Philadelphia
1977-1-29 Profile of
Feinberg, Eddie "Itzy" / remembrance of 1930s semi-pro. The Italians had a Jewish 1b. Hundreds of teams in the 1930s, and fans flocked to 6 PM games in numbers from 500 to 6K. Sometimes admission was free, other times 25-35 cents. Sometimes 100 games were played in a day.
The 25th annual Hot Stove League reunion is at hand. It's a group of 200 fans and players from the old days.
1977-1-29 (contin.) Henny Fogel, now 65, who played with Feinberg with Kensington, says he had a great throwing arm. Feinberg hurt his knee in 1939. He was sold to WSH but did not report (alleged - BR says he played 46g in 1940 for affiliate) because he could make more money with semi-pro. Played for Lansdale EPL, Kensington PHL, the SPHAs, an American Legion team, and a truckdriver's team (Local 107) in the union league.
"You know, there were so many open lots then that you could play anywhere," said Mike Iannarella, 71, the former manager of the Philadelphia Italians.
"We played at Fourth and Oregon, 26th and Snyder, 65th and Buist, 48th and Parkside, 11th and Luzerne, we played everywhere. Everyone says that television and World War II killed semi-pro here. You know what happened? Progress happened. Builders built on the lots."
Like Fogel and Feinberg, Iannarella remembers the '30s as a nearly perfect time.
"The Phillies and the A's played during the day and we played our games at 6 p.m.," he said. "The average guy couldn't see them play so he'd go to the sandlots. The big leagues played on Saturday afternoons so we didn't.
"Sure they were happy days. Everybody loved baseball. Ballplayers played for the sport. The players would earn some money too, depending on the crowds."
Players could earn as little as $2 or $3 a game or as much as $100.
"It's how many of us survived," said Fogel, the former pitcher. "In the Eastern Pennsylvania League we
had teams like Harleysville, Limeport and Quakertown. We mainly played on weekends and in those towns there wasn't much to do besides going to the game. We'd generally get more than a 1,000 to a game."
1994-9-16 Memories of a South Phillies fan. Very good.
1996-2-09 Columnist Jack McKinney had a favorite Italian uncle who played short for Wentz-Olney. "He was a Renaissance man, and besides giving me an enduring love for Italy's language and music, he spent hours on the neighborhood diamond showing my brothers and me how to play baseball." And when one kind went after another with a bat gave them a vivid description of what a blow can do to the brain.
Scraps from Edgar Williams columns.
1995-12-07 Connie Mack would give cast-off A's jerseys to local sandlot programs.
1994-11-12 Joe Schmidt was a stand-out pitcher for Wentz-Olney and Raphael.
1994-9-17 Max Patkin once pitched for Wentz-Olney v. Pete Alexander of HOD
1994-7-23 "A shortstop named Harry Griver playing for Wentz-Olney, Wissinoming, and the Philadelphia Italians during what was called the 'golden age' of semipro baseball in the Philadelphia area."
1994-7-02 Ted Emery died last week at 85. He hit safely in 55 straight games in 1938 playing as a third baseman for four different teams: Wissinoming, Mayfair, Wentz-Olney, and Holmesburg. In that time there were so many teams and leagues that a player could play a half-dozen games a week if they wanted.
1989-11-22 The profiles of the 12 members of second class of the South Jersey Hall of Fame. Mush Higgins, a Camden product, pitched Wentz-Olney to several city titles.
1989-8-23 Obit of Jim Hockenbury, a 1940s A's minor leaguer whose dad, Bill Sr., pitched for Wentz-Olney, the South Phillies, and Fleisher Yarn in the 1920s-30s. Bill Jr. also played in the A's chain.
1980-1-26 Pic of Henny Fogel as he is now. Part of 1940 Kensington team pic showing Feinberg and Fogel. Art Sharkey is 75 now, Feinberg 61, and Fogel 68.
1980-1-26 contin. The 28th annual reunion of the Philadelphia Hot Stove League is tonight. The Lansdale Hawks "were generally accounted a titan of the semi-pros." The old-timers remember the Philadelphia League, the Quaker City League, and the Main Line League.
Henny Fogel was one of the top southpaws in Philadelphia sandlot history.
"Sandlot baseball caught fire as a mass-entertainment enterprise after World War I. The city had two major league clubs, the Phillies and the Athletics, neither of which was such-a-much in the early '20s. So when neighborhood ballparks, seating from a few hundred to a few thousand, sprang up, the public went ape over the semi-pros who played in those parks.
"During the week, the games started at 6 P.M. A man could come home from work, gather up his family and take them to a game (average admission: 25 cents.) And the player supply was excellent because many an athlete who might have been playing in the majors for fairly big money found he could do even better by working a 9-to-5 job and playing a half-dozen games or so a the week on the sandlots."
Eddie Gerner and Howard Lohr, for instance, were sandlotters by choice. "In the late 1920s, when Gerner was at his peak, it was said that, playing a total of about seven games a week in three different leagues, he was earning upward of $500 - a figure that many a major league outfielder surely envied."
Eddie Feinberg, who earned $300 a month with the Phillies, could earn that in a week when in 1940 he began playing in the PHL and EPL and with the Bushwicks.
Fogel pitched the Philadelphia Italians to the 1938 PHL championship by winning both games of a double-header. He was 5'10", 155 lb.
Art Sharkey is a "retired Philadelphia Gas Works employee who played sandlot ball for nearly 30 years (he also went to spring training with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1929)..."
1973-1-18 Obit of Harold E. Monahan Sr., an engineer who played with Wentz-Olney. Died at 65. 1961-4-14 On the death of Philadelphia semi-pro baseball. There are just 25 league teams today where there once were teams in every neighborhood. The independents are all gone.
