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T H E W E E K 1

O C T. 1 8 th

VETERANS DIVISION

see CHOP on page 2

photo by Greg WagnerBaltimore Chop pitcher Matt Kohel gets ready to fire a pitch on Sunday against the Detroit Dodgers.

BY GLENN MILLER Roy Hobbs Baseball

The Baltimore Chop playing this week in the Roy Hobbs World Series has nothing to do with a motorcycle club or steak house.

Not even close. The team name pays homage to Baltimore baseball history

and a signature play perfected more than a century ago by one of the most colorful teams ever.

The Baltimore Orioles of the 1890s perfected a play when one of its batters, perhaps Wee Willie Keeler, slapped the ball down hard in front of home plate. With the ground there allegedly hardened by the home team grounds crew, the ball

Baltimore Chop turn back clock

bounced high and speedy players such as Keeler and John “Mugsy” McGraw scampered safely to first base.

Chop manager Steve Klein and his players often discover opposing players have no idea about the team name. The mo-torcycle club theory sort of makes sense when one sees Klein.

“They see Steve with that beard,” pitcher Matt Kohel said.Klein has a flowing grey beard, but it is not a hint that

he heads a motorcycle club. Away from baseball, Klein is an electrician.

Klein and Kohel came up with the team several years ago. As baseball fans who have lived in Baltimore a long time, both men were familiar with the term Baltimore Chop.

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photo by Greg WagnerSteve Klein, manager of the Baltimore Chop, rests on second base after a double

to left field.

Not everybody knows.“I’m actually surprised,” Klein, 49, said. “I started asking

guys two or three years ago if they knew what a Baltimore Chop was. I was very surprised people had no idea what a Baltimore Chop was.”

The name doesn’t mean a great deal to Klein’s wife, Kyleigh.“I’m the team mom,” Kyleigh said. “I just want to make

sure nobody ends up in the emergency room. Do you have sunscreen? Have you drank water today?”

It’s unlikely the 1890s Baltimore Orioles of 5-foot-4 Wee Wille Keeler had such a team mom.

For centerfielder Chris Baum the name doesn’t carry his-torical resonance.

“I’m not much of a baseball history guy,” Baum said. “I just show up and catch the ball. That’s my job. That’s all I know.”

The 1890s Baltimore Orioles have a rich history beyond the Baltimore Chop. They won the National League pennant in 1894, 1895 and 1896.

Their roster included players with names that now sound antiquated such as Boileryard Clarke, Sadie McMahon, Kid Gleason, Scoops Carey, Dirty Jack Doyle, Henie Reitz, Hand-some Joe Kelley, Arlie Pond and Dad Clarkson.

“They don’t have names like that anymore,” Kohel said.By whatever name, the 2021 Baltimore Chop is about

baseball. Not steak houses or motorcycles.

continued from page 1CHOP

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VETERANS RESULTS

photo by Greg Wagner

Tennessee White Lightnin’ outfielder Marc Barbato makes a throw back to the infield.

SundayAkron Cardinals 14, Germain Ohio Aces 5Central Florida Bulldogs 20, Can-Am, Padres 4Chi-Sox 9, Akron Cardinals 5Chicago Knights 15, NEO Angels 4Chicago Knights 3, Ukraine Baseball 2Cleveland Steve Sports 21, Cobra Kai 3Detroit Dodgers 13, Baltimore Chop 0Detroit Dodgers 7, T-Town, Jack-Os 6 (12)Fort Myers Lumberjacks 16, Panhandle Pirates 10Glass City Black Sox 13, Fort Myers Lumberjacks 12

Indiana Yankees 9, Chicago Giants 1Lakeville Lobos 18, Can-Am Padres 0Minnesota Blenders 1, Rock Solid Americans 0Minnesota WebGems 11, South Florida Eagles 10 (10)New Jersey Mets 2, Minnesota Bulldogs 1Puerto Rico Twins 9, Tidewater Drillers 1RusStar Baseball 9, Cincinnati Colt 3South Bend Cardinals 15, Central Florida Bulldogs 2South Bend Cardinals 16, Tennessee White Lightnin’ 10The Oilers 8, Chicago Woodpeckers 2Vukgripz Akron A’s 5, Orlando Lugnuts 4

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VETERANS STANDINGS

photo by Greg WagnerTennessee White Lightnin’s Robbie Spears gets into position to field a fly ball.

