Neshanock were invited back to play a game with the Hun varsity baseball team.  Considering the team won the State Prep Group A championship it was no small challenge. 

Box Score of a September 1, 1858 game between two private schools in Bloomfield, NJ - All remaining photos by Mark Granieri

Perhaps the most surprising part of the evening was how close the game was for the first three innings.  After the Neshanock tallied once in the top of the first, Hun matched it in their first opportunity at the striker's line.  The next two innings were scoreless due to solid pitching and defense on both sides.  After that however, Hun took over, scoring fourteen runs over the next three innings in route to a dominant 15-2 win.  Although not quite splendiferous, it was an enjoyable evening playing a game with some fine young men  

Not even the coin toss went Flemington's way 

While not many Neshanock runners crossed home plate, Jim "Jersey" Nunn did have three hits, missing a clear score only because he was put out once on the bases.  Sam "Ewing" Ricco, Jeff "Duke" Schneider and Rene "Mango" Marrero had hits two apiece.  "Mango" also contributed an impressive play on defense, luring an unsuspecting Hun runner into an easy out at third.  One negative note was an injury suffered by Ken "Tumbles" Mandel while hustling back to third.  His many fans will be pleased to know his finger wasn't broken or dislocated and he plans to return no later than the June 27 game in Princeton.  Charlie Hoepfner once again helped out the Neshanock playing solid outfield defense and getting a hit.  

Game action at the Hun School's pristine field

Charlie Hoepfner waits his turn at the striker's line

The old and the new of New Jersey prep school baseball was on display Friday night.  The new was obvious - the Hun varsity baseball team - young men all still in their teens.  Also new, or at least modern, was the equipment and the playing field itself.  But playing a game by 1864 rules was also a reminder that prep school baseball in New Jersey goes back to the earliest days of the organized game.  Almost a decade before the original Neshanock were formed in 1866, two prep schools in Bloomfield played a best of three series.  To my knowledge those 1858 games are still the earliest known instances of inter-scholastic baseball in the United States.  Playing by 1864 rules gave the Hun players a small taste of baseball history and, I hope, a sense of how they continue the long New Jersey tradition of prep school baseball.  

Great Baseball

On Friday, the Neshanock played a rare night game under artificial lighting.  While the lights lacked historical accuracy, it was an opportunity to support two worthy organizations and teach baseball history to a new audience.  The hosts for Friday's game were the Lawrence Historical Society and the Lawrence Little League.  Thanks to Joe Ciccone and Paul Alfieri, the respective presidents of both organizations and their members for hosting the game.  Thanks also to Scott "Snuffy" Hengst and Tristan of the Logan Club of Lambertville who helped out the Maidenhead team, organized for this event.  Maidenhead was the original name of Lawrence Township when it was formed in 1697. 

All photos by Mark Granieri

Predicting how well any baseball game will be played is difficult, but it's especially true of vintage contests with a local town team almost all of whom are playing 1864 baseball for the first time.  But it didn't take long on Friday night to realize the local players adapted very quickly.  Flemington managed only one tally in the first two innings while the Maidenhead team scored five times in the second for an early 5-1 lead.  Fortunately, the Neshanock rallied for three runs in the top of third thanks to a clutch hit by Mark "Gaslight" Granieri.  But Maidenhead kept adding runs while limiting the Neshanock's offensive production and led 8-5 as the game went to the top of the seventh.  

Jeff "Duke" Schneider welcomes back Meshack "Shack" Desane

In their half of the seventh, Flemington rallied for four runs, keyed by another clutch hit, this time from Paul "O'Neill" Cincotta.  Maidenhead tied the game in the bottom of the inning and after neither team scored in the eighth, the game went to the ninth knotted at 9-9.  Flemington broke the tie when Rene "Mango" Marrero's double sent Chris "Sideshow" Nunn across the plate.  Another clutch hit by "O'Neill" added a second run, but a two-run lead is seldom safe in 1864 baseball.  Fortunately, for Flemington, Derek "Marqui's" Schneider's insanely well-placed hit, added two more tallies for the Neshanock.  The runs were badly needed as Maidenhead threatened in their last at bat, but Flemington was able to hold on for a 13-10 win.

