6/6/2010: Saginaw “Old Golds’ Even Season Record
The Saginaw “Golds’ played through a day of rain Sunday @ Ojibway Park in our fair city to defeat Fort Wayne of Detroit 19 to 5. The win brought the team record of competitive Base Ball to 4 & 4. Chad “Shorty’ short led the way, going 5 for 5, and taking home the game ball from the “Professor.” Adam McCauley, Ryan Dost, & Nick “I hit the ball every-time I’m up there” Hammond pounded out 4 hits each. The defensive play of the game came when Toby Larkin stopped a line mash @ shortstop. John Piersall’s aggressive play in centerfield nearly threw out a runner going to 1st base. Fort Wayne’s stout, but ever-friendly catcher made the play of the day for the road team with a diving catch off the bat of a shocked Sonny Guerra. Saginaw has been invited next year to play at the Civil War fort ‘Fort Wayne’ in Detroit. The “Golds” also have been invited to play inside a Fort in the Boston Harbor for a game against Mudville (after taking in a Red Sox-Tiger game). Saginaw’s Bingo Long & Its Traveling All-Stars hit the streets for the defense of their Sylvania Cup, which they won last year. Times: Sunday in Sylvania, Ohio, June 13, 2010: vs. Crossing Rails @ 10:00 AM (Field 2), Cayugas @ Noon (Field 2), Swamp Fogs @ 2:00 (Field 1). All the news on the Saginaw “Golds’ can be found on the web: saginawoldgolds.com. Be sure to look there, because it’s very unlikely the razor thin Saginaw News Sports paper will ever report it. It is an utter shame the way Saginaw’s sports reporters treat this team in print. In two years and a few months, this courageous bunch of players (with numerous serious injuries), have been honored by the Mayor & City Council, won the Sylvania Cup in Ohio, State of Michigan Championship twice, World Championship @ Greenfield Village (w/Dave Rozema-1984 World Champion Detroit Tiger announcing the Game in front of over a thousand fans), recorded 35 wins, two ties, and only 10 loses, marched in three City Parades, have a team mural on Hamilton Street in Old Town, played 2 games @ the Dow Diamond, and 3 more in the famous Doubleday Field & behind the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, New York (Home of the Baseball HOF). The Saginaw News didn’t even record the scores in Cooperstown. This is the only two-day Vintage Base Ball Tournament weekend ever held in Cooperstown History. Last year Bay City got a full page announcing the Michigan Cup (with a huge photo of Bay City/Midland players) and Saginaw was reported in its normal postage stamp coverage when we won it (AGAIN). This team has brought life back to Ojibway & Lathrup Park, and the 1883 & 1884 famous Saginaw ‘Old Golds’ (& John Clarkson) back to life. What I’m most proud of is the fact this team supports its self , running a Lotto, selling ads, bowling fun nights, and a Hoyt Park Softball Tournament. Web sites of Vintage baseball teams in Michigan and the East Coast talk about the ‘Golds’ as the gentlemen they are, and our esteemed paper, T.V., radio stations, can’t give this positive experience in this crime ridden town of ours the time of day. I’m sick and tired of the Saginaw News using the same tired old photo (the Golds web site has hundreds) of an over-weight Rick Spitz missing a ball at 1st base. This man has lost 35 pounds and is easily the finest defensive Vintage Base Ball 1st basemen in the Midwest. Can anyone @ the Saginaw News Sports Department, Review Magazine, or 790 AM- tell me WHY you are continuing- to short change this fine organization. None of you ever send anyone to our games. I guess documenting all the people shot everyday in Saginaw County is more important. Thank God they don’t all shoot straight. Richard “Professor” Curry: Manager of the Saginaw Old Golds.
E-Mail: clarkson1883@yahoo.com