Vintage Baseball/Western Reserve Cup on July 12th

[Rhonda loje]

Western Reserve Cup
Sunday, July 12

Vintage Base Ball returns to Lakewood Park! Don’t miss the Western Reserve Cup, a three-team competition on Sunday July 12 starting at 1 p.m. Sponsored by the Lakewood Historical Society, the game will be at the Oldest Stone House field and refreshments will be available for purchase throughout the afternoon. Grab a lawn chair and join the fun!

Beginning in 1866, Cleveland businessmen initiated a trophy prize baseball match. The match normally took place on the Kinsman Grounds and was always around the 4th of July. The prize was a Silver Ball and Rosewood Bat Trophy, and was awarded to the best team in the Western Reserve. The original trophy was made by Tiffany’s of New York and cost $120.00, or about one year’s pay for a working class person in 1866. The winners of the first Trophy were the Forest City Club of Cleveland.

Back in 1966, the teams from the Western Reserve would play “challenge matches” among each other, at least once every 30 days. If one team remained undefeated after the challenges, it would permanently retain the Silver Ball portion of the trophy. Our modern Cup is somewhat different then that of 1866. In 2009, the three clubs of the Western Reserve will compete for the prize in three matches amongst each other. The Akron Black Stockings, the Forest City Base Ball Club and the Cleveland Blues Base Ball Club will compete. Local dignitaries will judge the teams on their won-loss record at the matches, sportsmanship, and base ball authenticity during the matches. Instead of an expensive Silver Bat & Ball made by Tiffany’s, the 2009 trophy will be home made by the skilled craftsman of Schutz Builders with donated materials from GLS Group, a business promotions & merchandise company.

The matches will be played at the grounds of Lakewood Park, and begin at 1:00pm. Clubs will be at the field at 12:30, warming up and getting the field ready for play. The Blues will be arriving in their newly acquired horse and carriage (actually a 1927 Chevy Capitol Pick-up Truck). Be sure to bring lawn chairs. The Lakewood Historical Society will be selling refreshments for the cranks (fans).

CONTACT: Mazie M. Adams

Executive Director

Lakewood Historical Society

14710 Lake Avenue

Lakewood, OH 44107

216 221-7343

director@lakewoodhistory.org

Lakewood Historical Society

14710 Lake Avenue

Lakewood, OH 44107

216 221-7343

museum@lakewoodhistory.org

http://www.lakewoodhistory.org

http://www.lakewoodmuseumstore.com