Bits & Pieces

By Kim J. Harmon

 

I hope a lot of local fans got a chance to experience some vintage base ball this past weekend – be it up at Bushnell Park in Hartford or on ESPN Classic on Saturday night.

It was my first look at the sport (I was unable to go up to Hartford, so I settled for the broadcast of the Hartford-Pittsfield game) and I must say it was a lot of fun. My wife and my kids even got interested … until the allure of setting off fireworks in the street stole them away.

Even though the Hartford-Pittsfield game seemed to take forever – especially with a 15-minute sun delay early on – you can see that vintage base ball is a game that generally moves pretty fast. There is no balk rule per se (unless the pitcher steps out of his box) so the pitcher can keep firing as quickly as he wants.

I think the thing that surprised me (even though it shouldn’t have), was how difficult it was to field the ball. The players only wore a small leather glove – similar, I suppose, to a regular winter glove – and had trouble picking up grounders and throws to the bases.

I guess that’s why Bid McPhee, a turn-of-the-century second baseman for the Cincinnati Reds and one of the last players to field barehanded, made 791 errors in his career (including 72 in 1887) and still managed to get elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame (inducted in 2000).

For fans around town, it should be noted that these guys from Hartford and Pittsfield were just regular guys, regular baseball fans. It was readily apparent that skill was not a pre-requisite (although there were some fine ballplayers out there), but a love for the old-fashioned game.

Hey, even I think I could play.

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The Newtown High School cheerleaders have begun a major fundraising campaign and could use your help.

The girls want to go to Orlando, Florida, next February to participate in the UCA National Cheerleading Competition and need some $30,000 to help finance the trip for all 25 team members, two coaches, and assorted chaperones.

They started a mail campaign and will follow up with car washes, tag sales, and other interesting promotions.

Can you help?

For further details, see the story on page B2.

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It’s right about this time every year – with the Boston Red Sox collapsing and the New York Yankees having sewn up American League Eastern Division crown – that I start getting the itch for some football.

Don’t get me wrong; I love baseball and there is still a little excitement left in the races, but if you are a New York Yankees fan then the regular season has become rather ho-hum. Things don’t really get started until October.

Hmmmn, with that attitude no wonder people hate the Yankees ... and their fans.