New venues await teams in 2025 season
With the entire league scheduled to take part in Opening Day contests, Bay Area Vintage Base Ball is preparing to open its 20th season Sunday, March 30, a slate that features several matches at an array of unconventional sites throughout the summer.
“The upcoming season will have some firsts after 20 years of base ball in the Bay Area, highlighted by a game in Santa Cruz, a double header among the vines in Santa Rosa and 10 a.m. games at Big Rec,” said B.A.V.B.B. President Matt “Ranger” Petty of the San Francisco Pacifics. “Also, look for a heightened awareness towards 1886 authenticity as managers met in the offseason to discuss sportsmanship and being our best version of 1886 ballists.”
Field of Dreams at Balletto Vineyards, Santa Rosa
The Berkeley Clarions — who in 2024 accomplished the unprecedented feat of following an undefeated regular season with a Championship Match victory and a clean sweep through the Golden Gate Cup field — open their campaign by visiting Dublin to take on the Mission Reddingtons. Berkeley’s home opener is set for April 20, when the Clarions host the San Jose Dukes at San Pablo Park in Berkeley.
“There is nothing more enticing than facing the reigning champs and rewarding for a team to drop that first L on an undefeated team, so we are looking forward to some spirited competition from both sides of the the bay,” said Brad “Frenchy” Gallien, who has taken the reins for the Berkeley nine from former Captain Dave “Driver” Phillips.
Meanwhile, the Pacifics — champions of the West Division and runners-up in both the Championship Match and the Golden Gate Cup final — will come out of the gate hosting the San Francisco Pelicans in the initial match of Opening Day at the Big Rec Ball Fields.
The Clarions and the Pacifics, who have now met up in both the Championship Match and the Golden Gate Cup Final Match for two straight seasons, are scheduled to meet once again June 15, with the Pacs making the trek to Albany for the bout.
In addition to the aforementioned April 20 tilt hosted in Berkeley by the Clarions (who have in recent years hosted the entirety of their home matches in Albany), several other regular season contests are scheduled for locations that fall outside the usual home fields enjoyed by B.A.V.B.B. squads.
“I’m looking forward to the footprint of the games expanding into new cities,” said Dukes Captain Corey “Pup” Gazay, commissioner of the East Division.
After playing the Association’s inaugural match at Balletto Vineyards in Santa Rosa last season, the Pacifics and Barbary Coast will engage in a rematch on June 28. They’ll be joined at the vineyard’s “Field of Dreams” by the Reddingtons and Pelicans, who will square off in that day’s second contest.
Raimondi Field, Oakland
In addition, the Oakland Colonels will host the Pelicans on July 20 at Raimondi Field in Oakland, a facility recently renovated for the use of a modern “baseball” team. And on August 2, the well traveled Pelicans will also visit Santa Cruz for a bout hosted by the Dukes at Harvey West Park.
“I am greatly pleased by the initiative to spread the news of base ball to outlying regions with these barnstorming matches in Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and at the new Raimondi Field,” said Scott “Clover” Rowe of the Pelicans, commissioner of the West Division. “It is my dearest wish to see more cranks at the ball yard, so I encourage all cranks and would-be cranks to come by the ball fields after their weekly trips to the amen corner and recover by rooting for their favorite clubs!”
B.A.V.B.B. squads are each scheduled to play 13 games in the regular season; the East Division and West Division winners will play for the Steve Gazay Trophy in the Championship Match, set for Sept. 7. The Golden Gate Cup competition is slated to begin its 10th iteration that same day, with all 10 teams competing for the titular chalice in a single-elimination tournament.
Harvey West Park, Santa Cruz
“From rumors with a few other teams — Dukes included — lots of new players this year, it seems,” Pup said. “I am excited for more parity. Seems like some of the teams that were near the bottom of the standings got better this offseason, so we should have a very competitive season.”
“This year’s competition looks to be outstanding among recent years,” Clover said. “All of the clubs have acquired new talent to address their shortfalls from last year, and the newer chaps have started to learn which end of the bat to hold.”
The All Star Match, the annual showcase in which the Association throws a spot light on some of its finest competitors, is scheduled once again for Independence Day.
The ballists of the Association will play this season using a new crop of base balls that have been produced especially for B.A.V.B.B. and will feature the league’s identitifying mark branded thereupon.