Howard Cull has been on the lots 37 years - "long enough to see Joe Rullo go from the South Phillies to the A's and his son, Joe Jr., come along and play in the same neighborhood; long enough to see Harry Marnie get up to the Phillies infield and Harry Jr. come along to catch for Passon's."
"Cull remembers the days when Cy Kaselman played second for Eddie Gottlieb's Sphas and Jocko Collins, the Phillies scout, and Pete Bryon, the Mack Stadium PA announcer, did wonderful things with Port Richmond. Dick Oliver struck 'em out for Wentz-Olney before he went to the A's, reputedly for a cut in salary... Billy [Santop] continued to catch for Hilldale and chide rival strikeout victims with a pat on the back and his famous line, 'Swing level, Cornelius.' The phrase become so popular that one Philadelphia sportswriter entitled his column 'Swing Level.' "
"Cull believes there are a number of reasons why none of today's sandlot stars is well known enough to coin a catch-phrase. He talks about TV and the cars that make it so the "players won't stay home for the big week-end games," just as everybody else does. He adds other reasons why more little boys play baseball than ever before - in the Little and Babe Ruth-type leagues-but don't go on to semi- pro.
One reason, he says, is that the semi-pro no longer is even a quarter-pro. A good pitcher used to be worth his weight in silver dollars when they brought him in for a big game.
"That's all gone," Cull says. "Nobody makes any money on the sandlots. Oh, sometimes members of a club sponsoring a team will chip in to slip a guy something. But it's only a couple of bucks. Nothing like the old days."
Cull says the "angels" have almost disappeared. They were the businessmen who kept the Main Line League teams and others playing with shirt backs bearing legends such as "Joe's Diner" and seemingly always labeling the dirtiest uniform on the diamond "Elite Laundry."
"They are dying off," Cull mourns, "and nobody is taking their places. Young businessmen don't think baseball is good advertising. And running a team is too much trouble. You have to coax the players to come out and you have to take them to the games, then take them home and they won't play on week ends."
Most of the time it doesn't pay the sandlot magnate to pass the hat. "The Penicum team, down in Southwark, is the best draw in the city now," Cull believes. "They get neighborhood support."
How much support? Five to 600 a game. That's all.
"Another thing I've noticed," Cull says. "People will not stay for a whole game. They may be out for a ride and stop to watch a few innings, then they leave. If a manager's smart he better pass the hat about the third inning."
Cull can't see why more college and high school boys aren't putting in vacation time on the lots, trying to sharpen skills to the point where they'll command one of the big checks the big leaguers are throwing like confetti. But it doesn't work that way.
"One of my players said to me the other day," Cull relates, "Howard, I'm just gonna play basketball the rest of the summer.'"
That's the way life is now, even though any bus driver could put the biggest basketball bonus in his change carrier.
1960-4-04 William Hockenbury obit. Former Wentz-Olney. He was 59.
1958-3-06 Elmer Valo profile. He signed with the Athletics at age 16, and they had him play with Wentz-Olney and other semi-pro teams until he was 18.
1957-6-16 Pic of Bill Hockenbury showing a kid to bunt. Profile. He married a 1b.
1957-5-21 Wentz-Olney has bought the Lawncrest franchise of the Suburban League. They play Sun-Wed-Fred at the City Recreation Center at A and Champlost Sts. Lists some of the old Wentz-Olney players who graduated to the majors.
The good thing about small independent leagues is that they allow players to get play thru the summer and get noticed without having to journey far.
The City Recreation Department lets teams use their fields. Umpires are paid after passing the hat.
The leagues still produce pros; lists a couple recent Suburban League grads.
1957-1-27 600 attended last night's Hot Stove banquet. Bill Hockenbury was given award of "Outstanding Philadelphian who has done the most for kids." John Meagher, former South Phillies manager, and Charles Ziehler, former Wentz-Olney manager, were given plaques for the sandlot significance.
1954-7-18 Old Timers' Game - players listed, with full names.
1928-4-14 George Brand's Lancaster Eighth Ward team preview for next couple of weeks. Team has seven pitchers.
1928-10-12 The big league barnstorming team of Ira Thomas and George Brand will face Hilldale at Corley today and tomorrow.
Boxes
1905-7-22 Pic of Glassboro, which is in 2nd place in the Tri-Town League and making a bid for the crown of South Jersey.
1917-7-24 Tues. Chester beats Wildwood 2-0 in 18 innings.
1917-8-18 Sat. Pic of Wildwood team - quite good roster listed, with full names. Tons of boxes for independent and league games.
1920-5-15 Sat. Pic of H.O. Wilbur and Sons team.
1922-5-10 Wed. South Phillies beat Fleisher Yarn 8-3.
1922-8-27 Sun. South Phillies lose to Viscose 6-1.
1928-5-16 Wed. Stan Baumgartner beat BRG 8-2 for Kensington Congregational.
1928-7-07 Sat. Cuban Stars 10, Harrowgate 7. 16 innings; 3K ATT.
1934-5-07 Lots of boxes, including league. Lots of large crowds, up to 5-6K.
1943-10-17 Greeley A.C. capped a 44-3 season by beating the Wentz-Olney Stars 3-1. Ringers.
Commentary:
1906-3-11 The Quaker City club has Fitzgerald, late of the Suburban League, Kelly, of the famous champion Brooklyn Ridgewood club, and midget deaf mute pitcher.
1906-3-18 No pics and less tho still sufficient talk.
1906-4-08 Great talk. "J. Frank Meehan, one of the greatest exponents of the amateur game, has come to the conclusion to retire. Meehan's Highlanders [ac]quired a national reputation among the Future Greats and if he stays out of the game this summer the amateur ranks will lose one of the best sportsmen in the business."
