Preparations For Knickerbocker Experience And Doc Adams Memorial

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This past weekend, Doc Adams was celebrated at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration with the Doc Adams Old Time Base Ball Festival. As usual, it was a great time for ballists and cranks alike. In addition to the usual great play demonstrated on the field, there were a couple of surprises. Former Met great and 1969 World Series Champion, Art Shamsky, was on hand to throw out a ceremonial pitch and mingle with the fans. Also on hand were Zoe and Mike Fimbel from Doc Adams’ birthplace of Mont Vernon, NH to enjoy the festivities. The annual Doc Adams Birthplace … Continue reading →

The Fly Game: Knickerbockers Vs. Empires

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On August 10, 1859, the Knickerbockers played the Empires at Elysian Fields.It was the first game of the 1859 season between these two teams, however, it was not a regular match as they played “the fly game”. In the fly game, the ball must be caught “on the fly” to be an out rather on one bounce. The Knickerbockers won the contest 59-33. Doc Adams played “centre field”. He had 5 “Hands Lost” (a player was charged with a Hand Lost every time he made an out at bat or on the basepaths) but scored 5 runs. On an interesting … Continue reading →

Doc Adams Portrait Hangs At The Fairfield County Bank

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Daniel Lucius Adams, M.D. was the 1st President of the Ridgefield Savings Bank which opened in 1871 in the Bailey & Gage store at the Old Hundred (which is now the Aldrich Museum). In 2004, the Ridgefield Savings Bank and Fairfield County Savings Bank, merged as the Fairfield County Savings Bank. It had been reported that Adams’ portrait now hangs in the Ridgefield Saving Bank Main Branch’s lobby. On a recent visit to Ridgefield, I decided to drop in and take a look. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate the portrait and I must have looked lost or suspicious, as … Continue reading →

The 2023 Annual Doc Adams Old Time Base Ball Festival

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The 2023 Annual Doc Adams Old Time Base Ball Festival was held on August 5-6 at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. In 2015, this longest running annual vintage base ball festival of its kind was renamed in honor of Daniel Lucius ‘Doc’ Adams. This year’s festival once again lived up its reputation as a must see for baseball fans, history buffs, and anyone looking for a day of outdoor fun. The top 10 weather was enjoyed by ballists and cranks alike. For more photos from the event, visit our 2023 Doc Adams Old Time Base Ball Festival page. The Knickerbocker Experience … Continue reading →

Annual Doc Adams Old Time Base Ball Festival This Weekend

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The 26th installment of the Annual Doc Adams Old Time Base Ball Festival will take place tomorrow and Sunday, August 5-6, at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. In 2015, this longest running annual vintage base ball festival of its kind was renamed in honor of Daniel Lucius ‘Doc’ Adams. The festival is a must for baseball fans, history buffs, and anyone looking for a a day of outdoor fun. This year, The Kickerbocker Experience will be making its first appearance at the festival. The club’s goal is to provide a memorable “Experience” that honors Doc Adams and the Knickerbockers. If you … Continue reading →

Doc Adams – SABR’s Overlooked 19th Century Baseball Legend

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On July 31, 2014, Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams (1814 – 1899) was selected as the 19th Century Overlooked Baseball Legend by the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). This recognition came in the bi-centennial of his birth. Each year SABR honors a 19th century player, manager, executive or other baseball personality not yet inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Adams joined the New York Base Ball Club in 1840. By 1845, he became a member of the famed Knickerbocker Base Ball Club and was elected as its president two years later. In 1848, he … Continue reading →

Annual Doc Adams Old Time Base Ball Festival Next Weekend

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The 26th installment of the Annual Doc Adams Old Time Base Ball Festival will take place next weekend, August 5-6, at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. In 2015, this longest running annual vintage base ball festival of its kind was renamed in honor of Daniel Lucius ‘Doc’ Adams. The festival is a must for baseball fans, history buffs, and anyone looking for a a day of outdoor fun. If you are in the area, come on down and step back in time and watch how base ball was played in its infancy. If you’re not in the immediate area, its worth the … Continue reading →

Thoughts Regarding The Hall Of Fame Class of 2022

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July 25, 2022, the Class of 2022 was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Congratulations to all those that will be inducted today: Bud Fowler, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Minnie Miñoso, and Buck O’Neil, Tony Oliva, and David Ortiz, as well as Tim Kurkjian (BBWAA’s Career Excellence Award} and Jack Graney (Ford C. Frick Award). For many, it’s been a long wait. On the occasion that we had hoped we would see Doc Adams’ contributions and accomplishments finally honored in Cooperstown, I’d like to pause and reflect on how we got here and what it … Continue reading →

Are You Experienced?

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The Knickerbocker Base Ball Club has been recreated with the debut of The Knickerbocker Experience at the Gettysburg National 19th Century Base Ball Festival in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 2022. With the club’s special attention to historical accuracy, the debut was both fun and meaningful for ballists and cranks alike. A total of 32 clubs battled in a single elimination tournament. Once a team was eliminated from the tournament, they continued to face other clubs in festival play. The Flat Rock Bear Clan BBC of Michigan emerged victorious, defeating the Rising Sun BBC of Maryland 23-11 for the championship. In a … Continue reading →

Baseball Americana At The Library Of Congress

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In 2018, The Library of Congress hosted the Baseball Americana exhibition.  The ‘Laws of  Base Ball” authored by Doc Adams was the centerpiece of this major, year-long exhibition. The exhibition explored baseball’s past and present and how the game forged a sense of community for players and fans across the country. “The founding documents of baseball that would shape the modern game as our national pastime were ironed out in January and February 1857 at a convention called by the Knickerbockers Base Ball Club in New York City. Corrections were made by hand as the details were negotiated by New … Continue reading →