06-14-2009
2009 SAGINAW OLD GOLD’S BRING HOME THE BUCKET
The Saginaw Old Gold’s vintage baseball team won the 17th Annual Civil War
Era Base Ball Tournament in Sylvania, Ohio this past weekend (6-14-2009). In
the grueling 3-game set, Saginaw played nearly flawless defense and created
timely hitting to come away with the championship and the Metal Bucket/Plaque.
Rick “Slink” Spitz caught everything but a cold, thrown his way at 1st base.
Rick tributes his new found success to his off season workout and diet, that’s
resulted in his new stealth figure. Toby “Scoops” Larkin did everything but
set up the lawn chairs and cut the grass. On this sunny day in Ohio, Toby led
the team in hits and defense. Toby won every plaque the Tournament had to offer:
Fastest base runner w/ 16 plus seconds, Longest throw w/ tosses of 240 and 252
feet for 1st and 2nd in that event, Most catches in the three games w/ 8 (One
circus catch should have been on ESPN T.V. Sports Highlights). For all the above
Toby was presented with the Tournament game ball by the “Professor”. The day’s
most endearing moment came when Toby gave his 1st plaque to a disadvantaged
young gentleman who competed in the base running event, to the applause of all
the players (son of Team Captain of the Great Black Swamp Frogs of Sylvania).
The play was stopped and the four teams lined up for the presentation. When
Toby handed over the plaque, the boy leaped about two feet off the ground in
joy. This gesture makes you feel good about human kindness. Tom “Sawdust” Tesch
played outstanding defense behind the plate. On the mound Chuck “Ducky” Mahan
and Kevin “Big Wheel” Beemer held three teams to only 4 runs for a 1.33 ERA
and a combined shutout. Saginaw’s outfield of John “Lumberjack” Piersall (outfield
captain), Ryan “Britches” Dost, Sonny “The Hustler” Guerra, and rookie John
“Flat Foot” Ruple corralled everything (in the air and one bounce outs) to come
their way. Captain “Squints” McCauley was a sight, with his horned-rimmed black
glasses, reminiscent of hockey’s Hanson brothers Saginaw went undefeated for
the three games to win: Old Gold’s 2 Great Black Swamp Frogs (Ohio) 1, Old Gold’s
4 Forest City (Ohio) 0, Old Gold’s 3 Northville Eclipse (Michigan) 3 w/ 2 extra
innings. The catch of the day went to the Swamp Frog centerfielder who caught
a smash off the bat of “Lumberjack” Piersall, the ball was hit over his head
to deep center- it was caught on a gallop like Willie Mays. Our beautiful tally
girl, Heidi Krenz was there in her glowing self-she left more glowing after
being in the sun all day. Sonny “The Hustler” Guerra expressed relief that we
weren’t going to emulate the uniforms of the Northville Eclipse, he thought
they had a “Harry Potter” theme to them (Orange and black striped puffy derby
style hats, tight black pants, and light orange sash belts-but that’s the way
they wore them in 1865). Hits in the three games: Larkin-6, Piersall-5, McCauley-5,
Guerra-5, Hammond-4, and Ruple-4. Saginaw’s season now stands at 3-0-1. Last
year they were 15-5, for a two year record of 18-5-1.
There is a Greenfield Village game featuring the World Champion La-De-Dah’s/Saginaw Old Gold’s vintage base ball teams on June 28th. A Mitchell bus trip from Heck’s Bar will leave @ 8:30 am on Sunday, leaving time to explore the village and museum before the 1:30 game. The cost is $30: includes bus ride, game, refreshments on the return trip. Cost into the village could be extra, but last year everyone got in free as we parked in the employee parking area. You will need to bring your own lawn chairs. Checks can be made to Heck’s Bar. Email Harold if you have any questions. Hcampau@aol.com