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Gregory Stoloski derives immense joy from explaining history as a teacher in Levittown. Last weekend, the educator showed his additional love for honoring the past by participating in the second 19th Century Base-Ball Exhibition & Fair at The Philadelphia Navy Yard’s Marine Parade Grounds, 4747 S. Broad St.
Trading his classroom for a field, he offered his athletic and historical prowess to the Athletic Base Ball Club of Philadelphia, the event’s host for whom he serves as the vice president of operations.
“It’s been awesome to be with this team to see its development,” the resident of 13th and Tasker streets said Saturday of the club’s 2009 founding by president Scott Alberts. “We have guys who love the game and who have commitments to historical authenticity.”
Stoloski and his peers entered the Mid-Atlantic Vintage Base Ball League two years ago and number themselves among 14 squads that contest games from New York to Maryland. To mimic their predecessors, the players adhere to their pastime’s 1864 rules and don era-specific uniforms. The original Athletic club began playing in 1860 and eventually rose to prominence, earning the league’s best mark in 1867 and 1868, assisting with the creation of the National Association of Base Ball Players — the forerunner of today’s National League — and capturing the body’s first pennant in 1871. It ceased operations five years later, though its success proved so inspiring, Alberts desired a 21st-century reincarnation.
“I learned about vintage play through a magazine, and when I realized Philadelphia, a huge baseball city, lacked a club, I said starting one is really what I want to do,” the Upper Darby dweller said.
Alberts landed players through friendships and outreach to the Society of American Baseball Research. Solid relationships with his league mates compelled him to seek a spot for a unified gathering, with The Navy Yard aiding his mission.
“It dates back to the Civil War era and is very conducive to supporting this type of play,” Alberts, whose gang uses Fairmount Park’s Memorial Field for its home slate, said. “The City needs to do a better job of linking this resource with the community.”
Before instructing his charges in their second duel, he helped to man the information table replete with souvenirs, including replica hats and balls. Historical ice creams and sorbets, as well as old-fashioned root beer and soda, augmented the refined feel Alberts had hoped to establish.
Featuring Stoloski, Queen Village’s Rob Wishnick and former Fourth-and-Morris-streets inhabitant Matthew Sochor at the top, his lineup triumphed 15-9 over Pennsylvania’s Mechanicsburg Nine in its morning match and sought another success against New Jersey’s Hoboken Nine.
“Let’s go, boys,” Alberts said. “Make it a perfect day.”
Hoboken won the bat toss and chose to field first. Adorned in white flannel shirts bearing an “A” and blue pants featuring “Athletic” on the back, the local bunch claimed an early lead, with Wishnick, of Third and Monroe streets, and Sochor helping the cause with first-inning singles.
The Navy Yard also oversaw last year’s reflectional festivities, but South Philly once blossomed as a location for the old style of play, with the former Parade Grounds at 11th and Wharton streets drawing crowds during the Athletic club’s heyday. Aside from the planes leaving the Philadelphia International Airport decorating the sky, the matchup resembled 19th-century tussles.
“The tactics are the same, but the strategy is different,” Alberts said. “The key to winning is fielding.”
The 40 aforementioned rules, many still in use today, supported his assertion. Pitchers made underhand deliveries, with rare swings and misses meaning the gloveless defenders needed to stay alert. It also meant hurlers needed constant accuracy, as only three balls constituted a walk.
“Many guys forget they cannot run beyond the first-base bag on a ground ball, too,” Alberts said.
Outfielders also could record an out, or a “hand,” according to proper terminology, by fielding a ball after one bounce, which often made scoring runs, or “aces,” a dilemma, Alberts said. Unfortunately for his unit, the Hoboken representatives turned their deficit into a lead and won 12-6. With Sunday’s 7-6 loss to Delaware’s Lewes club and 16-8 setback to Maryland’s Cecil club, Alberts’ boys managed only one victory, but their sportsmanship won applause from their vanquishers.
“Hip, hip, huzzah!” Alberts et al shouted to the Garden State travelers.
As the Athletic club winds down its third season, its president is envisioning expanded outreach.
“We’ve looked at some other places and might add another big event,” Alberts said. “We want to continue to honor this great game.”
“We might add a club or two to Philadelphia,” Stoloski added. “We’ve found the more people find out about us, the more they love us.”
Todd Wills, a Civil War and baseball buff, agreed.
“I’d heard of but never seen the team,” the resident of Sixth and Mifflin streets said. “I can swing the lumber. Maybe I’ll be out there next time.”
Visit phillyvintagebaseball.org.
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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