Roxbury Nine Team History
The Spirit of Keator Lives on in the Nine . . .
The settlement of Roxbury was already 100 years old when our national pastime was first taking hold across rural America. From the earliest days of town ball to backyard scrub matches, Little League to Legion, High School Varsity to our Vintage Club, the Roxbury Nine—baseball is deeply rooted in the heart of our community. When native son Harry M. Keator made Yale All-American in the 1897, Roxbury had found its dream team captain. Dr. Keator was popular, athletic and venerated for his fairness and sportsmanship. His high ideals put an indelible stamp on the "boys" who played under his leadership. Reading the early history of the "Nine" below, you'll find many themes and names that are still in play today: strong community support, courage and sportsmanship above all, and always, a game to make your children proud. . . In these excerpts from The Roxbury Times, you may also find familiar names like Keator, Shepard, Cronk, Bouton, Hubbard — families that have long been a part of Roxbury life and some who are still wearing a Roxbury Nine jersey today . . .
“Baseball is a remarkable phenomenon that has guided the country’s
leisure time since the early 1820s—a staple of American life. Many communities
boast a proud tradition of our beloved pastime through remembrances, photographs,
and anecdotal experiences.”
“Baseball” by Ken Burns
and Geoff Ward
Roxbury is no exception to the claim made by Mr. Burns and Mr. Ward. From the earliest days of town ball to backyard scrub matches, little league to Legion, High School varsity to our Vintage Club the Roxbury Nine—baseball is deeply rooted in the hearts of the community.
Although there were occasional reports of organized baseball in the 1890s, it was July of 1898 when The Roxbury Times began to report weekly on our beloved pastime. Following are excerpts of articles. Take your time….the rest is history.
July 5, 1898
There is certainly material enough in Roxbury for an excellent ball team. Why not organize one?
July 12, 1898
The Stamford base Ball team challenged Roxbury to a game of ball Monday, so without any practice whatever a team was gotten together to play these renowned ball tossers. After the Roxbury boys arrived on the field to play, the Stamford players rapidly dispersed to their several homes and although their manager tried to induce them to play only one or two of them were on the grounds at the time scheduled to play. The townspeople of Stamford should be proud to have such a brave lot of Ball players
 |
| early photo of the Roxbury Nine |
July 28, 1898
A meeting for the purposes of organizing a base ball club was held Tuesday afternoon. The following officers were chosen: Edwin B McKillip, Mgr; John Van, Cap; Harry L Preston, Scorer; Harry M Keator, Ex Captain Yale ’97 will coach the team and there is no reason why “our boys” can’t make a good showing against teams in our vicinity. A suitable ground has been secured and practice will begin at once. But after all that has been done, a team cannot thrive without support of the townspeople, so if business men and others interested in base ball and the advancement of the town’s interest, will contribute for the purposes of purchasing balls, bats etc. Some good games will be scheduled for Roxbury.
Sept. 22, 1898
The game of ball played Saturday afternoon between the married men and the single men of the town was one of the most exciting and hotly contested games that has been played in Roxbury in many years, Much enthusiasm was displayed by the crowd of spectators who were largely in favor of the married men. That the married men are sluggers cannot be denied, as they batted three of the single men’s crack pitchers out of the box. At the finish the game was so exciting that the scorer, Mr Perry—who by the way was a hot supporter of the single men—became so rattled and twisted that he did not know what state he was living in, and placed runs to the credit of the single men when the married men were at bat and visa versa when the single men were at bat, so it was hard tell which side won the game, both claiming it:
July 6, 1899
Quite a crowd from Roxbury "took in" a ball game at Fleischmann's on Tuesday.
July 21, 1899
Several from Roxbury and Halcottville watched the games at Fleischmann's on Thursday through Saturday between Fleischmann's and X Cuban Giants. Roxbury will play Hamden at Tyler's flat on 8/2. The married men vs. single men game will be on 7/29. Other games will be arranged if sufficient interest is shown by town people in the "national game".
 |
| Roxbury Nine around 1915 |
July 28, 1899
Next Tuesday the second teams of Roxbury and Fleischmann's will play at Fleischmann's. Both teams are evenly matched - a good game is looked forward to.
August 4, 1899
Next Tuesday the second teams of Roxbury and Fleischmann's will play at Fleischmann's. Both teams are evenly matched - a good game is looked forward to.
August 11, 1899
On 8/16 Halcottville will play Weingart Institute nine of Grand Hotel Station. It should be a very close and exciting game.
Grand Gorge - The third game between Gilboa and Grand Gorge was played here Wednesday. Grand Gorge won 23-18. They took two out of three in series.