1906-4-15 Whole page of pics and info from Philadelphia Inquirer.
1906-4-22 Semi-pro talk (copious) + pics + TRIS talk. Camden is happy with team.
1908-3-01 Future Greats. Schedule for the Philadelphia League, which seems strong.
1908-3-22 Info for Inquirer Amateur Leagues - 12 in all. Officials and their addresses listed.
About misc. teams. The Thompson club, champions of South Philadelphia for the last two seasons with a 54-3 record in that time, will have one of the top teams in the city this year. They are managed by Jack Hines, who is currently playing basketball in the Philadelphia League. (Hines later managed the Old-Timers, I believe.) Roster listed with full names.
1908-3-29 (also prev. page) Complete rosters with ages and full names listed for every Inquirer amateur leagues teams. None are older than 18.
1910-4-05 Susquehanna League schedule; Nescopeck roster/preview.
1913-2-14 (West Chester) The plan of the proposed Chester County League is to allow teams to sign only home players. This would hamper West Chester, which doesn't have much good talent currently. Instead, many men believe we should limit player signings to the scope of the county, not individual towns. The DCL has already signed up the best players because it was organized earlier. "Many of the promoters favor teams of semi-professional players, thus leaving the managers free to secure their men from any section and meaning stronger teams for all."
The Main Line League seeks two teams to fill out its six-team roster. It may place teams in suburban Philadelphia.
1917-5-05 (Public Ledger) Leagues are beginning. The Suburban League has a much stronger circuit; teams and managers listed. Delaware River League schedule, and Montgomery County League eligibles.
Touchstone, Chester DCL pitcher, had a leading 13-5 record last year. Upland has two celestials in his line-up: Mark and Lai.
1922-8-28 The P.B.A. elimination series begins today. Philadelphia has always been a "stronghold for independent baseball," and this summer was a particular success. The PBA has done much to foster interest in sandlot ball.
"Although several unpleasant incidents have cropped up this year the general trend has been to the betterment of the game..."
A play-off series between the victors of each class will be played if the weather doesn't get too cold too early.
"YEARS ago when daylight-saving was never heard of and when semi-weekly games were the limit, this city boasted of many strong leagues and teams. They ranked with the best of today. In fact many of the old timers, as old timers do, are firm in their belief that the present leading teams of today would not compare to those of the past. That is a matter of opinion.
"However, there is no doubt but that many of the crack teams of yesteryear were powerful independent ball teams. Jump back a decade or two ago. There was the old Philadelphia League which included Paschall, Southwestern, Crescents, Bartram and Freihofer Professionals. This organization boasted of powerful teams made up of the best of independent players. The league ran for several years, was most successful in its way but like most sport organizations died when the game slumped a bit one
season.
"Prior to that there was the old Suburban League made up of Frankford, Tacony, Highland, Jenkintown, Germantown and the Crusaders. This league flourished in 1905. Rivalry was especially keen between certain teams, such as when Tacony and Frankford crossed bats or when Jenkintown lined up against Germantown. Salaries of the players then did not reach bank presidents' size, such as are being paid today, but the feeling was intense, the games were played just as hard and as skillfully and a fan certainly got his money's worth.
It was no sinecure to umpire in those games. Only one official gave decisions and risked the ire of the fans during those hectic days. An umpire had to be a man of nerve and stone to get by in that period. There were several near riots and many a fistic exhibition between unruly players and the indicator holders but as a rule the games progressed smoothly and the league lasted long enough to drive another spike into the popularity of independent baseball in this city.
THEN there was another league which was probably the only one of its kind ever attempted. This was the International League of this city. Enrolled in this rather unique organization were the Philadelphia Professionals, Cuban Stars, Philadelphia Giants and Cuban X. Giants. The league played all the games on the grounds of the Phillies and old Columbia Park, 30th and Columbia Avenue, then the home of the Athletics. The Philadelphia Giants and the Cuban X. Giants were colored clubs, and two of the strongest independent teams which ever played ball.
The Cuban Stars were made up of chattering natives from Cuba. They were lightning fast in the field but rather a weak hitting organization. They started an incessant chatter in Span- ish as soon as the game started and never ceased until the end.
The Philadelphia Professionals were the only white players in the league. The calibre of play was far above the ordinary in this league and while, the circuit was far too small, nevertheless considerable interest centered in the games during its career.
1927-5-01 Wentz-Olney roster listed, with full names.
1928-4-01 Narberth, usual Main Line team, will go independent this year. Lists officers elected for year. Eddie Gottlieb will lead the Philadelphia Elks. A South Philadelphia player centerfielder named Gorman who played for Corley last year has mysteriously refused all pro offers. An expert on the South Philadelphia scene says it is because he gets homesick.
1928-7-15 Games rained out yesterday. Eddie Gerner mourns missed dollars. "The men who put up money for the new $10,000 stadium in Lansdale weren't dancing any jigs of joy."
Socks Flynn turned down an Eastern Shore League offer to play with the Kensington Congs, thinking he could make lots of money that way, and then the Congs lost their grounds. Then he got a job with Lansdale and it's rained every Saturday, and you don't get paid when it rains.
"Flynn is not the only independent player gasping for the smelling salts. Never in the history of the semi-pros have so many tilts been washed out. Instead of playing five or six games a week as in years gone by the little fellows have been content to squeeze in two or three."
"Five years ago when the independents were at their height many of the men made six or seven hundred dollars a month. Buck Lai told the writer that he averaged over $900 a month for six straight months.
" ' You don't blame me for not going back to Honolulu, do you?' queried Lai. "But this year, I would to tell you what it has dropped to.
