Old-time ball club to use Common despite rally
The possibility of a clash on Boston Common between the Boston Free Speech Rally and counter-protesters on Saturday won’t stop at least one group — an old-timey baseball team — from using the field they’ve already rented, according to an organizer.
“The team we’re playing is coming all the way from Hoboken,” said Patrick Reilly, a member of the Boston Beaneaters. “There’s no way we’re going to cancel the game for it.”
Organizers for the Boston Free Speech Rally have advertised a five-hour protest beginning at noon on Saturday, although they have yet to pull a permit to use the Common, according to City Hall.
However, other organizations do have Common permits for that day, including Vintage Baseball Association members Boston Beaneaters, who play baseball according to 1886 rules in period attire.
Reilly said Saturday’s game against the Hoboken Nine had been planned before the Boston Free Speech Rally, and that he expected more counter-protesters than rally participants on the Common.
He added he wasn’t concerned about any safety issues because of the game’s limited field space.
“I can’t imagine anyone would get on the baseball field. If we were out in an open space it might be different,” Reilly said. “Unless someone tells me our permit is no good anymore, we plan on doing it. I can’t imagine it’s not going to happen. It better not.”
Reilly said there was only one set of circumstances the game would be called.
“There’s no way we’d cancel — unless it rains,” he said.