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Check out one review from the Albany Times Union newspaper:

#5
"If you love baseball, then you’ve got to love the Bethlehem Braves. Great job Bethlehem Braves Mickey Mantle Baseball. You not only run a first class youth baseball program but on a day when as a community we all come together to celebrate our county’s birthday you do this in a way our founding fathers would be proud. An enduring game which demonstrates and connects us to the values our country’s fathers embodied and part of which we celebrate this July 4th, hard work, play by the rules, sacrifice, team work. Great job, may Bethlehem Mickey Mantle celebrate as many birthdays as our country’s."
Comment by Sports fan — July 5th, 2010 @ 10:06 am

WHAT IS VINTAGE BASE BALL?
click here to go to the Wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vintage_base_ball

Conan O'Brien Plays Vintage Base Ball at Old Bethpage with the NY Mutuals.
(click here)
http://www.19cbaseball.com/video-conan-obrien-vintage-baseball.html

SPOTLIGHT Newspaper covered the game:
http://www.spotlightnews.com/sports/view_news.php?news_id=1278529347

On Sunday afternoon, July 4th - Bethlehem Mickey Mantle, Inc - the Bethlehem BRAVES Baseball Club played host to a 19th Century Vintage Base Ball game at the Bethlehem Elm Town Park Field # 5 - the Mickey Mantle Field in Delmar.

This special exhibition game was played using the Rules of Base Ball from the year 1864. No gloves, vintage uniforms, replica baseball & bats, and the rules of the game that surprised the CRANKS (fans) that were in attendance.

The game featured the NY Mutuals Base Ball Club of Bethpage - Long Island, NY vs. our own Bethlehem BRAVES Team, which was made up of Bethlehem Town Officials, local Coaches, and area Baseball Fans.

The 2010 BETHLEHEM team roster:
Sam Messina - Supervisor Town of Bethlehem
Tim Gordon - NYS Assemblyman
Mark Hennessey - Bethlehem Town Councilman
Kyle Kotary - Bethlehem Town Councilman
Ryan Donovan - Bethlehem Town Justice
Robert Markel - Bethlehem Police Dept.
John Guastella - Publisher of Our Towne - Bethlehem
Mark McGuire - Albany Times Union Sports Writer
Steve Peterson - Bethlehem Mickey Mantle
Paul McGrath - Bethlehem BRAVES Connie Mack
Scott Bonanno - Bethlehem BRAVES Sandy Koufax
Chris Eckert - Bethlehem BRAVES Connie Mack
Joe Flagler - Bethlehem BRAVES Mickey Mantle
Pete Hughes - Bethlehem BRAVES Mickey Mantle
Jesse Braverman - Special Advisor to the Bethlehem BRAVES


Photos of the NY Mutuals vs. Bethlehem BRAVES - Vintage Base Ball Game held on July 4, 2009 taken by Moment Catcher Photography - Marty Kerins, Jr.

"4th of July - Baseball in the Park"
On Saturday afternoon, July 4th - Bethlehem Mickey Mantle, Inc - the Bethlehem BRAVES Baseball Club hosted a 19th Century Vintage Base Ball game on Bethlehem Town Field # 11 on Line Drive in Delmar at 2pm. This special exhibition game playing the year 1864 Rules, featured the NY Mutuals Base Ball Club vs. our own Bethlehem BRAVES Team, made up of Town Officials, local Coaches, and area Baseball Fans. (check out the Photos)
Immediately following, the Bethlehem BRAVES hosted the 2009 Eastern NY Mickey Mantle Baseball League 16U All-Star Game. With the top 2 players from each Team representing the 20 teams from the Eastern NY Mickey Mantle Baseball League.

GAME RECAP:
Mutuals hand Bethlehem a loss.

The Mutuals gained a win against
an inexperienced Bethlehem club. A fun day was had
by all as the cranks were witness to many a humorous
play. The umpire was quick to fine many of the ballists
as they wagged their tongues in an ungentlemanly manner.
"Lad" from the Mutes donated five dollars of his hard earned
pay in this match nearly one dollar for each of his six hits.
The language used was unappealing to the many ladies
present. Nonetheless a good time was had by all as the
Mutuals took the match 28 aces to 3.

BETHLEHEM Roster included:
Jesse Braverman, Manager - LaSalle Varsity Baseball
Tim Gordon - NYS Assemblyman
Mark Hennessey - Bethlehem Town Councilman
Sam Messina - Bethlehem Town Councilman
John Guastella - Publisher of Our Towne - Bethlehem
Mark McGuire - Albany Times Union Sports Writer
Steve Peterson - Bethlehem Mickey Mantle
Paul McGrath - Bethlehem BRAVES Connie Mack
Ray Roohan - Bethlehem BRAVES
Reggie Flansburg - Bethlehem BRAVES
John Cortese - Bethlehem BRAVES
Keith Jordan - Bethlehem BRAVES
Paul Rosano, Coach – Bethlehem Mickey Mantle

Announcement:

 Due to new Town residency requirements, after 8 successful years, 2016 was the final Fourth of July Vintage Base Ball game played in Bethlehem.

 

On Monday JULY 4th, 2016

The BETHLEHEM "4th of July"

VINTAGE BASE BALL Game
was played with the Rules of the year 1864 - Civil War era .
 The Bethlehem BRAVES Vintage Team WON 16-7 vs. the New York Mutuals of Bethpage, Long Island. 

Our Special Guest singer of our 

National Anthem and God Bless America

"Rafi the Singing Jeweler"

delivered  amazing patriotic performance.

www.bethlehembraves.com
 The NY Mutuals are based in Old Bethpage Village – Long Island, NY. (web site link)
http://www.nymutuals.com/

2016 Bethlehem BRAVES - 1864 Vintage team roster:

Joe "Crazy Joe" Monserrat