" ' The visiting teams at independent parks seldom get as much as $75 for a game. That doesn't leave much for the rest of the players after the battery has been paid.' "
"In the minor leagues it is the magnates, not the players, who get the financial cramps." The Eastern Shore League just expired. The BLRI has an empty pocket book. The BLRI is only keeping on because four of the teams are backed by major league clubs. Sunday ball would really help them. There are a few men on the governing boards of each team who oppose it.
1928-2-01 Jimmy Blake going to spring training with PHA. A former West Catholic High pitcher, he spent time at the University of Dayton. Last year he played with Corley, Penn A.C., and Trenton.
1928-6-01 Frank Burke signed by BSN on Kid Stutz' recommendation. Burke is former BLRI and one of the top independent pitchers in the city.
Burke, FrankDelaware County League
1912 Upland White Hippers
1915 Upland
1917
1911-2-09 It looks like the DCL will be the only significant league in the county as the Big Four League of Chester probably will not reform. "It is true that there will probably be another league formed of baseball clubs from six towns along the West Chester, Chester, and Baltimore pikes, but these clubs, if merged into a league, will not conflict with the DCL as far as the patronage of the game is concerned." Lists some towns that would welcome such a league.
"This [talk of league organization] points clearly to the fact that there is little or no interest in independent ball, because the fans do not care to follow a team when there is not a certain amount of local rivalry."
Crowds should be larger this year with the DCL being the county's premier league. "The reason for this, and which cannot be denied, is that the DCL has been managed in a very careful and businesslike way."
1912-9-19 Upland will hold a celebratory parade tonight. 50 horsemen will lead - several hundred people expected.
"It was through the courtesy of Mr. Crozer that the Upland team first received their start in the Big Four League as at that time the club was playing on the open field. The other three clubs had enclosed grounds and the collections received by the county Champs were hardly enough to cover the running expenses. It was at that time Mr. Crozer secured the canvas that now circles the field from which the ball ground received its name of White Hip.
"After the averages of the players are compiled it is expected that several of the Upland players will win the individual cups that are offered. There will be three loving cups presented at the Delaware County League Banquet held at the Hotel Walton the second Monday in January. One for the leading hitter, which is threatened to be copped by Tommy Hart, another for the leading base runner. Cashman, of Dan's Fives, looks to have a big hold on this cup. The Fogel cup will be presented to the player who has proven himself most useful to his club."
1913-2-14 (West Chester) "After being in session until long after midnight, the managers and President J. B. Weeks, of the Delaware County Base Ball League, meeting at Media, decided to cut the circuit this year from six to four clubs. The clubs represented were Media, Clifton Heights-Philadelphia Electrics, Upland and Chester. Daniel Doherty, manager of the latter club, opposed the salary limit adopted by Media and Upland, saying that Chester will not pay a club to compete with the players engaged by Manager Miller, of Upland, and Manager Cloud Alexander, of Media. Another meeting will be held in a few weeks to try and straighten out this matter to the satisfaction of all. A strong bid is being made for Doherty to enter a new combination of clubs in Chester and unless the salary list of the Delaware County League is modified, he may decide at the last minute not to play with that league, but to attach his club to the proposed new league."
1914-1-22 300 people attended the league's 7th annual banquet last night, held in Upland's clubhouse. Connie Mack attended, among other notables, and even gave a short speech, contrary to his usual custom. Menu listed. Speeches by DCL pres. and John P. Crozer, Upland A.A. pres. Crozer received great applause, showing in the high regard in which he is held. "Mr. Crozer in pleasing remarks explained his interest in the league and in the Upland Athletic Association and athletics in general by saying that nothing gives him greater pleasure in life than to make other people happy." Connie Mack paid a tribute to Bris Lord and Press Cruthers, Upland boys with the A's.
John J. Kelly played every inning and every position for Media. "Harold P. Ogden of the Media club was presented with the 'Eddie Collins Cup' for being the leading base runner in the league during the season, and the 'Connie Mack Cup' was presented to Ernest Greenwell, of the Chester club, the leading batsman of the league."
Lists the league officers and team managers. Lists comprehensively and with full names the banquet guests.
John P. Crozer donated Upland's $50,000 club house.
Pic of Dan Doherty, who managed Chester to the pennant.
1914-5-01 The Clifton Heights franchise was transferred to the borough of Marcus Hook. Frank Poth had promised to raise $500 but did not. Marcus Hook is closer to Chester and Upland anyway.
1914-5-01 (Chester) Pic of league pres. J.B. Weeks. Umpires listed. Media has a nice new park. Eligible players, managers, and league officers. listed. County League notes.
1914-5-02 Poth of Germantown has withdrawn his team from Clifton Heights and will try to transfer it to Marcus Hook. Both Poth and Clifton Heights AA had promised to raise $500 - neither have done so. (Clifton Heights had erected a fence and grandstand as promised.) Hearing that Poth had deserted them, the Clifton AA has replaced the team with the Clifton Heights Professionals.
Poth had gotten together a good team with a high salary list. "Poth in his agreement was to carry out the season at his own expense, should the gate receipts not have been sufficient to pay the salaries of the players. Last season Poth managed a team in Burlington NJ, and he said last night that this team cost him $3000 out of his own pocket. Therefore he was not going to be caught napping this season."
Clifton Heights believes it is in good shape financially - the DCL Board of Managers would not make a mistake in choosing it.
1914-5-20 (Chester) Clifton Heights has weak spots at short, second, and right field. Media is the best balanced team in the league. Its manager, W.C. Alexander, has kept a level head at had essentially the same players at the same positions for two straight seasons. He doesn't switch players and positions every game in the regular season.