Frank V. Riley of the Mountain Athletes of Fleischmann's twirled the sphere for Murphy's nine Friday. Murphy's colors had to come down. Hamden nine are all-around good players and won both games easily. Murphy's second nine played Gilboa at Gilboa on Saturday and lost 7 to 9.
August 18, 1899
Grand Gorge - "Spiders" played small boys of Roxbury Satrurday and won 21-20. There will be another game at Roxbury this Saturday.
"The program for the afternoon consisted of appropriate addresses by F. M. Andrus, G. M. Burr and J. F. Keator of Roxbury, M. H. Dean of Margaretville and S. Slauson of Vega. After the addresses a game of ball was played between the home club and the Weingart Institute team on the flat adjoining the hotel. The game was easily won by the Halcottville boys, who were ably assisted by a portion of the Roxbury team, by the score of 37 21. The first two or three innings were hotly contested, but after that the 'professionals' (?) were forced to stand back, and the 'amateurs' had a walk-over the rest of the game."
August 25, 1899
John Elflein of Grand Gorge played with Roxbury on Tuesday. He is on the famous Murphy's nine and is acknowledged as one of the best players in theis section of the country.
Two exciting games were played in Roxbury last week. Tuesday: Fleischmann's Junior team 14 - Roxbury 13. Grand Gorge Spiders 21 - Roxbury Junior team 27. Both were played at Tyler's flat and attended by large and enthusiastic crowd.
Chuchhill Hall played at Grand Gorge against Grand Gorge. Churchhill Hall "met with ignominious defeat" 27 to 9.
Grand Gorge - Stamford Athletics played at Grand Gorge. Grand Gorge won 29-8.
September 22, 1899
"Frank Riley, one of the star pitchers of Fleischmanns base ball team, is in town at his home for a few days previous to going to the Oneonta Normal school, from which he expects to graduate this term. Mr. Riley has made an enviable record as a pitcher this season, winning 81.5 per cent of the games that he has ptched, although he was handicapped in the early part of the season by the after effects of a severe attack of typhoid fever while at Honolulu during the late war with Spain."
October 20, 1899
"An old-fashioned game of ball will be played on Enderlin's flat, Saturday, Oct. 21st, 1899, between two picked teams of men who played the game thirty years ago, as it was then played, using soft ball which they can throw at and hit the runner, etc. The Roxbury Cyclones and Grand Gorge Old Men's Team are the names of the contesting clubs, and it will undoubtedly be a great day for the old-timers and very amusing for the younger generation. The game will be called at 2:00 p. m., after which all will participate in a grand clam bake, to be supervised by that reputed caterer, the Hon. Robert Scudder. A good time is assured in advance to those who will be fortunate to be present."
 |
| Roxbury Nine in the 1920's |
October 27, 1899
"Last Saturday Roxbury was the scene of an old-fashioned game of base ball, which was hotly contested with primitive equippage between aboriginal subjects, ludicrously designated as the Roxbury Cyclones and Grand Gorge Old Men's Team. These cognomens were chosen, as one of the participants announced, in 'order tew dew erway with all fermilarity connected with th' new fangled gew-gaws called naimes,' and the success of their efforts with this end in view is matter for reflection to the reader.
The game had been well advertised and long before the appointed time set for battle the town was filled to overflowing with those rare specimens of true old sporting blood that can only be tumbled from precipitious inclines Old Delaware's best 'coaw districks,' while the air took on a tanned appearance and held forth in glorious, odors, bethinking one of the stock the sports 'hed left tew hem.' About 2:00 p. m. the players, closely followed by the expectant crowd, marched gallantly in the battle field, helped along by a beautiful 'air' executed by a smart 'Alex' who was impolite enough to whistle that 'Golden' and time-honored toon 'Marchin' Throo Gorgie.'
After considerable long exercise had been indulged in, the Cyclones declared at bat and the game was on. Several flies responded in rapid succession to the vicious whacks of the Roxburyites, and they flew over the plates at an amazing gait, bringing thunderous applause from the on-lookers and fear and consternation to their opponents, who, after a herculine effort, succeeded in getting to bat. And so it went. All through the game waged hot and the spectators were held in breathless suspense by the wonderful maneuverings of both sides, while the unlucky umpire was increasingly made the subject of public ridicule and the recipient of some undesirable cognomens.
It was a beautiful sight to see men, who for the past several decades, had been cripple up from too frequent attacks rheumatism and old age, flying around the diamond at a 2: 40 clip, their luxurious grows of silvered whiskers fanning in the breeze like snow flakes in March gale, producing an elegant effect. Mr. Alexander Golden, a sprightly old gent somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 years of age, was one of the star players and it was actually found necessary to tie his hair on before allowing him to make a tour of the bases (to keep it from blowing off while he was executing some of those phenomenal spurts). Special mention is also made of Capt. Conro and Cyrus Fowler, both of Grand Gorge, who proved no 'easy thing' and caused the Cyclones considerable discomfiture. Now, just how much the score was, no one will ever know. The scorer got rattled when something like eight men flooded the home plate at one time and forgot to give credit, also for the next several runs, and then it was too late. His excitement was undoubtedly due to the unusual sight, and he was forgiven.
