COOPERSTOWN
Local Boston baseball players have been playing in Cooperstown almost annually since its inception in 1988. In 2004, Cooperstown participation evolved to a 6-team tournament across three leagues, and grew to 9 teams in 2005. In 2008, the tourney went back to 6 teams. From 2005 through 2008, the Brockton Reds of the Massachusetts Independant Baseball League (MIBL) won this tourney without losing a single game, going 16-0. In 2009, the Athletics clinched the #1 Seed, though the Playoffs were rained out. The Orioles also handed the Reds their first loss, and in 2010, the O's won the tourney themselves.
| 2010 |
Date: July 17-18, 2010
The 7th Annual Cooperstown Classic went to the Boston Orioles.Led by pitcher Bo Gillette, the Orioles went 4-0 in this year’s 7th annual tournament to secure their first Cooperstown Classic title, ultimately outlasting a tough Ben’s Dream White Sox team in the finals by a score of 8-6.
Gillette was nothing short of legendary, garnering both a complete game win (against the Brockton Reds) and then a save (against the Diamond Baseball League Diamondbacks) on the tournament’s first day, only to come out of the bullpen on the following day in the Finals to throw another 3.1 innings and collect his second win of the tournament. The Orioles also were carried by timely hitting, particularly by first baseman Paul Solini (5-12, 6 BB, 2HBP, 7R) and pitcher/DH Jose De Los Santos (9-19, 3 2B, HR, 5R, 9RBI) who in addition hurled a complete game 4-hitter in the semifinals. The Boston Tigers and Boston Blue Jays from the MABL also participated in the 6-team tourney.

Mike Pollak of the White Sox
with the web gem of the tourney
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2010 Cooperstown Classic Champions
Boston Orioles
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| 2009 |
Date: August 1, 2009
The 6th Annual Cooperstown Classic was played August 1 at the Baseball Hall of Fame. In Pool Play, the Athletics captured the #1 Seed with 8-7 and 7-1 wins over the Mariners and Brewers respectively. The Orioles captured the #2 Seed with a 7-6 win over the Grays, and a 3-1 win over the reigning Champion Brockton Reds who had been undefeated at 16-0 over the past 4 years - including wins over the Orioles in the 2008 and 2006 Finals. The Brewers and Reds also advanced to the Playoff Round, both at 1-1. While the Mariners and Grays each went 0-2 and did not make the playoffs, combined, they lost three 1-run games.
The Playoff Round was scheduled for Sunday, but due to heavy rains, the day was a washout. As such, the Athletics may claim the #1 Seed Title, though the Brockton Reds remain as reigning Champions until 2010.
See photos from Doubleday Field: Mariners v Athletics | Orioles vs. Reds | Grays vs. Brewers

Skippers Kevin McGowan and Matt Englander take ground rules at Doubleday Field. |

Alan Donaruma dives back into first base safely while Corey Aldoupolis keeps him close. |
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| 2008 |
Date: August 3, 2008
The 5th Annual Cooperstown Classic was the Brockton Reds' 4th straight undefeated tourney winning the Cup. During this stretch, the Reds, hailing from the Men's Independent Baseball League, have gone 16-0. The Reds defeated the Boston Orioles 10-0 in the Finals. Other participants included the Mariners, Tigers, North Andover Thunder and Grays -- all who went 1-2 overall. See photos: Grays vs. Thunder | Mariners vs. Brockton | Orioles vs. Tigers.

2008 Champion Brockton Reds |

Matt Dumont of the Mariners tries for tag. |
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| 2007 |
Date: June 10, 2007
The 4th Annual Cooperstown Classic was played June 9 & 10 and for the third straight year, the Brockton Reds went undefeated to win the Cup. During this stretch, the Reds, hailing from the Men's Independent Baseball League, have gone 12-0. In 2007, the Reds defeated the Rangers and White Sox in pool play before defeating the Orioles in the semifinals and the White Sox again in the finals.
Teams in the tourney were the Brockton Reds (4-0), White Sox (2-2), Tigers (3-1), Orioles (1-2), Grays (2-1), Senators (1-2), Brockton Dodgers (1-2), Rangers (1-2) and Mariners (0-3). Games were played on historic Doubleday Field at the Baseball Hall of Fame, as well as at Beaver Valley and Wilbur Park.

2007 Champion Brockton Reds |

Sox' Ivan Clemente tags out O's Andy Murachver |
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| 2006 |
Date: June 18, 2006
The 3rd Annual Cooperstown Classic was played this Father's Day Weekend and the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. For the second straight year, skipper Frank Alexopolis, led his Brockton Reds of the Men's Independent Baseball League to the cup. Over two years, the Reds are 8-0. This year, the Reds defeated the MABL Orioles, 7-0, in the finals. The MABL Marlins and MABL Mariners also made the playoffs with perfect 2-0 records in pool play. Other competitors included the Middlesex Brewers (1-2) and Quincy Grays (0-3) of the MSBL, as well as the Senators (1-2), Tigers (1-2) and White Sox (1-2) from the MABL.