1914-5-29 two new umpires - player: "Pepper" Brown
1914-8-10 Captain Tommy Hart of Media - brother of Press Crouthers caught for Chester
1914-8-13 There had been talk that the champions of the DCL would play a post-season series with the champions of the Main Line League, but the DCL's president has denied this possibility. He says the Main Line clubs are not good enough to make such a series artistically or financially satisfying.
A writer proposed that the Main Line and Suburban Leagues play a series whose winner will face the DCL - pres. Weeks said that such a challenge would most likely be declined. Media has said they would play a post-season series with a Tri-State club if they played one at all, and Upland said they would play a series with the Delaware River League if they win. Weeks says that two of the Main Line's six teams are traveling clubs, " 'and I have found in my seven years' experience in the management of amateur and semi-professional league ball, that a league which resorts to the admission of traveling teams to complete its circuit is usually about half a league." The Main Line is half-amateur - it was fully amateur last year - and plays on open lots. " 'On the other hand, the DCL, all of whose clubs have splendid enclosed parks, has an expensive payroll for each game, one of the clubs paying as high as $200 to put its team on the field each Saturday.' "
"The people of Delaware County have not forgotten the overwhelming manner in which the Union Club of Lansdowne, last year's champion of the Inter-borough League, defeated the Main Line League champions at the close of last season. If the Delaware County League desired to play an amateur league club. they would unquestionably get in touch with the Inter-borough champions as I regard the Inter-borough League as much bigger and much more ably conducted organization, and of much stronger playing strength than the Main Line.
"We are furnishing the public the best semi-professional league ball in this section of the state. We have the best because we pay for it.".
1914-9-07 "Tex" Myers of Tri-State League - Sam Johnson - Joe Normile - etc - Scott threw a ball 127 yds 1914-9-25 (Chester) 300 fans attended a testimonial banquet for Poth, popular manager, who gave Clifton Heights a winning team.
contin. Talk of the talk at the banquet. A poem written in Poth's honor.
1914-9-27 Clifton Heights beat Tri-State Stars 4-3
1915-2-02 Connor, not Poth, will manage Clifton Heights.
1915-3-03 The Clifton Heights Library Club held a meeting to discuss fundraising for the team that will represent the borough. John L. Connor will manage the club. Dr. Rickards, old-time ballplayer and recent manager of Cheltenham of the Philadelphia Suburban League, will be assistant manager and coach. Frank L. Poth, who managed last year, will still be involved. Many players are already signed up - listed. Estimated cost of each game is $115. Will need more money than gate receipts will cover.
"The new uniforms which have been ordered for the team will be blue and white and on the sleeves there will be a cub. The name of the club this year will be Cubs and not White Sox."
1915-3-25 (Chester) Baseball night held for Clifton Heights ball club. Pic of Poth, who acted as toastmaster. Councilman J.L. Connor is the new manager.
1915-6-19 Good talk. The league has two Home Runs - Baker and Johnson.
1915-7-12 (Chicago via Wilmington ) Home Run Baker is hitting .237
1915-7-23 Clifton Heights wants to remain in league, but Poth wants out - and he plans to take with him ten of the players he lists as being under personal contract to him. Poth said: "[James L.] McFadden may claim to be president of the club, but I paid him $25 a month to take care of the grounds and keep them in shape and also to go with the team to Phoenixville, Pa., every Sunday. Some president of a ball club!" "If McFadden thinks he and Connor can get a team for the old salary limit of $115, let them try and find what kind of talent they can secure for that money. Connor agreed to pay $115 a month and I was to dig down for the balance, and I want to say that my digging down was a heap sight deeper than Connor's. Furthermore, Connor did not live up to his agreement with me all the way through, therefore I I consider I am lucky to have gotten rid of the burden of carrying along an expensive proposition like that."
"President Weeks will decide the protest over the use of the "emery" ball by George Mullen, a former Detroit pitcher, in the Chester-Clifton Heights game, some time tomorrow.
"Late yesterday President Weeks issued a statement to the effect that all players at present on the Clifton Heights playing list are recognized by the league as the property of the Clifton Heights club, and that any player on the list refusing to play for the remainder of the season will be disbarred from permanently playing in the Delaware County League this and all future seasons. President Weeks declared that none of the players on the Clifton Heights team can play in the Delaware River League, the only other league within a radius of one hundred miles of Philadelphia paying any substantial salary because the Delaware River and Delaware County leagues are abiding by the rules of the Interstate Association not to play any players of either league with consent."
1915-11-15 (Philadelphia via Richmond) At the annual banquet of the Interborough League, DCL pres. Weeks said that the millionaire John G. Crozer, whose liberality made it possible for Baker to play in the league, has said he is willing to pay Baker's salary again in 1916.
"Last season Baker's presence on the Upland club just doubled the gate receipts of the club over those of the previous year, and proved as well of immense benefit to other league clubs."
1916-2-02 If Baker can't get part of his purchase price he'll play again for Upland.
Zeke Wrigley, former MLB infield and Tri-State manager, will play short for J.G. Brill this season. Wrigley played short for Upland last year and was one of the surest fielders in the league. Brill is managed by Frank Clark. Prospective roster listed.
"J.G. Brill will play home games on the grounds of the club at 67th street and Elmwood avenue. The contract for the erection of a large grandstand has been awarded and work will be started early next week."
When last season, Media played a three-game series with the Chinese Travelers, General Hwan Hsing "offered a handsome silver, gold-lined cup to the winner of the series." Media won with two straight victories, though the games were close. Hwan Hsing was the first provisional president of the Republic of China and is now residing in Media. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huang_Xing pic DCL league president invited him to be an honorary guest at the league's annual banquet, but Xing declined, pleading a prior engagement, in a "very nice letter of regret."