As the score sheet favored the Grand Gorge team when it was put aside and they showed themselves better players afterwards, the decision was in their favor. After the contest all participated in a grand clam bake, which was served under the skillful management of R. B. Scudder."
 |
| Roxbury Nine Team Photo - early 20's |
EXTRA BASE BALL HISTORY BITS;
July 1, 1911
It seems that our townspeople who justly pride themselves in the splendid
record of our base ball team, should not forget, as many of the visitors
to the ball grounds seem to do, that it takes money to support a baseball
team, furnish uniforms, equipment, meet traveling expenses, etc. In most
of the towns an admission fee of twenty-five cents is charged for the privilege
of witnessing a game. That is considered none too much by those interested
in watching a well played game of base ball. In Roxbury at Kirkside Park,
no admission fee is charged, and a collection is all the means resorted to
for the purpose of raising funds. Let those interested in the game remember
that a contribution will not be amiss, when the future games are played in
Kirkside Park. R. S. Ives, Manager.
August 2, 1913
LOCAL FAN FODDER: The Game that Beat Supper
Hobart - Roxbury Contest went
for eleven intense innings while meals grew cold at home
Excitement intense and stirring, surcharged the atmosphere. Spectators waited
with abated breath. Dusk was approaching. Supper time had long since past.
Once again victory seemed to be within grasp and hearts dull to past excitement,
lived only for the moment. The fight had gone eleven innings and was still
a deadlock. On third restlessly crouched a runner ready to flash across the
pan with the winning run. At the plate the batter waited calmly. All eyes
were intensely concentrated on the next ball. It seemed that the God of War
would again answer the silent prayers of those who begged for another victory.
Swiftly the shinning white missile which carried with it victory of blasted
hopes shot toward the waiting batter. What followed is now history. When
Finley Shepard drove out that slashing drive in the eleventh inning, which
won the game and sent scores of Roxbury base ball fans home to cold suppers
and to hear still colder remarks about its being Saturday night and the supper
dishes not yet cleared away, there ended the most sensational game played
on the local grounds this season. It was Hobart’s first visit to Roxbury
and the visitors very nearly convinced the home team that they had enjoyed
their stay. The locals played a hard uphill game and managed to win out when
defeat seemed certain. Loomis was on the mound for Roxbury and twirled superb
ball, striking out 16 men.
The game opened with Loomis fanning the first two men. Dales hit safely to right and completed the circuit when Shepard fumbled his hit. Roxbury tied the score in its half of the first. Wilson doubled. MacLaury hit to right for two bases scoring Wilson. K. Grant opened the second for Hobart with a clean single. A wild pitch advanced him to second, from whence he scored on Clark’s hit. Loomis promptly tightened up and fanned the next three batters. Roxbury forged to the front in the fourth. Bouton was hit and stole second. Kelly came through with a single scoring Bouton. Kelly stole second and scored on Cronk’s two bagger. Hobart’s big inning came in the fifth when they scored six runs on a base on balls, three errors and three hits. With the score six runs against them the locals got busy in the eighth frame and batted in five tallies. With the crowd cheering for another run Roxbury pushed the tieing score across in the ninth. Hobart counted once in the eleventh but the locals were game. Bouton hit for two bases and scored when Grant throwed wild to first to catch Andrus, Andrus taking second on the play. Shepard hit one on the nose for a clean drive through second scoring Andrus with the winning run.
May 24, 1917 Dr. Harry M. Keator
A Fine and Rare Spirit, an Active and Loyal Citizen, a Sincere and Faithful Friend, an Able and Skilled Physician and Surgeon Has Gone From us.
Dr. Harry Mayham Keator, one of Roxbury’s best loved sons, famous
in his younger days as a base ball player and in his later years as an expert
surgeon, was found dead in his room at his late residence in this village,
on Sunday morning May 20th. In his right hand Dr. Keator still held the pistol
whose shot had severed the narrow thread of his life.
For more than five years Dr. Keator has been making every effort to regain the health lost while building up a successful practice as a physician and surgeon in New York City. He has resided several winters in Saranac Lake and at the family residence here. Last winter he went to Albuquerque, New Mexico, returning to Roxbury in the month of March, apparently much benefited. The improvement, however, was more apparent than real, and he had been recently advised by physicians in New York City, whom he consulted, that there was slight hope of his recovery and that he must give up performing any surgical operations whatsoever. This, together with his own expert knowledge of the diseases from which he suffered, so preyed upon his mind that he became rapidly unbalanced and the act of Sunday morning was the result of this condition.
