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One hundred fifty two years ago the New Bedford, Mass. Daily Mercury announced the formation of a new base ball club and proclaimed “Success to the Ironsides Club!” By 1860 news about the club’s games and activities disappeared from the newspapers and the club faded in to obscurity.
The attempt to revive the Ironsides as a modern day “vintage” club will fade away as well. After 3 ½ years of planning, scheduling games and practices, canceling games and practices the Ironsides will hang it up. Many people contacted the Ironsides with a willingness and excitement to play such an obscure form of antiquated baseball. But when the time came to take the field many found themselves tied up with other obligations or perhaps feared an embarrassment resulting from playing baseball after too many years and having to do it without a glove. The interest was there but the commitment was not or could not be made.
The Ironsides did have its core group of committed people and their support is very much appreciated. If you happen to see a couple of guys around the south coast throwing a baseball around barehanded, as we will undoubtedly will, you can be sure you are seeing former members of the Ironsides playing catch mid-19th century style. Thank you for your support and taking the time out of your busy lives to try to get this club off the ground.
The Ironsides would also like the thank many of the other vintage clubs for their support, advice and encouragement.
If you are looking for a vintage club to play for there are several close by in Rhode Island:
- The Bristol Blues (1861 rules)
- Providence Grays (1884 rules)
- The Olneyville Temperance Cadets (1886 rules)
Many other clubs in New England such as the New Hampshire Granite play many games on the road in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. These clubs are always on the look out for new players. Feel free to contact any of them for details.
If you are just discovering vintage ball and you have enough people to start a team in the area you can find more details about doing so at the Vintage Base Ball Association website. You can always drop us a line at ironsidesbbc @gmail.com. We have a few ballist that still want to play.
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