Providence Set for ‘Old Dutch Day’ with Atlantic of Brooklyn

 

June 5, 2021

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Grays return to action this Sunday, June 6, traveling to the Smithtown Historical Society on Long Island to face their longtime friends and rivals, the Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn. The club is honored to be invited once again to the Village of the Branch to join Brooklyn in celebrating Old Dutch Day, an event that honors the legacy of Al “Old Dutch” Dieckmann (1946 – 2001), a major contributor to the emergence of historically accurate 19th century play whose spirit lives on in the clubs that take the field today. 

Image: Douglas Merriam, in
"The Old Ball Game,"
Doug Stewart,
Smithsonian Magazine, Oct. 1998

In memoriam, the ABBC describes Old Dutch as “the consummate vintage base ball player. He looked the part. He knew all the vintage rules, and taught us all how to look at the rules to properly understand them. He was probably the leading expert on vintage base ball rules in the country. And he just loved to talk about the game.” This level of passion is contagious, and Al Dieckmann spread the enthusiasm not only for the re-creation of authentic 19th century base ball but also for the camaraderie and joy shared by those who choose to join this tight-knit community. The Atlantic credit Old Dutch for bringing “the concept to us that playing the game was the important part, and if you enjoyed the game, and had fun playing it, then you won. It shall never be ‘Win one for Old Dutch’, but rather ‘Enjoy one for Old Dutch’. There is no doubt that he is smiling down on us from that great base ball field in the sky.”

This season marks a return to the tradition, as the 2020 event was cancelled due to pandemic restrictions. This Sunday’s commemoration will be especially poignant as the teams remember another great gone too soon with the passing last fall of Paul “Quickstep” Salomone, the exuberant captain of the Resolutes of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and the 2012 recipient of the Old Dutch Day Award for his leadership and commitment to the old game. 

"Quickstep" and Travers

Game one on Sunday will be played by the rules of 1864, while the matinee will follow the book as it was written for the 1884 season. First pitch is 11 a.m. 

In 2019, the Grays and the Atlantic split the day, with Brooklyn taking the ’64 match 12 to 10, and Providence hanging on for the overhand win 16-14 in the afternoon. The Grays’ squad anticipates a lively day of friendship and fierce competition as they work to get back to winning ways.

Recap: Historic Base Ball on the Lawn, Cooperstown, New York, May 15 – 16

Providence journeyed west in the middle of May to take part in an event held at a most pastoral setting. The club’s inaugural trip to the two-day festival on the back lawn at Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown offered gorgeous backdrops, challenging terrain, and easy access to post-game brews. A splendid time was had by all, even as the play on the field left much to be desired. The Grays took losses from Mountain Athletic Club (MAC) and the Connecticuts from Hartford on day one and split day two, picking up the weekend’s lone win over the Mutuals of New York in the morning before falling to the Bovina Dairyman in the game two. 

The gently sloping topography at Ommegang makes things interesting for fielders and baserunners.

Day One (May 15)

Against MAC, the Grays defense came out flat over the first three innings, allowing an early 8-run deficit (11 to 3) that proved too difficult to overcome in the remainder. Providence bats started hot, with two of those three aces tallied in the first inning with singles from Maynard (LF), Travers (Captain, P), Smith (3B), and Dryer (1B). The Grays continued to chip away at the difference, while holding the Fleischmann’s squad to just three more aces through the final six innings. Providence added two in the fourth, with Maynard providing another single and A. Pirruccello-McClellan (C) blasting a double to left field. The Grays managed only one run per inning through the eighth off hits from Logsdon (SS), Travers, AMP, Smith and Watson (RF). Final MAC 14, Providence 9.

The Connecticut club took the field against the Rhode Islanders in game two to commence a rematch of the recent doubleheader at Colt Meadow in Hartford the weekend prior. Grays’ defensive woes continued in the afternoon, as Hartford gradually built a five-run lead over the first four frames. Providence allowed 11 runs (several unearned) through the fourth, while plating six of their own as the offense picked up a bit of steam. Catcher Johnny Carlevale provided three singles and scored three runs, and Travers, Maynard, and Dryer each contributed additional singles, and AMP launched another double. Despite solid hitting from Travers, AMP (double), Logsdon (two doubles), and McCormack (RF, two doubles) over the last half of the match, Connecticut broke it open in the fifth, tallying seven aces then continuing to find gaps off Bones Henson’s pitching as they rolled to the 27-15 victory.

Day Two (May 16)

Day two started with a warm first meeting of the season between the Grays and their good friends the New York Mutuals. The temperature heated up as the game commenced, with both teams vying for the lead in a closely contested early morning match. Providence offense started off sluggish, putting up zeroes in the first two frames, but came to life in the third with three runs scored. The Mutuals maintained a healthy lead through the midway point, even as the Grays put up eight more runs in the fourth and the fifth with hits from Travers (1B), Smith (C), Henson (P), Maynard, and McCormack (3B). A five-run seventh inning gave Providence its first lead of the game, 16-15, with six consecutive hits making the difference. The Grays added three more in the eighth and held off the last-chance New York rally to settle the final at 19-16, Providence. 

Providence vs. Bovina

The final game of the weekend was a tough battle against a talented and youthful Bovina club. The Dairymen opened a large lead after their first frame, plating eight runs to get things started. The Grays managed a single ace in the second inning, while giving up two more to their opponents. Bovina continued to hit well and capitalize on Providence fielding miscues to build a commanding 21-4 lead after six. The Grays found some life in the late innings, plating three aces in the seventh and five more in the eighth, but it was too little too late, as Bovina finished on top with a 25-12 win.

The month of June will provide many opportunities for Providence to get back in the groove of victory. After Old Dutch Day on Sunday, the Grays will travel to Wethersfield Cove to face a Connecticut team in two 1884 games, then will play host to the Lisbon Tunnelmen on June 19 at the Fourth of July Committee Event on the Bristol, RI, Town Common. Check us out on Facebook and follow along with the action on Instagram as the events take place.