The Story of the Mudville Base Ball Club Base Ball Club Mudville the of Story The THE STORY OF The Mudville Base Ball Club ® 2016 93 nized our frst game in 2003, planting the seed that lead to our team’s cre- It was sometime in 2013 when I frst ation. She also provided the painstaking research that is evident throughout saw a book produced by Mathew Muise featuring the Essex Base Ball Club. Part 1 of this book. From the frst days of our existence, Joanne has been Matt, the ofcial photographer of the Spencer-Peirce Little Farm in New- there as supporter, advisor and friend. It goes without saying that without bury, had flled the book with splendid, colorful images, and being some- Joanne there is no Mudville Base Ball Club, and we are forever grateful for what envious, I approached him regarding the possibility of doing the same her playing such a big role in our lives. for us. We came to an agreement, and during the course of 2014, he photo- graphed a number of our events, the result being the work that is displayed Tanks are also extended to Kerry Conley, lovely daughter of our “King”, in Parts 2, 3 and 4 of this book, as well as our front and back covers. who was able to make sense of my scrambled vision for this book, and ham- mer it into what is now before you. Without her assistance, it is likely that Unlike the Essex book, which consisted almost exclusively of Matt’s this book would have remained an unfulflled good intention. Tank you photographs, I wanted our book to tell our story, and in telling our story, I Kerry so much for your hard work. believed it important to include the important contributions of the players and teams that preceded us in Holliston. It is clear that players and rep- We save our greatest thanks for our families. Without their understand- resentatives from our town were important fgures in the earliest days of ing and desire to share our experience, this fabulous trip we have been on our sport in Massachusetts, and it is our good fortune to borrow and build would be far less fulflling and enjoyable. It is with love and gratitude that upon the strong base ball foundation they established. we dedicate this book to them. Evidence of that foundation has been provided by Joanne Hulbert. — John “Choo-Choo” Shannahan Joanne is far more than the ofcial town historian. It was Joanne who orga- Captain Mudville Base Ball Club With appreciation 2 THE STORY OF The Mudville Base Ball Club Contents Our History .................. 4 A Team Is Born . 23 Our Players ................... 58 Mudville Trips . 68 All-Time Roster . 69 Our Game .................... 70 Our Friends .................. 84 3 4 PART 1 Our History 5 6 It was meant to be just one game. Included as part of the 2003 Celebrate Holliston festivities, it was to be played using ancient rules that had a strong local connection. 1829 - Early Games on the Common Te teams, having been specifcally assembled for this event, met at Kampersal Field, and having taken joy in the competition, resolved not to let this forgotten game die again. It was while fulflling this promise that a team was born. Holliston has a long and storied baseball tradition. Tat tradition began in the 1850’s and continues to this day. 1829 - A runner gets “soaked” playing Te Mudville Base Ball Club is part of that story. town ball 7 8 side. If this be so, we presume our side The Enterprise Is will put themselves in more thorough Highly Laudable training, and no wise disheartened, try it again. Afer all, the mere matter It is in the musty, yellowed pages of the Holliston of winning is not the most important Transcript that this story begins. thing. Te exercise itself is manly and most healthful. July 18, 1857 – BALL GAME Within the past week those of our citizens who September 26, 1857 in years gone by were accustomed to engage in – Holliston Ball Club – [1850] Development of this athletic sport, have revived it to some extent Notice has been given publicly for all the Massachusetts on the grounds north of the First Parish Church. those interested in the formation of a Game Tey have entered into it with a zeal which Base Ball Club in this town to meet at shows that they had not forgotten their former the ofce of the Holliston Fire Insurance skill in the game. We know of no recreation bet- Company this (Saturday) evening at half ter calculated to develop the sinews and muscles past six o’clock. Te object of this organization healthily than this. We can but award the need of will be to encourage the establishment of very superior game to these ball-players; in their mediums of healthy athletic exercises and movements none of