Reenactments 1959
1959 – the Centennial Celebration
On May 16, a group of Williams and Amherst athletes (though not baseball players), dressed in 1880’s period uniforms and played a re-enactment game using Massachusetts Rules at Memorial Field on the Amherst campus. In addition, many of the players grew mustaches and beards specifically for the occasion.
The Williams Team Photo
Williams won the six-inning game 11-5, which took only forty minutes. (Only one out per inning, remember.) The game was attended by various dignitaries, including the Mayor of Pittsfield and the Governor of Massachusetts.
After the re-enactment game, the Williams and Amherst varsity teams played a regularly scheduled Little Three contest. The Lord Jeffs won by an 11-7 score.
The Stands at Amherst’s Memorial Field were full that day.
Amherst won the chess
match that day
Massachusetts Governor Foster Furcolo and Williams President James Baxter give remarks before the game.
CLICK HERE to read the New York Times account of the 1959 re-enactment
Reenactments 1976
1976 Celebration of America’s Bicentennial
On May 29, 1976 Pittsfield hosted a re-enactment of the first college baseball game as part of its year-long celebration of America’s Bicentennial. The game was played at Wahconah Park, and was preceded by a huge parade with players from both teams, local bands, Little Leagues, Boys and Girl Scouts and local community organizations. Athletes from both schools (including back-up baseball players, plus pitchers who were not scheduled to pitch in the varsity game) dressed in vintage uniforms with “1859” across the chest. Once again, the game was played with Massachusetts Rules. Williams won by the score of 13-12, and the Eph varsity won the regular Little Three game against Amherst that followed the re-enactment game.
In this photo from the varsity game later that afternoon, the Williams dugout is visible in the background as Amherst bats
A commemorative marker was unveiled in a pre-game ceremony, attended by baseball Hall of Famer Lefty Gomez (third from left)
Under Massachusetts Rules, the batter gets to pick where he wants the pitch
As with all re-enactments, the two schools faced off in a chess match
Choosing who bats first
Williams President John Chandler addresses the crowd at Wahconah Park
Tony Stall hits the game winning home run for the Ephs
The Williams sideline in the
re-enactment game. (There were no dugouts in 1859.)
Williams Coach Jim Briggs rides in the pre-game parade.
Many of the photos above come from the Amherst College Library Digital Collection. We thank our friends at Amherst College.
Reenactments 2009
150th Anniversary
150th anniversary of the Birth of College Baseball
Williams and Amherst staged another historic re-enactment of the first college game on May 3, 2009 – in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of college baseball. The game was spear-headed by alums Mike Barbera (Williams ’89) and Dan Duquette (Amherst ’80), and was co-hosted by the College Baseball Hall of Fame. A series of events took place at Wahconah Park that weekend. Baseball alums from both schools played in the re-enactment game in vintage uniforms using Massachusetts Rules. There was a chess match at the same time just outside the playing area. Williams alum and Pittsburg Pirates owner Bob Nutting read a proclamation from MLB Commissioner Bud Selig commemorating the game.
Wiliams won a clean sweep that day – the Ephs won the re-enactment game 19-17, swept the chess match, and won the varsity game by a score of 8-5. The day’s events were broadcast on ESPN Classic (now ESPNU).
CLICK HERE to read the Yahoo! Sports article on the re-enactment
CLICK HERE to read the New York Times article on the re-enactment
Williams reenactment team photo
Williams won the chess match also.
Click Here to View the Official 2009 Vintage Poster
Williams alum and Pittsburg Pirates owner Bob Nutting (second from right) presented a proclamation from MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. Dan Duquette (Amherst ’80) is in the middle in the suit, and Brad Walker of the College Baseball Hall of Fame is at far left.
The Ephs celebrate after an 8-5 win in the varsity game
EPH Coach Bill Barbale Speaks to ESPNU during the Varsity Game.
Harry Marino and Chad Brown in Varsity Game Action