Umpire Sam Bernstein waits to see if Chris "Lowball" Lowry's hit is fair or foul

The Neshanock had a well-balanced attack featuring three players with three hits each and six with two.  "Sideshow," "Mango," and Ken "Tumbles" Mandel were the three hit contributors.  "Tumbles" joined by "Mango" also provided plenty of ancillary entertainment besides their contributions at the striker's line.  The two-hit group was led by "Gaslight," followed by Meshack "Shack" Desane, "O'Neill," Jeff "Duke" Schneider, "Marqui" and Bobby "Melky" Ritter.  "Melky" handled the pitching responsibilities while Chris "Lowball" Lowry gave another solid performance at first base.

A regular post-game feature of every Neshanock game - kids get a chance to hit with a wooden bat

The prior post explored the characteristics of great baseball games - one of my favorite topics.  Watching Friday's game shortly after writing that post helped me appreciate what happened on the field in Lawrence Township.  The game didn't meet any of the criteria for a great game, but it was still great baseball.  Great, because it was friendly competition with equal emphasis on both ""friendly" and "competition."  Both teams took the game seriously and played to win. But the players also treated each other not just with respect, but the friendship that comes from the enjoyment of playing in a close and exciting baseball game.  Played that way, no matter the game's significance, we experience the essence of baseball, what makes it so special, indeed what makes it the greatest game of all. 

  

A Lot (500) of Posts

About ten years ago, four-year-old Sophie Zinn was regaling Carol and me with the story of her visit to a bookstore with her parents.  First, she proudly told us that she got three books. Then she paused and, clearly getting her parents' message, said "And that's a lot of books!"  How many is a lot?  It's a relevant question today because this post is the 500th since A Manly Pastime began over 14 years ago.  If the average post is 800 words that’s the equivalent of about four books which is also "a lot of books."  Although the initial subject matter was limited to early New Jersey baseball, the focus expanded to include the Neshanock and other baseball history topics.  One such topic baseball’s greatest games, a favorite of mine, is the subject of this 500th post.

Tyler Kepner - Senior Writer for the Athletic

Thanks to the seventh game of last year's World Series, a classic, if there ever was one, the subject has gotten more attention. Especially interesting is Tyler Kepner's four criteria for evaluating the greatness of such games.  To be great:

The game must go into extra innings

The winning team must overcome at least a three-run deficit

One team must lose the lead in the ninth inning or later

There is at least one “golden pitch”

Developed by Wade Kapszukiewicz, a golden pitch occurs when, in the seventh game of a World Series, either team can win the game on that pitch.  Once Toronto had two men on with one out in the bottom of the eleventh, the Blue Jays could win by scoring twice or the Dodgers could win by making a double play.  Each pitch from that point was a golden pitch.

Although these criteria are for World Series games, they can also be applied to regular season contests. This came to mind while working on Hall of Famer “Ki-Ki” Cuyler’s “Biggest Baseball Day” story. (Ki-Ki supposedly comes from repeating the first syllable of his last name). Cuyler chose the August 31, 1932, Cubs-Giants game, a contest also picked by Cubs manager Charlie Grimm.  Not only does the game meet all of the above criteria, the story is enriched even further by a bizarre development in the last inning.

The 1932 Chicago Cubs were a talented team that struggled under manager Rogers Hornsby.  Only 53-46 on August 2nd, the Cubs took off under new manager Charlie Grimm.  By August 31, the resurgent Chicago team had won 12 straight and 22 out of their last 27.  Unsurprisingly, they were in first place a full 7 ½ games ahead of second place Pittsburgh and on their way to winning the National League pennant.  

On August 31, the Cubs played the New York Giants, managed by Hall of Famer Bill Terry, in the last game of a five-game series.  Hoping to finish a series sweep, Grimm chose his ace pitcher Lon Warneke who was looking for his 20th win.  Seldom did a strategy backfire so quickly.  The Giants jumped out to a 3-0 lead and Warneke was knocked out of the game without retiring a batter.  New York added two more runs, but the Cubs got three back and trailed 5-3 as the game headed to the bottom of the eighth.

Grimm, who also played first base, brought the Cubs to within one run with a double and then inserted Stan Hack in his place as a pinch runner.  Next Marv Gudat pinch hit for catcher Gabby Hartnett and made the third out of the inning.  As the Cubs took the field, Gudat stayed in the game at first base while Zach Taylor went behind the plate and took Grimm/Hack’s place (sixth) in the batting order (this will prove to be important). 