On Sunday morning at about eight o’clock, Dr. Keator’s sister carried his breakfast to his room. On opening the door she found her brother stretched lifeless on his couch. No one had heard a shot fired, but a small bullet hole at the base of the brain and the pistol still held in his hand were proof in themselves of how his death had come.
Dr. Keator was the son of Charles G. Keator, and Rose Mayham Keator. He was born in Roxbury, New York, November 21, 1873. His education, like that of so many other of Delaware County’s leading men, was begun in the “Little Red School House.” He was graduated from Stamford Seminary in 1890 and from the Williston Seminary, Easthampton, Mass., in 1893, also from Yale University with the degree of A.B. in 1897.
The following year he taught at Williston Seminary. He then took up the study of medicine and was graduted from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, with the degree of M.D. in 1902. The following two years he served as an interne physician and surgeon in the Presbyterian Hospital, New York City. He began his private practice in New York City in 1904, and was chief of a Surgical Clinic in the Presbyterian Hospital until he retired from active practice in New York City. He was also an instructor in physiology in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the City of New York, and was appointed attending surgeon at the Red Cross Hospital in New York City shortly before he gave up his active practice. He was a member of the Yale and University Clubs of New York City, and of the Holland Society of New York.
While in Yale University, he was one of the few in his class to be selected for membership in the secret society “Scroll and Key.” He was also a member of the fraternity of Alpha Delta Phi, and the Sophomore Society of Eta Phi.
Dr. Keator was not only fond of athletic sports, but excelled as an athlete. While at Williston Seminary, he was captain of the foot ball team; was a member of the base ball team, and won many track honors. When a freshman at Yale University, he was substitute pitcher on the varsity team, the junior team of “94”, of which Dutch Carter, Jack Greenway and others were members, and during his last three years played at right field. In his senior year he was captain of the varsity base ball team. He excelled as a tennis player, and was fond of fishing and hunting. In this, his home town, and the neighboring towns he has always exerted a wholesome and manly influence in athletics and the young manhood of these communities looked upon him as an ideal. His enthusiasm and ability have been largely responsible for the success which our Roxbury base ball team has had. In all sports, whenever controversies or disputes over decisions arose, his opponents were quick to appeal, to Harry, and abide by his decisions. He was not only fair, but always a gentleman, even in the heat and excitement of athletic contests.
He had been for many years chairman of the executive committee of the John More Association, an association consisting of several hundred members, living in various parts of the United States, and from three to four hundred of whom gather at Roxbury every five years for a family reunion, extending over a period of a week. Dr. Keator was always one of the moving spirits of all activities at these gatherings, and it was he who conceived the idea of the magnificent pageant which was given by the More family at Kirkside Park in Roxbury in 1915, upon the occasion of their last reunion. He not only conceived the idea, but shouldered the immense, trying and diversified burden of working out the details and carrying on that great undertaking which will ever by remembered by those who witnessed it as a most beautiful and instructive pageant.
Since giving up his active practice in 1912, Dr. Keator has traveled extensively, including a circuit of the world in 1913.
His medical and surgical skill have become renowned throughout a large section of this State, and he has been frequently called in consultation. When in health and condition his services were constantly in demand and at the command of every friend and acquaintance.
“Harry” as all his friends and neighbors were wont to call him, was loved and esteemed by all with whom he came in contact. He was kindly, considerate, sympathetic and enthusiastic in all wholesome and helpful relations of life to a superlative degree.
The funeral services were held at the family residence in this village on Wednesday, May 23 at 10:30 a.m., the Rev. W. H. Rathbun, former pastor of the M. E. Church, now at Millerton, N. Y., officiating. There was a large attendance of friends and relatives, and the profusion of flowers gave evidence of the esteem n which Dr. Keator was held. The bearers were Dr. H. Wark Keator of Fleischmanns, Dr. J. A. Gaul, Dr. W. H. Cullen, John G. Lutz, J. Frisbee Bouton and Andrew F. Lutz of Roxbury. The honorary bears were Dr. Edward Cussler, William Crosby, Frederick Keator, Charles Rose, Taylor More, John Barnes Wells, all, of New York City; Daniel Chase of Albany, N. Y., and Frank P. Wilson and Arthur F. Bouton of Roxbury, N. Y.
Dr. Keator had never married. He is survived by two sisters, Miss Anna S. Keator and Mrs. Ralph S. Ives, both residing at the family home in this village.