In a few days the DCL will meet to consider increasing their membership to six teams. If they do, one of the teams admitted will be Chester.
1916-7-13 "Joseph F. Collins has resigned as manager of the Paschall club and J. Harry Whelan, business manager of the club, has been unanimously selected as his successor." The Paschall club is referred to as the West Philadelphians. Whelan made a few changes. Eddows, leading pitcher, will not leave. Both Eddows and Friday, Paschall pitchers, have earned their experience by the seashore.
1916-7-27 There have been complaints that scoring is inaccurate and that some platers are intentionally or unintentionally being favored by it. A meeting was held and a rule was adopted which says that each club must provide a place for scorers who will sit together, and hopefully sharpen each other as iron sharpens iron.
The players who were blacklisted after leaving Clifton Heights last year were reinstated and declared free agents.
1917-1-29 (Pittsburgh) Frank Bottger, who captained Media last year, will be Chester's field manager. He is a good player and coach of the Swarthmore College ball team.
1917-1-29 (Lancaster) Notable Chester signings. "This is the first time that Dooin has played with a semi-professional organization since the early nineties, when he was a member of the Manhattans of Cincinnati and later with Julius Fleischman's Mountain team, a band that played on the latter's country estate in the Catskills." Has also signed Yap of Lehigh and Strawbridge & Clothier.
1917-6-20 (Chester) Profile + pic of Frank L. Poth. Chester has an efficiently-run team - is 7-1. "A trip to Chester on a day when the ball club plays at home reminds one of the excitement attending the world's series." Signed Charley Dooin by paying him more than many major leaguers make - had to win over Dooin, who was reluctant because he was running a garage in Oak Lane. Signed other stars - roster talked of.
Admission is 25 and 35 cents - Chester gets as many as 2K fans.
1917-7-17 Frank Baker denies he tried to lure pitcher Sothoron from St. Louis to the DCL. Baker told him he would be foolish to jump O.B.
1917-8-08 controversy over Al Mamaux trying to sign with Upland - he does not join them
1917-9-11 Wilkes-Barre will play Chester on Thursday 9-13. Preview.
1917-9-16 Upland team pic. Buck Lai, Marks (Fred Markham), Ayau.
1917-9-14 Previews. E.J. Geiger, former president of the Interborough League, is publicity manager for Chester, Upland, Media, and Trenton.
1917-10-24 The actor Leo Donnelly claims some responsibility for Chester's pennant. Having worked previously with Poth in baseball, he told Poth to use lots of pinch hitters - Poth followed that advice and won the game. Donnelly is friends with Mike Donlin, who used to talk lots of inside baseball to him - he picked up knowledge that way.
1931-6-09 Once, when Poth was managing Chester, Dick Spaulding went 0-for-4. Poth, enraged, said to Spaulding in the dressing room: "That's what you get for going swimming all morning. No wonder you couldn't hit - you were all tired."
"But I didn't go in the water. I slept until noon," defended Dick.
"Then that's the trouble," snorted Poth, "you should have gone in the water and loosened yourself up."
1916-8-06 Upland 4, Media 3. 13 innings - play by play. Boxes without ABs for other games, but does have all boxes.
1916-9-30 Media 6, Chester 3 - box with ABs. Media clinched pennant. Field day.
preview Clifton Heights pays good salaries
1914-8-05 (Camden) Clifton Heights 4, Camden A.C. 3. Harrison, Clifton Heights' pitcher, dominated with his fast spitter. "Mr. Poth's crabbing and coaching efforts failed to please the crowd and he was severely 'panned.' " 1914-9-08 (Chester) In a double-header with the Long Branch Cubans, Clifton Heights lost the first game and tied the second.
Talk. Media won the league pennant by beating the Clifton White Sox on Labor Day.
Clifton Heights will play a two-game series with Harrisburg, Tri-State League champs. Poth has made Clifton Heights one of the most famous baseball towns in the state by his management.
Jimmy Burke, Clifton Heights pitcher, has signed with the Boston Nationals for next season. He had a meteoric rise. Burke started his career with Clifton AA of the Interborough League, a club organized by E.J. Geiger, and led the team to two straight pennants by his great pitching. He became one of the most in-demand independent pitchers last season. In Burke's last six games this season, he allowed just five runs and 20 hits.
1914-10-03 Media 4, Roebling (Delaware River League champs) 0. Very large crowd. Clifton Heights 7, Victrix C.C. of West Philadelphia 2. Bobby Scott threw a great game for Clifton. Victrix's manager, John Weeks, is an uncle of the president of the Delaware County League. Victrix has a number of players of Southern or Tri-State fame in its current line-up.
1915-6-18 Clifton Heights 2, Philadelphia Giants 1. 11 innings.
1917-7-24 Tues. Chester beats Wildwood 2-0 in 18 innings. 1917-7-31 (Atlantic City) Bacharach Giants 6, Chester 3.
MG
1914
Chester : Trainor (9-07)
Clifton Heights White Sox : Frank L. Poth
Upland White Hippers
1915
Upland : Miller
1921
President: E.J. Geiger
1917-6-19 Lohr and Peploski - Lohr sliding into third. Charlie Dooin, the "Sorrel Thrush." 1b Ogden. VG Chester team pic.
Delco League
1947-8-21 All-star team named. The two first basemen named are both black, the only black players on their teams.
Delco Valley League
1947-8-26 All-star game preview. Pic of Tony Straccione, who was in the ESHL a few seasons ago and played with Lloyd A.C. last season.
1947-8-28 Ellie Harpster, 40-year-old Glenolden pitcher, will start for the Delco League stars.
