2012 Copper City Classic Vintage Base Ball Tournament

The Friends of Warren Ballpark’s 2012 Copper City Classic Vintage Base Ball Tournament was a great success, thanks to our many volunteers, players, vendors and those who attended as “cranks” (fans).

We thank the ballists of the Arizona Territories Vintage Base Ball League, the Glendale Gophers, Phoenix Senators, Bisbee Bees and Tucson Saguaros along with the local team the Bisbee Black Sox. This year we were honored to have two out-state-teams the Colorado All-Stars and the Springfield Long Nine who traveled long distances to enliven the tournament with their colorful uniforms and particular brand of vintage base ball.

Pat Kelly of the Tombstone Vigilantes kept the players and cranks in line as arbitrator while officiating the Saturday games. John Everhart served as the tally master when, in the tradition of 1860’s baseball, a player rang a bell to indicate they “tallied an ace” (scored a run). Members of the Busch family (Lance Busch captains the Gophers) also served as arbitrator and tally master on Saturday and Sunday.

The tournament honored ballplayers Syd Cohen and Charlie Metro past ballists at Warren Ballpark. We were privileged that Elena Metro, Charlie’s daughter, attended the tournament to throw out a first pitch and provide personal information about her Dad’s career.

We had several announcers who kept the cranks informed and entertained. Tom Nelson and Dave Cartun announced in the mornings. Matt Raisman from Cherry Creek Radio kept up a lively patter with the teams during the afternoon games.

We can’t thank the Moose’s Hotdog crew enough. Luis Chavez, Tom and Dora-Lee Clark, Rickie Polidora and Jodie Ryan stepped up as the only food vendor when another vendor was unable to participate. We are grateful to the old Bisbee Brewing Company for providing their freshly made local beer and root beer.

Bisbee Unified School District was great to work with. Roy Lopez always a pleasure to work with opened and closed the field and kept the restrooms clean and supplied.

A big tip of our baseball caps and a very loud “huzzah!” goes to our many sponsors and to our volunteers who provided security, sold tickets and beer, ran raffles and planned the event. This letter would be much longer if all were named but thank you so much. Everyone’s participation was valued.The funds raised will be used as matching funds for grants to help fund our next project, construction of accessible public restrooms.