Baseball fans looking for a good time Thursday? I have the event for you.
This Thursday night in Cambridge, grab a lawn chair and head to St. Peters Field in Cambridge around 7:00pm. There, you'll have your chance to sit right on a baseball line, and watch 9 innings of old-time baseball.
Before I get to details about the game below, I want to share why I love the game so much (I went in 2014 and 2015). I love it because it feels like baseball at its purest. There is nothing more fun than sitting close to the field, eating a hot dog, and chatting with your neighbor. The sites and sounds so genuine. Its as if you were placed at the Field of Dreams. As I walked up to the field, I was reminded of one a portion of the famous monologue from the movie:
The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again. Ohhhhhhhh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.
People are definitely there, and you should be too.
Now, onto the details!
The Old Time Baseball Game, which began in 1994 has been a staple in Cambridge in mid August ever since. Every year, 50 or so baseball players, mostly college guys, but some old pros, line up in some old school uni's and play for a cause. These old school unis include some classics like Yogi Berras #8, Pete Frates #3 or Ted Williams #9 to name a few.
Since the beginning, this event has been both about fun, but also charity. The founder Steve Buckley, estimates they raise about $75K fro raffles, auctions, food sales, donations and more.
This years game will support a disease with baseball roots - ALS or commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. As anyone in Boston knows, this terrible disease has come to the forefront since the Ice Bucket Challenge was started by former BC Star Pete Frates. This year, the money will go to two worthy causes, the John Martin Fund and the ALS Therapy Institute. Its worth reading about them on the Old Time Baseball Game Site.
The year I went Mike Tomlin - ex Red Sox RP, started the game and Lou Merloni played shortstop. Other ex Red Sox have played as well. This year, a special treat - Pedro Martinez will take the mound to start. Yes, the Pedro Martinez! Getting a chance to sit a few feet and watch Pedro on the mound, no matter how old he is, is worth it enough to go.
For one time, every year, for free, we all get a chance to relive baseball from the beginning. With college kids and ex pros dressed in old unis. The baseball game, the same that our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers watched will be brought back to life. Its not heaven, its not Iowa, but for a few hours, its just as good. If you can, go out there be a kid again, and enjoy!
More Details about the Old Time Baseball Game:
http://oldtimebaseball.com/about-the-oldtime-baseball-game/
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