The Fleischmanns Mountain Athletic Club (M.A.C.) and the Mudville Base Ball Club, from the Boston area, played a lively and entertaining doubleheader of 1860’s style baseball. The recent heat wave broke just in time and made the day even more enjoyable for ballists and cranks alike.

Collin Miller raised awareness of the contributions of Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams, MD to our National Pastime and why he should be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Making the event even more special, Nancy Adams Downey, a great-granddaughter of Doc Adams, was on hand to watch the festivities and share stories about Doc and her sister Marjorie Adams.

Doc related ephemera was on display at the event and Miller sported a custom-tailored replica uniform reminiscent of what Doc wore for the K.B.B.C. in the 1840s and 50s.

There was a nice turnout for the event and although the cranks were in attendance to enjoy the performance of two talented Base Ball Clubs, they also expressed a lot of interest in learning more about Doc Adams.

To the Fleischmanns Mountain Athletic Club and the Mudville Base Ball Clubs:

Hip-Hip-Huzzah! Hip-Hip-Huzzah! Hip-Hip-Huzzah!

To see more pictures of the event, visit our event page.

John Thorn, the Official Historian of Major League Baseball, recently wrote about Doc Adams:

He is baseball’s most important figure not in the Hall of Fame. When Adams came to New York City in 1839 he commenced to play ball “just for exercise” with some medical colleagues. Joining the Knickerbockers in the month after their founding in 1845, he made the balls, oversaw production of the bats, and added the position of shortstop to what had been an eight-man game. With the recent discovery of his “Laws of Base Ball” we have tangible primary evidence of his genius. More than anyone else, he created our game of nine innings, nine men, and ninety-foot base paths.

Read the rest of Thorn’s article, “5 Inventors“, at his “Our Game” blog.