Delmont League
1933 Llanerch
1906
1906-4-08 League formed. Has two black teams, two teams from Cuba, and one local independent team.
Industrial League
1930
American Industrial League
1943
1943-8-11 Feinberg played in his last game with Ford Local before joining the army.
National Industrial League
1942
Inter-Urban League
1929 Darby Phantoms
1930 Darby Phantoms
1931 Darby Phantoms
1933 Clearview
1934-4-13 League began in 1929; since then, 25 diff. clubs have competed in league. "Magistrate John F. Cozens, who backed the Bartram Club of the Philadelphia League for the past two seasons, will return to his first love, the Clearview Club, and will lend his support to last year's champions of the Interurban League."
Ed Bolden, who took over Phantoms in 1932 and unsuccessfully tried to turn team into pro touring team:
Main Line League
1904
1915
1934 Narberth
1935 Narberth
1936 Narberth
1937 Narberth
1941
1943 Narberth
1944
1950 Wayne
1943-5-27 Manager Gene Davis of Narberth is entering his 29th season in the league. Four members of the disband Gladwyne team are now with Narberth.
1937-7-10 Main-Line All-Star game ends 7-7 after 12 innings before 3K fans. Huyler Westervelt is one of seven umpires.
1937-9-25 Before 3K fans Narberth became the first time in league history to win four consecutive championships.
1941-7-20 Sun. Boxes. Brookline snapped its 16-game losing streak.
1993-6-27 Obit of Daniel L. Redmond Sr., political and civic activist, 93. Was a 1b-of-p in the Norristown Twilight League, and was president of the Main Line League during the 1940s.
1999-5-18 Obit of John J. "Mickey" Galvin, 83. Was a promising player until he lost his right leg when a girder fell on him as he worked for a construction company in 1936. He had been signed by CHW. Narberth won 15 of 33 pre-1938 league pennants. Galvin coached Wayne to the 1950 pennant. He was listed as one of the Main Line League's all-time great shortstops in the 1938 league record book and history.
Good, J. Herb. Main Line Baseball League History and Record Book, 1904-1938. Ardmore.
Philadelphia Baseball Association
1922-4-05 have stopped negotiating with United Umpires Association
1922-4-19 Nativity Catholic Club is suspended after letter from Fr. Edward I. Harkins refusing to play with umpires not assigned by Nativity team
1922-6-09 major clubs of Association want to form Twilight League
1922-7-06 biggest problem has been laxity in enforcing rules - president got pneumonia and had to stop all baseball activities - new president (George P. Cartwright has been strict in rule
1923-2-19 league was mostly a financial failure last year because of big salaries
1923-4-09 Pennsylvania Railroad will play in PBA under name of Wilmington Terminal
1923-5-10 Phila. Colonial Ice Cream is a team in the league
1923-10-14 Chester was 1st half champion
1924-2-03 league planned. Says Chester won championship last season but were defeated by Hilldale in post-season
1924-3-01 league is dead - leading teams are in Penn-Jersey League
1926-2-24 profile of Eddie Ralston as he is signed by Silk Sox - signed by STL in 1921 but when farmed out to Syracuse went home - did not want to play in minors - caught for champ PBA teams in both 1922 and 1923 - played with championship teams 4 straight years
1942-5-01 retrospective from a distance of 20 yrs - good
1922-8-26 SPHAS & South Phils scoreless for four
1922-8-28 before 5K fans, SPHAs beat Fleisher Yarn 2-0 in 1st game of the elimination contest of the Southern Division
1922-8-30 10K ATT, SPHAs beat South Phills (Lai, Lohr, Herb Steen, Peploski, Tee etc.) 4-0 at Shetzline Park, South Phils' home- Chick Passon on mound
1922-9-05 8K ATT, Krepps loses to Fleisher Yarn 6-3
1922-9-06 10K+ ATT, South Phils 4, Fleisher 1
1922-9-07 due to bad weather, only 6K ATT, South Phil (Tesreau) 4, SPHA (Passon) 0
1923-6-16 Hilldale beats Crane Ice Cream 18-4
SPHAs misc.
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/ed-gottlieb/ NBA HOF - NBA ROY named after him - officer in NNL & co-owner of Philadelphia Stars - by 1930 was premier baseball booking agent in Philadelphia. Also had influence over NYC bookings
MG
1922
SPHAs : Ed Gottlieb
1923
Chester : Billy Whitman
Logan A.A. : Paddy Livingston (MLB)
Wilmington Termina : "Sos" Winthrop
Philadelphia League
1934
1937 Kensington
1939 Mayfair
1940
1934-9-22 Three league stars will graduate into major league ranks next year: Ed Stanky and Walter Walus, Nicetown's double play partners, and George Neslie, Kensington pitcher. All have been offered contracts by the Cincinnati Reds.
1938-2-25 Kensington receives championship trophy at banquet. League President Eddie Gottlieb was on vacation in Florida. Full names of players listed; incl. erstwhile Italian Whitey Quinto.
1942-9-22 The fourth game of the best-of-seven championship series will be played tonight.
1943-8-25 Before the Phillies game Edna Ziehler, daughter of Charlie Ziehler, presented him with a traveling bag and flowers on behalf of his friends from Olney, where he used to pitch for the Wentz team. He was also given his 1942 TSN minor leaguer of the year award.
1935-4-22 Kensington (LG) beat Philadelphia Italians 3-1
1938-9-02 Wissinoming beats Ed Bolden's Philadelphia Stars 6-4 to end their twilight season.
1932-9-10 5K ATT to see Nicetown win & tie Raphael for 1st in 2nd half - series will have to be played.
1933-7-12 Managers, along with Pres. Gottlieb, decided at Passon's that a 3-game play-off series would be played to determine the 1st half winner.
