Fleischmanns Mountain Athletic Club traveled downstate to the Doc Adams Old Time Base Ball Festival at Old Bethpage Village Restoration in Bethpage Saturday, August 5, for two matches of nineteenth century baseball. It was their first appearance at the festival since 2019. The weekend of old time baseball is a marquis event in the vintage baseball community held annually to honor Doc Adams, a founding father of baseball who presided over the first ever convention of the National Association of Base Ball Players (mostly all from the metro New York City area) to devise the first ever “Laws of Base Ball” in 1857.
In the first match, the Fleischmanns team overtook the Atlantic Base Ball Club 14-5 in 8 innings. It was their first win over ABBC in an 1860-rules game in several contests between the Clubs over the years.
In the second game, the M.A.C.s evened the season series of overhand matches with the Providence Grays by an 11-5 win in seven innings of 1884 rules - the era of choice for the Grays whose team dates back that far. The match was cut short for a show-stopping appearance by Art Shamsky who played a key role on the ‘69 Miracle Mets batting .539 in the post season that fall.
“The ‘Sham’ was a class act all the way, speaking of his being ‘blessed’ to have played during the golden era of the National League in the 60s and 70s. He also gave many complimentary remarks to all of us that indulge in early base ball re-creation,” said Collin “Stumpy” Miller, captain of the M.A.C.
The M.A.C. improved their record to 8-6 and will ride on their six game winning streak into Fleischmanns Park when they welcome the Saugerties Base Ball Club to the MAC Grounds this Saturday, Aug. 12. A chicken and sausage barbecue will be held to benefit the Fleischmanns Volunteer Fire Department. First pitch is at 2 p.m.
