Halsey Hall Chapter - SABR: The Quicksteps

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photo of Quicksteps base ball club

Member Vintage Base Ball Association

The Quicksteps Base Ball Club, Minnesota's premier vintage base ball organization, is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. First taking the field in 1994, the Club provides an outlet for the energy and enthusiasm of members of the Halsey Hall Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). At present the Club is organized into two Nines, one giving preference to the SABR membership, and one Open to all citizens of good character and reputation who wish to avail themselves of the healthful benefits of spirited competition while demonstrating athletic prowess. Clad in 1860-style uniforms and using authentic reproductions of equipment from that era, the Quicksteps have played over 100 matches in 15 seasons in five states, taking on fellow historic base ball clubs (from the region and from as far away as Colorado and Ohio), Civil War re-enactor groups, "picked nines" organized for various occasions, and even modern-day baseball [sic] teams. The Quicksteps aim to entertain and to familiarize spectators with base ball as it was played in the milestone year of 1860, when a uniform code of rules and practices was first in use. The club has entertained audiences at historical festivals in Minnesota such as the Winona Victorian Fair, Stillwater's Lumberjack Days, and Pipestone's Civil War Festival, and has performed at permanent attractions such as Historic Ft. Snelling, (St. Paul), Murphys Landing Historic Village (Shakopee), Dakota City Heritage Village (Farmington), and Living History Farms (Des Moines,IA).

16TH SEASON SCHEDULE, to date

All dates are tentative and subject to change. Additional matches are being organized. Match scores will be reported here, as soon as practicable after receipt from the telegraph company or pony express.

Saturday, May 9, approx 5:20 p.m. Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN. Vintage base ball match before the professionals' demonstration.
Saturday, May 16, time TBA. Waconia High School, Waconia, MN. SABR Nine vs. Sport and Society class students.
Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day) Open Nine vs. the St. Croix of Stillwater at The Landing, Shakopee.
Saturday, June 6, 3:30 p.m. - SABR Nine vs. picked nine at the ISD 297 History Festival, Henry Sibley High School, Hwy 110 and Delaware Avenue, Mendota Heights.
Saturday, June 27, 4:00 p.m., Open Nine vs. Northfield Silver Stars, Dundas, MN, location to be announced.
Sunday, June 21 (Father's Day), Open Nine vs. the Olmsted County Roosters at The Landing, Shakopee.
Saturday, July 4 - The Landing, Shakopee, SABR Nine vs. staff and visitors.
Saturday, July 18 (cancelled) SABR Nine vs. Minneapolis Pioneers.
Saturday, July 18, Open Nine at the Rooster Classic tournament in Rochester.
Saturday, July 25, Open Nine at the Lumberjack Days tournament in Stillwater.
Monday, August 3 - Fridley Historical Society, SABR Nine vs. picked nine.
Saturday, August 8 - Richfield Historical Society , SABR Nine vs. picked nine.
Sunday, August 16, Open Nine vs. the Afton Red Stockings at Afton.
Saturday, August 29, 2:30 p.m. - SABR Nine vs. picked nine at Minnesota State BBQ championship, Albert Lea, MN.
Monday, September 7 (Labor Day), Open Nine vs. Afton at The Landing, Shakopee.
Saturday, September 12, time TBA. Location TBA. SABR Nine vs. First Wisconsin Volunteers reenactors.
Sunday, September 20 - Brooklyn Park Historic Farm, SABR Nine vs. Eidem Homestead Nine.