1934-8-06 3.5K ATT. Also - Eddie Gottlieb's Philadelphia League All-Stars (4K ATT)
1934-10-11 George Gilham was once again a play-off hero for Raphael. 3.5K ATT.
1935-9-08 6K ATT - largest Philadelphia League crowd ever in terms of paid admissions. Ground rules were needed. 2nd game of championship series.
1936-6-08 Mancini relieved in win v. Kensington. Seymour is just the Philadelphia Italians.
Action pic. Ad Swigler covering 1b for Kensington.
1936-7-03 Jim Mandi of Seymour, the league's leading batter, hit his 18th double
1936-7-13 Pitching for Seymour in the Philadelphia League, beat Kensington 3-2 before 3K fans. Made two hits.
1936-8-15 Pitching for Seymour in the Philadelphia League, was driven out of the box by Kensington in 5th in 10-2 loss.
1939-5-18 Mancini hurt his hand twice stopping grounders in 8-3 loss to Mayfair; had to retire after 5th.
Cliff Williamson won 2-0 for Raphael in 64 minutes.
1939-9-16 Mancini lost to Mayfair 3-0 for the Italians in a Philadelphia League game. Mayfair won the championship series in 3 games. 1940-5-12 (Inquirer) All boxes. Solid fielding. Italian team.
1940-6-11 Mancini started vs. Port Richmond and was hit hard and relieved.
1940-6-29 2K ATT. 1 Italian hit a 420-ft HR; another had his hitting streak snapped at 15.
1941-9-02 2K ATT. Series for 1st half championship (huh?)
South Philadelphia League
1924
Suburban League
1940
1946
1949
1940-8-31 1st round of the 30th annual Suburban League play-offs.
1957-5-29 note. Mike Logan, Temple University southpaw, no-hit Wentz-Olney last night, Wentz-Olney's first loss in eight games.
Lancaster Red Roses (Lancaster Eighth Ward Club)
1929-6-09 One of George Brand's two teams, along with Belmont. Roster listed.
Report on signing Began playing with U. of Penn. in 1892 - league teams were immediately after him, but he spurned their advances. Led the colleges at bat in 1893, and hit .632 in 1894. Played for Cape May in summer, 1892-94. Hit .558 for Orange Athletic Club in 1895. With OAC, played three years in center (1896-1898) without dropping a fly ball. Also was a good football player for OAC, though it's been a few years since he's played it.
OAC
1898-2-15 Will have a strong team, and play at Orange Oval.
1898-5-21 Changing color of handbills to un-Spanish colors.
1898-4-30 Inquirer. OAC 7, Lehigh University 6. Opening day.
1898-5-30 I OAC 0, Georgetown 8. OAC 2, Georgetown 9. The first time OAC has been defeated at Orange Oval in three seasons.
1898-8-04 I OAC 7, Norristown 2.
1898-8-20 Times. Beat All-Scholastic 7-1 - game was played in 1:05. Lists batter walks!
Jimmy Duffy
1936-9-09 (Baltimore) Pic + profile. He pitches for six teams every week and must travel by car to fulfill his schedule. He pitches for the Bloomingdale Independents (Baltimore) on Sunday, Madison NJ on Monday, rests Tuesday, pitches for Bridgeton, NJ on Wednesday, Pitman NJ Thursday, Norristown PA Friday, and the All-Phillies on Saturday.
He had a 66-11 record last year and is 69-11 so far this season.
His record by team this season:
14-1, Madison
14-2, Bridgeton
13-1, Pitman
3-2, Norristown
7-2, All-Phillies
6-1, Bloomingdale
12-2, Brooklyn Bushwicks, with whom he pitched earlier in the season.
He learned his spitball from Jeff Tesreau in 1920.
1936-9-17 Other than his tie, Duffy has beat Vineland 22-3 and 10-3, but the latter game was thrown out of the standings when Vineland's protest of his spitball was upheld.
1936-8-14 Steineder, with Strand Billiard of Vineland, and Duffy, with Mentz Brothers of Bridgeton, tie 3-3 in 7 innings. Duffy drew the ire of Bridgeton fans by his clowning around. "Duffy simply refused to exert himself."
"Several times Duffy motioned unsuccessfully for his outfielders to come in, so sure was he that he could easily set down the local batters. His 'spitball' was the genuine thing, the sphere coming to the plate with great speed resembling a small football and curving either to the right or left."
Chick Passon
https://sabr.org/bioproj/park/passon-field/
Buddy Walker
Charlie Ziehler
1926-7-03 Beat Artisans 23-1. Called Olney-North Phillies. Eddie Faye, Olney ss, hit 3 homers, a local record for the season.
1926-7-31 Won a game v. the Quantico Marines, who have beat some of the top college teams in the country; Ziehler at catcher.
1933-9-24 Wentz-Olney 9, Raphael 8. 6K ATT. A 3rd game in the series for the 2nd half championship is necessitated.
1956-10-25 Will be honored by Hot Stove League. Lists Wentz-Olney players who made it to the majors.
1960-6-07 Obit. Former prominent independent ball owner-manager and auto battery manufacturer. He was 66. Best known as the manager of Wentz-Olney in the 1930s.
1989-11-21 A battery manufacturing company had made an offer of $1000 in a 1948 game program to any player who hit four homers in the game - and Pat Seerey hit four! Charlie Ziehler was the man who made the offer - eventually paid Seerey $500.
1945-4-13 An all-time all-star Wentz-Olney informally named; Buddy Walker at 1b.
1951-9-25 Wentz-Olney Old-Timers will play a benefit game with the PS for Buddy Walker, who is in the hospital.
