Roxbury Nine Team History
“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 |