2006 Champion Brockton Reds |

Terry Belli of Brewers at Doubleday |
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| 2005 |
Date: July 24-25, 2005
The 2nd Annual Cooperstown Classic was held in Cooperstown, New York, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Brockton Reds (MIBL) defeated the North Andover Thunder (MSBL) in the finals 15-3. The undefeated Reds finished the tourney 4-0, scoring an average of more than 17 runs per game.
- Finalists: Brockton Reds, MIBL (4-0), N. Andover Thunder, MSBL (3-1)
- Semi-finalist: Medford Angels, MSBL (2-1), Boston Senators, MABL (1-2)
- Others: Marlins (2-1), Mariners (1-1), Quincy Grays (1-2), Wellesley Orioles (0-3), Dorchester Dodgers (0-3)

MIBL Brockton Reds win Cup. |

Brockton Reds scoring 1 of 70 runs.
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Wellesley Orioles emerge from corn.
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| 2004 |
Date: July 31-August 1, 2004
The weekend of July 31 and August 1, six teams from the Boston MABL will competed in the largest Boston MABL tournament ever held. Almost 100 players traveled 240 miles to Cooperstown, New York and the Baseball Hall of Fame to compete in the 2004 Cooperstown Classic.
Due to a rain-shortened Saturday, the Marlins and White Sox advanced to the finals on Sunday after each receiving only 1 win. The Bluefish also had a win, but did not make the finals due to a predetermined tie-breaker. The Marlins defeated the White Sox 6-1 in the finals to become the inaugural Cooperstown Classic Champions. The A's, Royals and Reds also competed.

2004 Cooperstown Classic Champion Marlins
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Date: June 4, 2004
The Boston MSBL is a veteran at making the annual trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. However, this June, for the first time in the league's 17 year history, two teams made the journey to play an official regular season doubleheader. The Somerville Senators swept the Wayland White Sox 8-2 in Game 1 and 7-6 in Game 2.
Kelley McCormick robbed of a HR, but Senators prevail. |
| 2003 |
Date: September 5, 2003
The Dodgers defeated the Giants 8-5 for the 3rd straight year the MABL played a game at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, New York at the baseball Hall of Fame.
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2003 MABL Dodgers
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2003 MABL Giants
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Date: September 5, 2003
In the 3rd Annual Boston MABL game played at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Tribe came out on top over the Royals in an exhibition.
The game's most dramatic play occurred on the 2nd pitch of the game when Corey Son of the Royals smashed a 1-0 fastball over the left field fence for the game's 1st run. The Royals proceeded to take a 7-0 lead into the 5th inning before the Indians rallied for 12 unanswered runs. For the Indians, Marco Abreu was the big stick for the day, going 3-4 with a double. Rob Linn contributed a pair of hits. Kevin Faria, Mike Everett and Mike Kiely all doubled. Nick Bondola and Linn each scored 3 runs. Jason Deveau grabbed the win for the Indians with 2 innings of no-hit ball. Jason Lewis took the loss for the Royals.

MABL Indians at Cooperstown, NY
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| 2002 |
Date: May 17, 2002
The Braves defeated the Rockies, 9-8, in an exhibition in Cooperstown, New York at Doubleday Field -- home of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Note: The MABL Indians and Mets were to play in Cooperstown on June 17th, but they were rained out.
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The MABL Rockies and Braves
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Doubleday Field
Cooperstown, NY
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| 2001 |
Date: May 19, 2001
The White Sox battled the Pirates in historic Cooperstown, New York at Doubleday Field at the Baseball Hall of Fame in the first Boston MABL game ever played outside of the Greater Boston Area. The Bucs' relied on the strong left arm of ace Craig Vecharelli (1-0) and some timely hitting from veteran Eric August (2-3, 2 Runs and 1 RBI) and rookie Sean Devan (2-2, 2 2Bs and 1 RBI) to beat the White Sox.
The Bucs scored 4 runs in the bottom of the first to regain the lead and never looked back. Jay O'Brien reached base all four times, scored twice and stole four bases. Jim Belcastro also drove in a run for the Bucs, who upped their record to 3-2 overall.
The following players can all say they got base hits at the Hall of Fame field: Eric August (2 hits, 1 double), Conrad Paquette, Sean Devan (2 hits), Jim Belcastro, Shayne Guiliano, and Craig Vecharelli for the Pirates; And Aarron Hutchins, Al Wiesner (2 doubles), Sam Voolich, Murray Reed, Jon Banchick, and Mike Gennaro for the White Sox.

Al Wiesner looking sharp. |

Eric August and the Pirates arrive. |
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