Part II
Resurrecting the M.A.C.
2007-2011
Drawing inspiration from the revival of the local Roxbury Nine and Official Major League Baseball Historian John Thorn's 2004 award-winning essay, Mangled Forms - an homage to Fleischmanns and the M.A.C. - local businessman Todd Pascarella and former Mayor Dave Morell (2009-2012) resurrected the team in 2007 helping to renew an interest in baseball in the Village.
A grand re-opening occurred on June 30, 2007 when the M.A.C. took on the Roxbury Nine at the M.A.C. Grounds. The game was a community celebration with over 500 in attendance. It had been nearly 100 years since the M.A.C.'s hey-day when Julius and Max Fleischmann brought future and former major-league talent to their "field of dreams".
Over the next few Summers, the M.A.C. would gain a following by competing with Clubs from New York City and as far south as Elizabeth, NJ. A fourth vintage team in Delaware County was created called the Bovina Dairymen, who are still competing in the vintage base ball circuit today.
In 2009, $10,000 in grant money was invested in a new infield at the M.A.C. Grounds using the same material that was supplied to Citi Field when the Mets moved out of Shea Stadium. Later that September, the M.A.C. defeated the Roxbury Nine to win the overhand division of the Harry M. Keator Cup Vintage Base Ball Tournament at Kirkside Park in Roxbury, NY.
2009 Keator Cup Champions
Back Row: A. Hendricks, L. Boutin, M. Boutin, D. Philips, D. Santiago, C. Miller, J. VanBlarcom Front Row: D. Gavette, T. Pascarella, J. Hubbell, J. Voecks, S. Sines
In 2010, the M.A.C. participated in a triple-header with Roxbury and Bovina at historic Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY.
In May 2011, the M.A.C. hosted a 24-hour marathon of vintage base ball beginning at 5pm and rolling through the night under the lights. The event raised over $7,000 toward the building of the Catskills only accessible playground at Fleischmanns Park. However, in September 2011, the M.A.C. Grounds and many buildings along the Bushkill were swept away when Hurricane Irene devastated the Catskills Region. For several years that followed, vintage base ball lied dormant as communities focused on the restoration efforts.
"Park Closed" - M.A.C. Grounds at Fleischmanns Park
Hurricane Irene - Sept 2011