that languor can be discov- harmless amusements, in our midst. Te ered, discernible in the games of the Olympic enterprise is highly laudable. Ball Club of Boston, and some others rather famous in this sport. An invitation has been With interest in this developing game known extended to the Medway Ball Club to visit our as Town Ball exploding, 1858 promised to be an Hollistonians for the purpose of playing a trial important year. It was in May that L.E. Rock- game against them this afernoon and by them wood and J.W. Cutler of Holliston’s Winthrop accepted. Club joined representatives of nine other clubs in Dedham, where the Massachusetts Associa- tion of Base Ball Players was established. Teir July 25, 1857 – goal was to enact a code of rules and regulations BALL PLAYING – Te vicinity of under which member teams would play. Tat Winthrop Street was a lively spot on Saturday goal, having been achieved, resulted in the enact- afernoon. A numerous concourse of our people ment of what is generally known as “Te Massa- was gathered to see the contest between the chusetts Rules”, and the frst game under which Holliston and Medway players. We are not able, these rules would be employed was scheduled in the Editor’s absence, to report particulars, but for May 31st. we hear that the balance was in favor of the other 9 In regard to this game, the Boston Bee would report: “Te playing by the Holliston Club was by far the best ever seen in our city.” With this win frmly in their pocket, games were scheduled closer to home. June 26, 1858 – T e game of ball played at Braggville last Saturday afernoon, be- tween the Holliston and Medway boys, was the occasion for a great gathering of all the loafers from the neighboring towns, with a fair sprin- kling of very respectable looking men. Te fact of the matter was, as we understand, a row and fght. Te cause was rum. A large quantity, it is said, was brought on to the ground and disposed [Circa 1859] – Town Ball on the Boston Common of, and even sold at the hotel. We commend that Boston Herald, June 1, 1858 Club showed themselves to be perfect masters of establishment to the authorities in Holliston. – A match game of base ball was played upon the bat stick, and their fne playing was greatly Despite the fght, there was no lingering ill the Common yesterday afernoon by the Olym- admired by the spectators, among who were will between the teams, as within weeks they pic Club of this city and the Winthrop Club of members of many other Clubs in and out of the were joined by a team from Milford in welcom- Holliston. Te event drew together between city. Afer the game was over, the Winthrop Club ing the Olympic Ball Club of Boston to town. two and three thousand people, and for the sat down to an excellent supper at Bacon’s Saloon “Te day was principally occupied in playing better accommodation of the players, lines were on Washington Street, by invitation of the Olym- their favorite game, which was conducted in a drawn enclosing two or three acres of the parade pics. A.S. Flye, President of the Olympic Club, spirited and friendly manner, and was the occa- ground. Te game, which was a very exciting presided, and speeches were made by Mr. Peter sion of quite a large gathering of our people, who one, resulted as will be seen by the scoring R. Johnson, President of the Winthrop Club, were evidently satisfed that the tact exhibited below, in the victory of the Holliston Club, by and others. Te utmost harmony prevailed, by the participants in their athletic sports, could “an overwhelming majority.” For some cause or and the occasion was one which will not soon only have come through constant and long con- other the Olympic Club did not play near as well be forgotten by the participants. Te Holliston tinued practice.” as they have on several occasions, but they bore Club remained in the city last night the guests of And thus was base ball born in our town. It their defeat manfully, and we are glad to know the Olympic Club, and this morning will play a soon became the accepted practice for spirited that the very best of feeling still exist between friendly game of ball upon the Common. games to be followed by the retirement of both the two Clubs. Te members of the Winthrop teams to the Winthrop House, located at the 10 corner of Washington and Green Streets, for a Play would continue in 1860, but the start of reported that “A set of muscular young men dinner marked by good food, lively speeches, the Civil War in 1861 brought about the end of having challenged a Natick base ball club, the lat- and the “utmost good feeling.” Massachusetts Rules base ball.