Saturday, May 10, approx 5:20 p.m. Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN. Vintage base ball demonstration before the Twins-Red Sox game.
Saturday May 17, 1:30 p.m. The Landing- Minnesota River Heritage Park, Shakopee, MN. Match versus Silver Stars of Northfield. Match results: Silver Stars 3, Quicksteps 2
Saturday, June 7, 1:00 p.m. Old Main Athletic Grounds, St. Olaf College, Lincoln Street & 1st Street W, Northfield, MN. Match versus Silver Stars of Northfield. Match results: Silver Stars 6, Quicksteps 5
Saturday, June 14, 1:30 p.m. The Landing- Minnesota River Heritage Park, Shakopee, MN. Match versus staff and visitors.
Sunday, June 15, 1:30 p.m. The Landing- Minnesota River Heritage Park, Shakopee, MN. Match versus Olmsted County Roosters. Match results: Roosters 17, Quicksteps 12.
Saturday - Sunday, June 28-29, all day. Washington County Fairgrounds, Bayport, MN. Minnesota Sesquicentennial Tournament. Festival format, six timed matches of 50-60 minutes each. Tournament results: won 3, lost 2, tied 1.
Friday, July 4, noon. The Landing- Minnesota River Heritage Park, Shakopee, MN. Match versus staff and visitors.
Saturday, July 19, 11:00 a.m. B. F. Nelson Park, Minneapolis, MN. Match versus picked nine, Minneapolis City Council & Park Board. Match results: Quicksteps 14, City Council 2.
Saturday, July 26, 9:00 a.m. Olmsted County Historical Society Grounds, 1195 County Road 22 SW, Rochester, MN. Olmsted County Roosters Vintage Base Ball Tournament, timed matches. Match results: won 1, lost 1.
Sunday, July 27, 11:00 a.m. Old Athletic Grounds, Sixth St. S. & Orleans, Stillwater, MN. Lumberjack Days Vintage Base Ball Tournament, two games. Match results: Quicksteps 13, Afton Red Stockings 0 and St. Croix of Stillwater 12, Quicksteps 10.
Monday, August 4, 7:00 p.m. Fridley Historical Society Grounds, 611 Mississippi St., Fridley, MN. Match versus picked nine, AugustFest. Match results: Quicksteps 14, Fridley Historical Society 13.
Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m. Richfield Historical Society Grounds, 70th Ave. and Lyndale Ave., Richfield, MN. Match versus picked nine of the Richfield Historical Society. Match results: Richfield Historical Society 3, Quicksteps 1.
Monday, September 1 (Labor Day), 1:30 p.m. The Landing- Minnesota River Heritage Park, Shakopee, MN. Match versus Afton Red Stockings. Match results: Quicksteps 23, Afton 11.
Saturday, September 6. Mantorville Restoration Assn., Mantorville, MN. Match versus picked nine. Match results: Mantorville Nine 9, Quicksteps 3.
Sunday, September 21, 1:30 p.m. Brooklyn Park Historic Farm (Eidem Homestead), 4345 101 Ave. N., Brooklyn Park, MN. Match versus Eidems. Match results: Eidems 28, Quicksteps 10.

2007 Roster
The Quicksteps

The Quicksteps

Michael (Professor) Andregg

Rich (Aces) Arpi, Bench

Barry (Easy Does It) Bengtsson

Chris (Barrister) Bowman

Fred (Sure Shot) Buckland

Doug (Orator) Ernst

Arnie (Sweetness) Hymanson

Jerry (Traveller) Janzen

Leon (The French Revolution) LaVigne

Dan (Death To Flying Things) Levitt

Howard (Chopsticks) Luloff

Geoff (Acorn) Luurs

Dave (Younger Brother) Maurer

Jonathan (Older Brother) Maurer-Jones

Tom (Irish) M’Caffrey

Christopher (Rufus) Nelson

Gregg (Big Swede) Nelson

Paul (The Solon) Ostrow

George (Gramps) Rekela

Geoff (No Nickname Yet) Roether

Cary (Admiral) Smith

Bob (Slow Trot) Tholkes, Manager & Umpire

Mary (Needles) Tholkes, Tallykeeper & Costumer

Stew (Silver Tongue) Thornley

Tom (King Tut) Tuttle

Emeritus:

Paul (Clipper) Harris, Denver, CO

Bill (Old Candy) Tholkes, Long Beach, CA

Tommy (Candy) Wegrzyn, Chicago , IL

Jim (The Count) Wyman, Mansfield Center, CT

The Quicksteps' Club Song Tune: non-descript, but resembles the theme from Leave It To Beaver
We are a band of ball players
From Minnesota's cities.
We're here to toss the ball around
And sing to you our ditty.
Hurrah for the Noble Game,
For the Noble Game, Hurrah!
The Quicksteps all
Will toss the ball
And shout a loud Hurrah!

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