Veterans Division W L PCT RAChicago Knights 2 0 1.000 6Detroit Dodgers 2 0 1.000 6South Bend Cardinals 2 0 1.000 12Minnesota Blenders 1 0 1.000 0Lakeville Lobos 1 0 1.000 0Indiana Yankees 1 0 1.000 1New Jersey Mets 1 0 1.000 1Puerto Rico Twins 1 0 1.000 1The Oilers 1 0 1.000 2Cleveland Steve Sports 1 0 1.000 3RusStar Baseball Club 1 0 1.000 3Vukegrip Akron A’s 1 0 1.000 4Chi - Sox 1 0 1.000 5Minnesota Web Gems 1 0 1.000 10Glass City Black Sox 1 0 1.000 12Akron Cardinals 1 1 0.500 14Central Florida Bulldogs 1 1 0.500 19Fort Myers Breeze 1 1 0.500 23Rock Solid Americans 0 1 0.000 1Minnesota Bulldogs 0 1 0.000 2Ukraine Baseball 0 1 0.000 3Orlando Lugnuts 0 1 0.000 5TTown Jack-Os 35s 0 1 0.000 7Chicago Woodpeckers 0 1 0.000 8Chicago Giants 0 1 0.000 9Tidewater Drillers 35+ 0 1 0.000 9Cincinnati Colt .45s 0 1 0.000 9South Florida Eagles 0 1 0.000 11Baltimore Chop 0 1 0.000 13Germain Ohio Aces 0 1 0.000 14NEO Angels 0 1 0.000 15Panhandle Pirates 0 1 0.000 16Tennessee White Lightnin’ 0 1 0.000 16Cobra Kai 0 1 0.000 21Can-Am Padres 0 2 0.000 38

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VETERANS SCHEDULEMonday10 a.m.Baltimore Chop @ Germain Ohio Aces, JB4Chicago Giants @ Vukgripz Akron A’s, PDC5Chicago Knights @ Panhandle, Pirates, JB5Chicago Woodpeckers @ New, Jersey Mets, PDC1Cleveland Steve Sports @ South Florida Eagles, TP3Detroit Dodgers @ Chi-Sox, PDC2Lakeville Lobos @ South Bend Cardinals, JB3NEO Angels @ Glass City Black Sox, JB6Orlando Lugnuts @ Minnesota Bulldogs, PDC3Puerto Rico, Twins @ Minnesota Blenders, TP4Rock Solid Americans @ Cobra Kai, TP2The Oilers @ Indiana Yankees, PDC4Tidewater Drillers @ Minnesota WebGems, TP-S

1:45, p.m.Akron Cardinals @ Baltimore Chop, JB4Can-Am, Padres @ Tennessee White Lightnin’, TP3Central Florida Bulldogs @ RusStar Baseball, PDC5Chi-Sox @ TTown, Jack-Os, PDC2Cincinnati Colt @ Lakeville Lobos, JB3Cobra Kai @ Puerto Rico, Twins, TP-SFort Myers Breeze @ NEO Angels, JB6Minnesota Bulldogs @ Chicago Giants, PDC1Minnesota WebGems @ Cleveland Steve Sports, TP2New, Jersey Mets @ Orlando Lugnuts, PDC4Panhandle, Pirates @ Ukraine Baseball, JB5South Florida Eagles @ Rock Solid Americans, TP4Vukgripz Akron A’s @ The Oilers, PDC3

Head to Sidelines to replay the game and tell lies

(239) 939-3003 4451 Veronica S Shoemaker Blvd

photo by Greg WagnerSouth Bend Cardinals’ Dan Miller, left, and Mike Nagel discuss strategy.

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NOTEBOOK

photo by Greg WagnerBaltimore Chop shortstop Tim Gerber puts the tag on Detroit Dogers

runner at 2nd

Playoff pitching guidelinesRoy Hobbs requirement is that all pitchers who will be

starters or closers in save situations (3-run or less difference in the 8th and 9th innings) qualify for the playoffs by pitching at least 2 innings – 6 outs or 10 hitters – during pool play.