Zach Taylor

 

After keeping the Giants off the scoreboard in the top of the ninth, the Cubs tied the game at 5-5 on Cuyler’s single, his fourth hit of the day.  But the Cubs couldn’t push the winning run across as Johnny Moore, the fifth batter in the order, grounded out to end the inning.  At this point the game had met two of Kepner’s four criteria – it was headed to extra innings, and the Giants had blown in a lead in the ninth.

Having come back all the way to tie the game, Grimm brought in Charlie Root, a starting pitcher who was also usually effective in relief.  Like the decision to start Warneke, the move blew up in the manager’s face.  It had begun raining and Root had problems with the wet ball, walking one batter and hitting two.  Two hits and a wild pitch later, the Giants had a four-run lead.  A large enough cushion that Terry intentionally made out on the bases to move the game along and avoid a rainout.

Cubs Manager Charlie Grimm

With the outlook far from brilliant, Chicago came to bat with Zach Taylor, the sixth-place hitter, due up.  Grimm sent Billy Jurges up to pinch hit, but he was retired as was Gudat, who was hitting seventh.  Down four runs with two out, nobody on and the rain falling, it’s hard to visualize more dismal prospects.  But in baseball so long as there is an out left there is hope.

Mark Koenig, the eighth hitter, homered to bring the Cubs within three runs.  Next up was the pitcher’s spot.  Zach Taylor batted and singled, as did the next two batters.  With the bases loaded, Cuyler, looking for his fifth hit of the day, was at the plate.  Since there were two outs and the winning run at the plate, each of Sam Gibson’s pitches was a golden pitch.  With the count 2-1, Cuyler swung and hit one “through the swishing rain drops and the gathering dusk” beyond the desperate reach of Giants center fielder, Fred Lindstrom into the center field bleachers for a game winning grand slam home run.

Wrigley Field as it looked in 1932.  Cuyler's game winning grand slam to center field traveled about 440 feet.  The outfield was reconfigured in 1937 reducing the distance to center field to 400 feet.

  

With Cuyler’s bases clearing blast, we have an extra inning game, a more than three run rally (with two outs and no one on), a blown lead in both the ninth and tenth innings as well as four golden pitches.  How’s that for a great game?  

But we’re not done because the last four runs should not have counted.

Did you notice who pinch hit for the ninth place hitting pitcher with two out in the tenth?  

It was Zach Taylor, who was batting sixth after entering the game in the ninth inning.  And to make matters worse, Taylor had been taken out of the game earlier in the inning. Not only did Taylor bat out of turn, but he also did so after he had been removed from the game.  How can that be? Only because the entire Giants team, especially manager Bill Terry, didn’t notice.  

Once Taylor singled, if the Giants had appealed, he would have been out for batting out of order and the Giants would/should have won 9-6.  Equally in the dark was Cubs manager Grimm who many years later admitted that “Taylor did bat out of turn – and I as manager of the ball club didn’t know it either.”

Chicago Tribune - September 1, 1932

None of this, of course, was Cuyler’s problem. He had earned every moment of his greatest day in baseball. In fact, he could have claimed the whole five-game series since he went 12 for 23 with four homers and 14 RBIs.  But it was special for the future Hall of Famer for another reason.  In the Cubs dugout was his young son who by the time Cuyler told the story in 1945 was a pilot in World War II.  He was now, said Cuyler, “having thrills of his own. But like me, he’ll never forget that day in 1932.”  Nor should we – a great game by any standard.

We Can/Will Work It Out

Sunday's visit to Ringwood Manor State Park was the second stop on the Neshanock's Semiquincentennial tour of New Jersey Revolutionary War sites.  During the revolution, iron mined near Ringwood was used to make the great chain the Continental Army stretched across the Hudson River.  Located on an important military supply route, Ringwood was a "strategic location" throughout the war as evidenced by at least five visits from George Washington.  Playing at Ringwood Manor State Park has been a long tradition for the Neshanock, but in recent years, the weather has consistently gotten in the way.  While Sunday was cool, it was more than manageable, and we were very glad to be back.

The Flemington Neshanock Club doesn't have a motto, but if we did, for the last two events it would be "We can work it out."  Once again Flemington was shorthanded and, once again, the Neshanock, with some help, figured out a way to give a large and appreciative crowd some enjoyable baseball.  Making today work involved the aged scorekeeper taking on the additional role of aged umpire for the first game. I've always said that umpiring 1864 baseball is easy - until it isn't!  And that once again proved true today.  Thanks to both teams for being understanding about my errors of omission and commission.  The Neshanock also got some on the field help from Chris "Duffy" Dyer of the Enterprise Club of River Edge and Luka, an enterprising young man who helped out both teams.

