New England Heritage: Providence Grays Baseball

The original Providence Grays of Major League Baseball's National League existed from 1878 to 1885. They won the first "Baseball Championship of America" in 1884 by defeating the New York Metropolitans of the American Association in what has come to be known as the first World Series. In 1998, a tribute team by the same name was formed to honor those original champions while demonstrating how base ball, then two words, was played. The Providence Grays Vintage Base Ball Club plays by the same rules and with faithfully reproduced period equipment. Like Narragansett Beer, we are proud of our long Rhode Island history and we invite everyone to our games. There is never a charge to watch us play. The old game was played barehanded with the exception of the catcher. There was no pitching mound, the pitcher stood only 50 feet away and the batter could call for a high or low strike zone, according to his preference. Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn of the original Grays won a record 59 games in 1884. The Grays employed the very first African American player for a single game, they invented the bullpen, the turnstyle and they played in a park that was located on Messer Street in the west end of Providence. The current Grays are beginning their 15th year in 2012, we play a demonstration game at McCoy Stadium every summer while playing around the region for the entertainment and education of history loving fans. We are proud to be sponsored by Narragansett Beer and we are especially proud of our association with another uniquely Rhode Island institution. Ed Achorn's "Fifty-nine in '84" gives a thrilling account of the 1884 champions and we recommend this book highly to all history loving fans. Check back for Grays updates and go to providencegrays.com for scheduling information and other facts about 19th Century base ball. Play Ball! Grays 2012 Schedule April Sat. 14 Atlantics Away April Sun. 15 Mutuals Away April Sat. 28 NH Granite Away May Sat. 5 Olneyville RI May Sat. 26 Atlantics Home June Sat. 2 Olyneville RI June Sun. 10 Mutuals Home June Sun. 24 Atlantics Home July Sat. 7 Newtown Sandy Hooks Away July Sat. 21 Gettysburg July Sun. 22 Gettysburg August Sat. 4 Bethpage August Sun. 5 Bethpage September Sat. 15 Newtown Sandy Hooks Home September Sat. 22 NH Granite Home