Dan's Papers - August 17, 2007 - Artists & Writers to Vie for Softball Championship This Saturday

The Annual Artist-Writers Softball game is a longstanding Hamptons tradition dating back to the 1960s - and maybe even earlier - and serves as a charitable event that benefits many local organizations. Tomorrow's game, the 59th game in the event's history, is sponsored by the East Hampton Day Care Center, the Phoenix House and the East End Hospice.

This year, the highly anticipated softball game will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 18, on the sandlot baseball field behind the Waldbaum's in East Hampton. For those of you not familiar with this "friendly" competition between artists, writers and even politicians and celebrities, you'll need some serious background.

When the event first came to town, it consisted mostly of well-known local artists like Willem de Kooning and Syd Solomon. But because of the recent influx of Hollywood stars on the East End, the participants in recent games might include anyone from novelists and politicians to an award-winning actor or actress. In the old days, the Artist-Writers Softball Game lacked some organization, but as it has grown, the players have stepped up to the plate, arriving at the venue prepared to play while their fans treat themselves to refreshments, t-shirts and hats. Admission to the event is free, but proceeds from the sale of merchandise and snacks will go to local organizations, as will any charitable donations.

Whoever the players are, the game is always a great success that is enjoyed by all who attend. It is also taken surprisingly seriously by the artists and writers who play. Although these types normally stick to purely intellectual and creative pursuits, the artists and writers of past games have proven that their competitive natures can be coaxed out into the open by little more than a few bases, some bats and the roar of the crowd.

Dan's Papers covers this event year after year, so to properly give you a taste of its atmosphere, it seems only fitting that you hear the echoes of the past, if you will, and read a snippet of an article written about 1986's game.

"Identities disappear on a softball diamond," the writer mused. "Primitive urges take hold. Writers naturally get to become their characters - "The name's Hobbs, sir, Roy Hobbs. Right Field.'

"Artists get to brush themselves with dirt and float backwards, tracking fly balls dropping out of the blue in their own living canvas.

"Bats and balls are their medium, but the stakes are high. Was it really any surprise that these guys (and disappointingly few women) wanted to win?"

And though it might seem too good to be true, this year's game will leave its spectators with similarly lofty thoughts and give them a good taste of what artists and writers can acheive, even when stripped of the tools of their chosen trades.

Over the years, spectators have watched as the Hamptons' most creative residents and visitors, such as John Irving, Rudolph Giuliani, Kurt Vonnegut, Carl Bernstein, Peter Jennings, Bill Clinton, and Paul Simon, have taken to the mound, in the field, the outfield and bases, sporting softball attire and competing - some more than others - for the summer's best bragging rights.

And while winning matters, a big part of this event's entertainment comes from observing the players, who normally sport serious suits while being honored at benefits or live behind a stack of books to be signed, in a more casual setting, exchanging jokes, tossing jibes back and forth and getting down in the dirt.

For example, in 1973, Abbie Hoffman, standing on first base, flirted with the cheerleaders before illegally stealing second base with a great flourish. Then, he got called back and stole it again! In 1994, Howard Stringer announced that Paul Simon was wearing gloves designed by spectator and world-renowned designer, Donna Karan.

Expect to see some antics of the same caliber this year as Ken Auletta, Carl Bernstein, Donnie Deutsch, Eric Earnst, Mike Lupica, Bob Balaban, Greg Bellow and other Hamptons talent take the field. Dan Rattiner will be the umpire and Bert Sugar and Nanette Henson will be announcing. Game coordinator Leif Hope says audiences can expect the game to be "highly competitive. The winners take great pleasure in winning...and the artists lose gracefully." And yet, this year, "It's anyone's game."