The Quicksteps, Minnesota's premier vintage base ball team (or nine, in 1860 parlance), first took the field in 1994. Based in the Twin Cities, they were organized to provide an outlet for the energies and enthusiasm of members of the Halsey Hall Chapter (Minnesota) of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). Clad in 1860-style uniforms and using authentic reproductions of equipment from that era, the Quicksteps have played over 100 matches in 14 seasons in five states, taking on fellow historic base ball teams (from the region and from as far away as Colorado and Ohio), Civil War re-enactor groups, "picked nines" organized for various occasions, and even modern-day baseball [sic] teams. The Quicksteps aim to entertain and to familiarize spectators with base ball as it was played in the milestone year of 1860, when a uniform code of rules and practices was first in use. The nine has entertained audiences at historical festivals in Minnesota such as the Winona Victorian Fair, Stillwater's Lumberjack Days, and Pipestone's Civil War Festival, and has performed at permanent attractions such as Historic Ft. Snelling, (St. Paul), Murphys Landing Historic Village (Shakopee), Dakota City Heritage Village (Farmington), and Living History Farms (Des Moines,IA).
2008 Quicksteps Vintage Base Ball Club Match Schedule
15TH SEASON SCHEDULE, to date
All dates are tentative and subject to change. Match scores will be reported here, as soon as practicable after receipt from the telegraph company or pony express.
Saturday, May 10, approx 5:20 p.m.
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN.
Vintage base ball demonstration before the Twins-Red Sox game.
Saturday May 17, 1:30 p.m.
The Landing- Minnesota River Heritage Park, Shakopee, MN.
Match versus Silver Stars of Northfield.
Match results: Silver Stars 3, Quicksteps 2
Saturday, June 7, 1:00 p.m.
Old Main Athletic Grounds, St. Olaf College,
Lincoln Street & 1st Street W, Northfield, MN.
Match versus Silver Stars of Northfield.
Match results: Silver Stars 6, Quicksteps 5
Saturday, June 14, 1:30 p.m.
The Landing- Minnesota River Heritage Park, Shakopee, MN.
Match versus staff and visitors.
Sunday, June 15, 1:30 p.m.
The Landing- Minnesota River Heritage Park, Shakopee, MN.
Match versus Olmsted County Roosters.
Match results: Roosters 17, Quicksteps 12.
Saturday - Sunday, June 28-29, all day.
Washington County Fairgrounds, Bayport, MN.
Minnesota Sesquicentennial Tournament.
Festival format, six timed matches of 50-60 minutes each.
Tournament results: won 3, lost 2, tied 1.
Friday, July 4, noon.
The Landing- Minnesota River Heritage Park, Shakopee, MN.
Match versus staff and visitors.
Saturday, July 19, 11:00 a.m.
B. F. Nelson Park, Minneapolis, MN.
Match versus picked nine, Minneapolis City Council & Park Board.
Match results: Quicksteps 14, City Council 2.
Saturday, July 26, 9:00 a.m.
Olmsted County Historical Society Grounds,
1195 County Road 22 SW, Rochester, MN.
Olmsted County Roosters Vintage Base Ball Tournament, timed matches.
Match results: won 1, lost 1.
Sunday, July 27, 11:00 a.m.
Old Athletic Grounds, Sixth St. S. & Orleans, Stillwater, MN.
Lumberjack Days Vintage Base Ball Tournament, two games.
Match results: Quicksteps 13, Afton Red Stockings 0 and
St. Croix of Stillwater 12, Quicksteps 10.
Monday, August 4, 7:00 p.m.
Fridley Historical Society Grounds, 611 Mississippi St., Fridley, MN.
Match versus picked nine, AugustFest.
Match results: Quicksteps 14, Fridley Historical Society 13.
Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m.
Richfield Historical Society Grounds, 70th Ave. and Lyndale Ave., Richfield, MN.
Match versus picked nine of the Richfield Historical Society.
Match results: Richfield Historical Society 3, Quicksteps 1.
Monday, September 1 (Labor Day), 1:30 p.m.
The Landing- Minnesota River Heritage Park, Shakopee, MN.
Match versus Afton Red Stockings.
Saturday, September 6, time TBA.
Mantorville Restoration Assn., Mantorville, MN.
Match versus picked nine.
Sunday, September 21, 1:30 p.m.
Brooklyn Park Historic Farm, 4345 101 Ave. N., Brooklyn Park, MN
Match versus picked nine.
2007 Roster
The Quicksteps
The Quicksteps
Michael (Professor) Andregg
Rich (Aces) Arpi, Bench
Barry (Easy Does It) Bengtsson
Chris (Barrister)
Bowman
Fred (Sure Shot)
Buckland
Doug (Orator) Ernst
Anthony (Cannonball) Feist
Richard (The Pocket
Rocket)) Feist
Arnie (No Nickname Yet) Hymanson
Jerry (Traveller) Janzen
Leon (The French Revolution)
LaVigne
Dan (Death To Flying Things) Levitt,
Howard (Chopsticks) Luloff
Geoff (Acorn) Luurs
Ray (Oak) Luurs
Tom (Irish) M’Caffrey
Christopher (Rufus)
Nelson
Gregg (No Nickname
Yet) Nelson
Paul (The Solon) Ostrow
George (Gramps) Rekela
Gregg (Right Call) Richardson,Umpire
Cary (Admiral) Smith
Bob (Slow Trot) Tholkes, Manager & Umpire
Mary (Needles) Tholkes, Tallykeeper &
Costumer
Stew (Silver Tongue) Thornley
Tom (King Tut) Tuttle
Emeritus:
Paul (Clipper) Harris, Denver, CO
Bill (Old Candy) Tholkes, Long
Beach, CA
Tommy (Candy) Wegrzyn
Jim (The Count)
Wyman, Mansfield Center, CT
The Quicksteps' Club SongTune: non-descript, but resembles the theme from Leave It To Beaver
We are a band of ball players
From Minnesota's cities.
We're here to toss the ball around
And sing to you our ditty.
Hurrah for the Noble Game,
For the Noble Game, Hurrah!
The Quicksteps all
Will toss the ball
And shout a loud Hurrah!
Halsey Hall Chapter - SABR
THE QUICKSTEPS
