Category Archives: Schedule

First Match of the 2015 Season

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Update: Bristol has let us know that they won’t be able to make it to our match on Saturday. So we’ll just be playing a double-header with Lyme. First game at 10:30am, second game should start around 12:30pm.

Our first match of the season is a 3-team match vs. the Lyme Taverners and the Bristol Blues BBC of Rhode Island this Saturday, May 16th, on our home field at Fort Trumbull. We will play in the first game vs. Lyme and it will start at 10:30am. The 2nd game will be Lyme vs. Bristol which should start around 12:30pm, and we will play the 3rd game vs. Bristol starting around 2:30pm.

2015 Schedule posted

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Our schedule for 2015 is almost complete with room to add a couple more games.

Sat. May 16 vs Bristol and Lyme @ Fort Trumbull
Sat. May 30 vs Red Onion @ Wethersfield Cove
Sat. June 6 vs Lyme @ Fort Trumbull
Sat. June 20 vs Red Onion @ Fort Trumbull
Sat. July 18 vs Hartford Dark Blues @ Fort Trumbull
Sat. July 25 vs Bristol and Lyme @ Griswold (Historical Military Encampment)
Sat. Aug 8 vs Lyme and Red Onion @ Fort Trumbull
Sat. Sept 12 vs Hartford Dark Blues @ Wethersfield Cove
Sat. Sept 19 vs Waterbury Connors Alumni @ Chase Collegiate School, Waterbury
Sun. Sept 27 vs Bristol and Lyme @ Concordia Boat Yard, South Dartmouth, MA

Update: A home/away series with Woodstock has been added: August 15 at Woodstock and August 29 at Fort Trumbull. We have twelve dates now. Won’t look for any more unless something out of the ordinary comes up.

Base Ball Club opens season Saturday at Fort Trumbull

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“Base Ball Club opens season Saturday at Fort Trumbull” – The Day

“Vintage baseball begins Saturday at Fort Trumbull State Park with a season opener between New London’s Thames Base BallClub and the Blues of Bristol, R.I.

The first of the two games, which are played according to the game’s 1861 rules, is scheduled for 11 a.m., with the second contest planned for 1:30 p.m. Admission is free to the public.

The Thames Club has scheduled 10 home games, which are split into five double-headers: Sunday, July 6 (Waterbury Connors); Saturday, July 26 (Columbia BBC); Saturday, Aug. 23 (Sandy Hooks of Newtown); and Sunday, Sept. 28 (Bridgeport Orators).”

A Vintage Base Ball Homecoming for Iraqi Veteran

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Saturday, August 11, 2007, 11 am to 1:30 pm, Hopeville Pond State Park (CT).
FREE admission to game, however, State Park parking fees in effect.

Jay Rainier, a 17-year US Navy vet of submarine and surface vessels, currently stationed in Newport, RI, was sent for a tour of duty in Iraq. Although he’s a resident of Griswold, he plays left field for the Bristol Blues vintage base ball team in Bristol, Rhode Island. His wife Lora and his team have been planning his homecoming for months, and that event will feature a vintage base ball game at Hopeville Pond State Park in Griswold on 11 August, versus the Thames Base Ball Club of New London.

Bristol captain, John Simmons, gave Jay a vintage base ball just before he left last fall. He was told that when he returns it should be put to use in a regular game. John intended the ball be a reminder that there is a normal life back here waiting for him – and that they needed the ball back!

The ball and Jay made it back last week. The game is scheduled to begin at 11 AM on 11 August at the ball field at Hopeville Pond State Park and is open to the public.

The Blues and the Thames Clubs play by the rules of 1861 as part of the New England Vintage Base Ball League. In 1861, gloves and catcher’s equipment hadn’t been invented yet, but neither had the concept of called strikes and walks. It was seen then as a healthful manner for gentlemen to get exercise, and the League attempts to maintain that historic character in the matches of today.

The Thames Base Ball Club is a program of the New London County Historical Society and this is their first year in the League which began six years ago. Their record so far this year is 6 – 4 – 1 (tie called due to a time limit) playing teams from Waterbury, Bridgeport, Newtown and Columbia, Connecticut, and Essex and Lynn in Massachusetts. The Blues have the reputation as one of the League leaders and their record thus far stands at 4 and 2.

Batter Up!

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“Batter Up!” – Kathleen Edgecomb/The Day

“What’s become of America’s favorite pastime? Once a “healthy recreation for gentlemen,” now it’s a multi-billion dollar business rife with inflated egos and salaries, and abuse of drugs and alcohol.

When baseball was invented in 1861, there were no gloves, so it was permissible to catch a ball on the first bounce for an out. Strikes had just been invented as a way to punish batters who refused to swing at good pitches. Underhanded pitching was the norm. The ball was close to the size of softball.

The New London County Historical Society is bringing back the more genteel game. The Thames Base Ball Club will face the Connors of Waterbury during the Thames’ first home game at 2 p.m. Sunday at Fort Trumbull State Park. Players will be dressed in vintage-style uniforms. There is no admission fee.

“I just wanted to try to reinforce the message that history doesn’t only live in historic houses; it can be experienced directly. And it can be fun,” says Edward Baker, executive director of the historical society.

A league of vintage clubs exists in southern New England with members from New Haven, Hartford and Waterbury in Connecticut; Coventry, Bristol and Providence in Rhode Island; and Melrose, Danvers and Lynn in Massachusetts. The New London club hopes to be admitted to the league for next year’s season.

Thames Club will play the Connors of Waterbury in a vintage baseball game at 2 p.m. Sunday at Fort Trumbull State Park, New London. There is no charge to watch the game. Call the New London County Historical Society at 443-1209.”