Greenfield Village World Tournament of
Historic Base Ball Champions of 2009

 

The Saginaw ‘Old Golds’ survived torrent rain and blistering hot weather over two days in Dearborn to come away with the 2009 World Championship of Vintage Base Ball. 

Saginaw Manager Richard “Professor” Curry said, “Our ball club performed with conviction and passion, belted line drives, made nearly impossible catches, and played fundamentally sound baseball on the way to four straight wins over four of the best teams in the field of 16.” 

Saginaw, in a blinding rain, started fast with an 11-5 win over Forest City BBC of Ohio.  “Brute” Hammond (9 tournament hits), Dennis Konuszewski (7 tournament hits), and “Slink” Spitz led the way with 3-hits each.  Mahan, Beemer (8 tournament hits), and Konuszewski pitched this win and the next three games. 

Dave Rozema said, “Big Wheel” Beemer looks like a young Kirk Gibson.”  The trio allowed 23 runs in four games for an ERA of 5.75, while their team put up 14 ½ runs per game. Forest City, later, never lost another game, piling up runs on their way to the Reserve Championship Trophy. 

The Forest Cities young longhaired leftfielder commented, “You guys play a great game of baseball.”  The ‘Old Golds’ lost “Baby Bull” Daig (9 tournament hits) temporarily, with a mild concussion, when a collision happened at second- base and the other player lost a tooth.  

Game two started on an extremely hot/humid (as in 95 degrees) August Sunday morning and saw Saginaw pound the Greenfield Nationals BBC 10 to 4.  Nick “Brute” Hammond, starring again with 3 hits and playing good defense.  At the receiving end of his throws was Ryan Dost (7 tournament hits), who replaced the injured Rick Spitz.

“Slink” went to the hospital for seven stitches after splitting his hand open from a rain soaked ball.  Ryan was phenomenal every game at hauling in baseballs. 

The Wyandotte “Stars” steam rolled their way into the semi-finals of the championship bracket to play against Saginaw.  Saginaw was ready, winning 18 to 5.  Toby Larkin, Hammond, Konuszewski, Daig (after a prolonged period in the woods), and Rousseau ripped three hits each.  This set up the Championship final: Saginaw against the Columbus, Ohio Capitals. 

These boys looked like the muscular farm boys from the movie, “The Natural” with Robert Redford.  Sonny “The Hustler” Guerra (11 tournament hits-3 doubles), Chad Short, cracked 5 straight hits each, and “Lumberjack” Piersall, Rousseau (9 tournament hits), “Big Wheel” added four each. 

Saginaw won 19 to 9 to become World Champions. 

Noted Curry about the championship,  “I’ve watched baseball all my life and I’ve never seen two more acrobatically caught balls then those brought in bare handed by Chad Short (8 tournament hits) and Toby Larkin (9 tournament hits).  Chad’s play was huge because the bases were loaded in the 7^th.  Guerra played leftfield all four games with astonishing success.”  

The team’s wily veteran starting pitcher Chuck “Ducky” Mahan, not only preformed great on the mound, he added 7 tournament hits, ran like the wind, and played fearless defense. 

The game’s announcer, Dave Rozema (60-53, 448 S.O’s, with a 3.47 ERA), of the 1984 World Champion Detroit Tigers, commented after “Ducky” stepped in front of a line drive and then threw out the runner at home, “I would have never done that”, (especially without a glove).” 

The other man helping Dave broadcast, asked him: “Would you play without a glove”.  Dave, “No, I had Whitaker and Trammell.” 

Looking at the hill side full of fans, “It looks like a patch work quilt.”  After watching Saginaw play, Rozema said, “You can tell this Saginaw team wants to win, they play with reckless abandonment.” 

“When I look into the faces of those Saginaw players I see the same intensity I saw with our ’84 Tigers. This game alone was worth the price of admission.”  

Dave after looking at “Golds” catcher Adam “Squints” “Mud Pie” McCauley, “How would you like to be his laundry person?”  Dave’s helper, again asked him, “Would you catch behind the plate like “Squints” with out protection? Dave, “the only plate I’m going behind is a dinner plate.  These guys have no numbers, but after seeing Dennis “The Mocha Gorilla” Konuszewski hit, that man doesn’t need a number.” 

The Trophy went over to Saginaw “Old Golds” very proud G.M. Harold Campau’s Heck’s Bar- where drinking and frivolity ended a super day.  

One day later Saginaw found out its outfield Captain John “Lumberjack” Piersall has been lost for the season.  He had a pin inserted in his broken finger that was caused by a line drive during play.  John had 9 tournament hits, but more then that he is the quintessential Vintage base ball player, a fearless man, talent for days, who has a fierce competitive nature. 

He will be dearly missed. 

Nick “Brute” Hammond also sustained a severe leg bruise, but “Brute” will not miss a game. 

In October of 2006, Sports Illustrated selected Rozema as one of the “10 Greatest Characters in Detroit Tigers History”.

His selection was based on (1) the “karate kick” misfire, (2) a subsequent injury the same year in which Rozema fell on a flask in his back pocket and needed 11 stitches in his hip, (3) an incident in which he shoved a bar glass into the face of Alan Trammell resulting in 47 stitches near Tram’s eye, (4) missing a team bus when he overslept after judging a wet T-shirt contest, and (5) using Brillo pads to wash his new car. 

As of 8/11/2009, the Saginaw ‘Old Golds’ are an undefeated 11-0-1, current Sylvania Cup Champions, State of Michigan Champions, and Vintage Base Ball World Champions.