Leading the Halsey Hall Chapter of SABR Into the Nineteenth Century

“Leading the Halsey Hall Chapter of SABR into the Nineteenth Century”

Newsletter of the Quicksteps, Vintage Base Ball Club Nine of the Halsey Hall Chapter August 2004 or maybe 1860 Vol. 9 No. 5

Member, Vintage Base Ball Association

SIZZLED IN STILLWATER.

RUDE HOSTS.

The St. Croix reasserted their primacy in Minnesota vintage base ball as base ball artists in the match of July 24 at Stillwater, sizzling the Quicksteps for 14 aces in their first five innings and waltzing to a final tally of 18 aces to six. About 100 spectators, the largest gathering to see the annual Lumberjack Days event, viewed the match. Messrs, Arpi, Ernst, Levitt, Luloff, M’Caffrey, Reyer, Smith, Swift, Tuttle, Wegrzyn, and Wyman represented the nine, with Mr. Richardson as umpire and Mr. Tholkes as tally.

For the Quicksteps, all participants made their base at least once, Mr. Wegrzyn having a stellar day with seven bases on hits, including a triple which was the most prodigious blow of the match., and tallying two aces. Messrs. Levitt, Smith, Swift, and Tuttle also tallied. The St. Croix were striking prodigiously well on the day, and their tally obscures some fine field work by Messrs. Wyman, Wegrzyn, Tuttle, Swift, M’Caffrey, and Levitt.

FRIDLEY DISAPPOINTING.

UNSUITABLE EVENT.

For seven seasons the Quicksteps have attended the Fridley Historical Society’s Augustfest as the main attraction, playing without fee before small throngs on a weekday evening. The Society in recent year has recruited a team of Soft Ballists as the opposition—usually not a suitable opponent, but the particular team raised in previous seasons has been sufficiently mature to appreciate the 1860 game and to adapt to the Society’s grounds, where an ice hockey rink and a children’s playground combine to restrict the playable area. The 2003 event was a typically fun and relaxing evening, enjoyed by all, and drew a throng of about 75, the largest yet experienced.

This year, unfortunately, the Soft Ballists participating were primarily young men of an unsuitable skill level and still wedded to the slugging of long sky balls, resulting in an uncompetitive match and a bored throng that again numbered about 75 at the commencement but left the scene early. The evening, warm and humid, also acted to turn the event from a pleasure to a chore.

Messrs. Arpi, Buckland, Ernst, Janzen, Levitt, Luloff, Rekela, Reyer, Smith, Wegrzyn, and Wyman represented the nine and maintained cheerful and willing dispositions throughout. This was particularly taxing for Mr. Levitt, who as left-fielder admirably bore the bulk of the sky-ball chasing and contended, admirably so, with the playground obstacle mentioned above.

The acceptance of invitations to participate in this event in future seasons, heretofore a foregone conclusion, must depend on the sponsor’s ability to provide guarantees of a suitable opponent.

WATCH YOUR BACK.

INJURY REPORT.

Mr. Ernst reports that the condition of his back, which had restricted his motions in previous matches, has eased. He played his most effective match of the season at Fridley.

Mr. Janzen, whose back caused him to miss the Western Swing, played half the Fridley match and reported no problems, but he continues to be watchful of its condition.

Mr. Harris has unfortunately been diagnosed with a herniated disk in his back and is undergoing treatment. His return this season is not expected. The Quicksteps’ best wishes for his complete recovery are extended.

SLEEPY EYE LOOMS.

The nine next takes the field on Saturday, August 21, at 1 p.m. in the southern Minnesota city of Sleepy Eye. The occasion is the town festival, Corn Daze, and the opposition will feature a picked nine of members of the Ft. Ridgely Defenders and Sleepy Eye locals. The Baseball Park is located in the town’s southwest quadrant (see map enclosed or attached) on Seventh Avenue just north of Brackenridge Street. The nine is scheduled to be represented by Messrs. Arpi, Ernst, D. Feist, Janzen, Levitt, Luloff, M’Caffrey, Reyer, Smith, Thilgen, and Wegrzyn, with Mr. and Mrs. Tholkes as umpire and tallykeeper. Quickstep emeritus Mr. William Tholkes, now of Long Beach, California, will be visiting and will also play. Contact Quicksteps Manager Mr. Tholkes as soon as possible if you are listed and your plans have changed, or if you can add your name to the roster. Sleepy Eye is located at the intersection of United States Highway 14 and Minnesota Highway 4, about 90 minutes from Minneapolis by fast carriage.

MANTORVILLE SET.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11TH.

The season’s concluding event at historic Mantorville, Minnesota, is now set for Saturday, September 11, at 2:00 p.m. The occasion is the town’s Marigold Days festival. At this point Messrs. Arpi, Bengtsson, Ernst, R. Feist, Janzen, Levitt, M’Caffrey, Reyer, Smith, Swift, Wegrzyn, and Wyman are expected to be available, with Mr. Richardson as umpire. Further details will be supplied to participants closer to the date.

POSSIBLE SEPTEMBER ADDITION.

Dakota City Historic Village (Farmington) is once again tinkering with the format of its Pancake Breakfast, the event at which the Quicksteps have played during the past few seasons. A fall event is under consideration. Sunday, September 19 is proposed as the date, and Quicksteps Manager Mr. Tholkes has been contacted concerning a possible appearance by the nine. Sufficient participants have indicated an interest, and Dakota City has been so informed. The St. Croix, the opponent in the May event at Farmington, is not available, and Mr. Tholkes has proposed as an opponent the Silver Stars of Northfield, a fledgling group who played the St. Croix in northfield in 2003 and earlier this year.

The event is not yet confirmed.

FUTURE VISIONS.

SLEEPY EYE DIAMOND WILL BE HISTORIC.

Sleepy Eye’s ball grounds, to be erected in 1899, will be the site of an exhibition on October 16, 1922, featuring future immortal Babe Ruth and Bob Meusel, his contemporary on the New York Yankees professional team. The Babe will thrill the locals with two long home runs. Quicksteps attending the August 21, 2004 event in the southern Minnesota city will have the chance to tread the turf to be trod by the Babe, who will pitch and play first base and the outfield during the 1922 exhibition.

The Quicksteps will get better weather. A cold snap which will drop temperatures to below freezing will limit the 1922 exhibition to six innings and attendance to about 700, instead of the thousands for which the town will prepare.

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Member, Vintage Base Ball Association