AAAA qualifier teams may not add pitchers to their lineup after Pool Play concludes; however, Open Division teams may have pitchers arrive Wednesday – those pitchers must throw 5 innings or 25 hitters to qualify for the playoffs.

Finally, in the playoffs, those “non-qualified” middle-inning pitchers will come to the mound from their normal defensive positions where they started the game.  That is as important as the “spirit of the rule” that these non-qualified pitchers who are used as “inning-eaters” are players who ordinarily are playing other positions.

And, please remember that any players leaving the RHWS today (Monday) to return on Thursday MUST turn in their player ID Card and re-register upon their return. They must return before the quarterfinals of the playoffs, regardless of division.

Managers should email a list of their qualified pitchers to Roy Hobbs: tg@royhobbs.com by 7 p.m. the night before their playoffs begin.

50/50 raffle50/50 raffle tickets, to benefit the Roy Hobbs Foundation,

are available each day at the Player Development Complex. Tickets are $1 apiece or 6 for $5. The drawing will be held in the patio area at the Player Development Complex at 5 PM Friday.

The Roy Hobbs Foundation was established to raise monies for research on finding a cure for Leukemia and to assist our Challenged Athlete friends.

Revenues from the 2020 RHWS led to some $15,000 in contributions to MD Anderson Cancer Center, St. Jude Hospital in Memphis and to Southern Florida Challenger Athletes.

Results correctionsPlease check the posted results and standings each day.Managers should contact Tom at the Tournament

Headquarters. Email to tg@royhobbs.com with corrections to scores.

That’s the best way to make sure that playoff seedings and pairings are as accurate as we can make them.

Please help with dugoutsRoy Hobbs Baseball and the grounds crews need your help

in the dugouts.When your games are over and you are leaving the dugout,

please police it for trash and cups, etc. Your assistance in cleaning up the dugouts each day will be greatly appreciated.

see NOTEBOOK on page 7

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NOTEBOOKcontinued from page 6

see NOTEBOOK on page 8

First AidTwo key First Aid items: Drink plenty of fluids while

playing; don’t just wait until the game is over. Water will be available at the fields.

Second, be sure to stretch and loosen up before playing, or even re-entering a game.

In case of an emergency, contact the field manager at your site. He has the First Aid supplies and will contact 911 services as needed.

Ice is available for injuries … check with the field manager on duty or go to the nearest concession stand to have the appropriate personnel paged. Roy Hobbs requests that managers plan for pitchers needing ice for their arms and to supply it.

Admission, $1 a game Admission continues at the Roy Hobbs World Series.Admission is $1 per game or $5 for a tournament pass.

Spectators will pay $1 for entrance into each complex and are good for one day.

The $5 tournament pass is available at RH Headquarters or from the Site Concierges at each security table; there is no family pass. The tournament pass is a plastic card that guarantees admission for that person for the duration of the

RHWS. A loop comes with the tournament pass card for easy attachment to purses, beltloops, etc.

Playing site securityThe active steps taken several years ago to deal with parking

lot security will continue as parking lot theft issues have – knock on wood – not been an issue the last 7 years.

Are we out of the woods? No, it is a daily procedure and effort to make sure parking lots are safe.

photo by Greg WagnerChi Sox 1st basman Russell Walker takes the throw ahead of the Akron

Cardinals batter

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NOTEBOOKcontinued from page 7

Once again, Roy Hobbs will have personnel posted at the player/spectators’ entrances to Terry Park, PDC, JetBlue Complex and at the entrance to the Quad fields at Lee County.

These individuals will have a view of the parking lot, and they will be available in emergencies, be enforcing cooler guidelines and handling admissions.

Customer Service Roy Hobbs Baseball is proud of its record on customer

service.Staff members are required to wear identifying staff shirts

during the working hours of the tournament and should be easily identifiable. At least two are assigned to each of the satellite complexes daily.

In the case of emergency, please go to the nearest concession stand at the satellite complexes, where someone will be available to summon help.

Roy Hobbs field managers and key personnel are Red Cross First Aid certified, and Roy Hobbs Baseball has guidelines in place on the handling of injuries. Additionally, AED devices are available at each of the facilities, and Roy Hobbs personnel have been trained on those devices.

photo by Greg WagnerHome plate umpire Mike Peter calls a strike in the Detroit Dodgers/Baltimore

Chop game