Also essential to making Sunday's games possible was the support of Craig Combs and the rest of the Elizabeth Resolutes.  The first seven inning game, by 1864 rules, began with the Resolutes at the striker's line.  After six innings, the Resolutes led 7-5, but Flemington scored twice sending the game to the last inning, tied 7-7.  Elizabeth then tallied once in their half of the seventh. The Neshanock got the tying run to third with two out, but the Resolutes retired the last striker for a well-earned win. Don "Splinter" Becker led the Flemington attack with three hits while "Duffy," Ken "Tumbles" Mandel, Jeff "Duke" Schneider and Chris "Lowball" Lowry had two each.  "Tumbles" also contributed a very manly catch of a line drive in the first inning. Bobby "Melky" Ritter handled the pitching chores while "Duke" played admirably at catcher.

Part of the crowd

After a break full of fan questions and comments, the Neshanock went to the striker's line to start the second game.  Flemington led early 3-0, but the Resolutes quickly took a 4-3 lead.  Elizabeth still led 8-6 going to the top of the sixth, but Flemington batted around, tallying six times in route to a 13-10 win.  "Splinter" once again had three hits while playing solid defense in center - we are very grateful to have him back injury free.  "Duffy" and "Duke" also had three hits each.  "Duke" started the Neshanock six run rally with one of his patented fair/foul hits.  "Melky," Luka, "Tumbles" and Ernie "Shredder" Albanesius contributed two hits each.  "Shredder" also played solid defense in right field as did "Lowball" at first. 

A listing of some nineteenth century rules differences and when the "modern" rules took effect

As per usual Saturday's games were well attended with plenty of fan interaction. And also, as per usual most of the questions were about when the modern rules and practices come into effect.  Questions like when did players start to wear gloves?  The early 1870s.  When did foul balls become strikes?  1901 in the National League (always leading the way) and 1903 in the American League.  When did overhand pitching start?  It became legal in 1884.  There are more, but those are some typical questions.  

Keeping score Henry Chadwick style

Every so often fans are also interested in my scorebook and the scoring system I use.  This was especially true a few weeks ago in Morristown.  The book is a replica of one created by Henry Chadwick, known as the "Father of Baseball" for his tireless promotion of the early organized game.  Chadwick's method is completely different from the modern system other than the use of the letter "K" for a strikeout.  It comes from the last letter of the word "struck," and, no, he didn't use a reverse "K" for a called third strike. What was so impressive about the group in Morristown was the diversity of age, gender and ethnicity.  I've had thought keeping score was dying out so it was refreshing to see otherwise.  Keeping score is an enjoyable part of the ballpark experience. And, who knows, if you do it often enough, you might be lucky enough to score a no-hitter as I did 23 years ago last week - Kevin Millwood of the Phillies.

Happy Sesquicentennial

One of my earliest Nineteenth Century baseball writing projects was four essays for Inventing Baseball: The 100 Greatest Games of the Nineteenth Century, published by the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) in 2013.  How little I knew about nineteenth century baseball can be seen by my volunteering to write an article about a June 3, 1851, game between the Knickerbocker and Gotham Clubs of New York City.  Little did I know that the game was only available because the surviving information was limited to inning-by-inning totals of run scored.  Fortunately, I figured something out.

There was, however, another game I volunteered to write about, knowing full well what I was doing.  It was the story of a game played 150 years ago today, the first game in National League history and thereby the first major league game ever played.  I'm not sure if it's part and parcel of being a Brooklyn Dodger fan, but I was, and still am, a National League fan.  Writing about the senior circuit's first game was too good an opportunity to pass up.   Since today marks the sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary of that game, I'm using this post to share the link to that story. I hope it's enjoyable reading. 

Weston Fisler

Two prominent New Jersey players, Andy Leonard and Weston Fisler played in that game as did two future Hall of Famers George Wright and Jim O'Rourke.  But perhaps the most interesting participant was Boston outfielder Bill Parks.  All of the players on the field that day were playing in their first major league game.  Parks, however, was also playing in his only major league game - the briefest major league career possible, putting him in the same category, if not league, with the legendary "Moonlight" Graham.