Well Struck, Ballists!

Members of the Essex Base Ball Club recently visited MCC's Bedford campus to demonstrate vintage baseball to a group of 30 youths attending MCC's Summer Camp.  The gentlemen were dressed in vintage baseball uniforms and sported equipment from 1860, including wooden bats and homemade baseballs.  The presentation began with a discussion of the rules from that era and how they differ from today's game play.  Additionally, the students were shown how to make baseballs.

After the demonstration concluded, the students were divided into two teams and a game ensued. The Essex Base Ball club members participated in the event (quite enthusiastically). Even Carlo Squeri from MCC's Community Education and Training program got in on the action. (Big Papi's job is safe.) Students waiting to bat used such terms as "Leg it" used in place of "RUN!" or "Muffin" in place of a player that made an error.

The 3 members are scheduled to come back to campus again on August 3 at 2:00 p.m. to replicate the event for a new crop of summer campers. The game is slated to be played in the field adjacent to the Bedford entrance to MCC, and the public is invited to attend.  Come on out and bring a picnic, they're looking for a bunch of cranks to attend!  (And if you're up on your 1800s baseball lingo, you'd know that means spectators.)

To find out more about this unique baseball experience, check out the group's blog:

http://essexbaseball.wordpress.com/2007/07/