1934
1933-9-13 Championship seemed settled; now in doubt after protest. "From a financial standpoint, Youngsville would benefit more by playing a series with Tidioute. At last Saturday's game there was approximately seventy-five dollars taken in. With the natural rivalry, a five-game series should take in nearly five hundred dollars. When you compare that with approximately ten dollars in the league treasury which would go to Youngsville for winning the season championship, it looks as if Youngsville's battle for the "honor and the glory" is a bit foolish."
(1934-7-31 Warren. Boxes, standings. Warren Sunset Leaguers Poppleton and Giegerich with Irvine - batting in rear of line-up.
Warren Industrial League 1928
Preview: three games over weekend. "Cut" McCullough pitches for the Furniture nine.
1928-8-23 Myron Jewell umpired. Russell Field. Urbanski, Poppleton, Giegerich, Mintzer
Warren Sunset League (Class A )
1933-7-10 Sunset League All-Stars selected by fan vote.
1933-9-22 "Yesterday the money teams of the Sunset League were given their awards for placing in the 1933 race. And in this connection it might be noted that the circuit this year paid out more prize money than at any time during the past five years. That is really an achievement, when you stop to think that this includes the seasons of 1928 and 1929, which were really boom years as far as business was concerned. The Swanson Tires, league champions, received $39.22 for winning the league, and an additional $13.07 for placing second in the second half. National Transit, runner-up team in the series, received $26.15. State Hospital, third place team in the second half, also obtained $13.07. Altogether, $91.51 was dished out, and $39.25 remains in the treasury, which isn't bad at all in local league circles." Local fans are interested in the IL Shaughnessy playoffs. The Sunset League may have a four-way playoff next year.
1934-9-06 National Transit up 2-0 v. Post Office Garage in best-of-five championship series.
1935-10-09 Some final stats for National Transit, which played 22 league and 12 independent games, winning 23 and losing 11. Elmo Wolfe was 25-for-103 in 32 games. Joe and Steve Massa were the top batters.
1935-12-10 Lee Fox and Jerry Giegerich have been offered contracts to play with Butler, in the CLE farm system.
1938-6-16 Talk. The Wrenchers may be getting too strong, as they have three Moose players in their line-up.
1939-5-24 "Many local fans are much concerned over rumored inroads into our semi-pro ranks by Pony League teams, but from what we have been able to observe, there is little cause for worry. True, Dick Hines has gone to the Jamestown Pirates, and Elmo Wolfe was up there yesterday for a tryout, but there is nothing definite as yet in the latter case. So far as the pitching is concerned, Gagliardi, Gilson and Jeanerette can handle just about anything that is tossed against them-ask "My Buccos"-and Pollock and Mikan are ready for duty if necessary. Wolfe's departure would be a distinct loss, but there are several capable outfielders who could at least partly fill his shoes. As for the rest of the local talent, there seems to be no suspicion that they will be bothered, principally because they are working, and very few are going to give up a year-round job for the prospect of three months of baseball at a salary ranging between $80 and $90 a month, plus expenses on the road. As a general rule, Class "D" ball is for those younger lads who are either unemployed or have a definite chance of going on to the Big Show, and professional athletes who manage to hook up with baseball, football and basketball teams until Father Time cuts them out. The situation we most need is another industry or two which is sufficiently interested in athletics for Warren to provide jobs for players." 1942-8-14 Preview for exhibition game: Sunset All-Stars v. Homestead Grays, to be played for the benefit of the U.S.O. 8-20.
1944-8-25 Whole page with advertising devoted to Red Swanson, Struthers-Wells plater-manager. 8-27 is Red Swanson day - commemorating his 50th birthday.
1951-5-17 Three teams have signed up and a fourth is expected. Red Swanson will manage Hammond Iron.
1950-6-28 Remembers State Bankers' team, which won championship 1930-31. Roster listed, with full names. Beat Pike Peterson 11-1 1930-5-27.
1933-9-13 VG championship series stats. Johnson of NT k'd 27 and walked one in three games.
For Swanson Tires, Peterson was 3-0 pitching 35 innings of five games; Hicks was 0-2, pitching 3.2 innings of two games.
Jerry Giegerich hit .351 and stole eight bases. Giegerich Sr. was 0 for 5 with Baird Tires. Poppleton was 10 for 25 - Chris Caldwell 7 for 14 in 8 games. B. Wolfe (Elmo Wolfe) was 7 for 25 in 10 games for National Transit.
Joe Massa lead league with three home runs.
"For the past few years a younger player in the local Class "A" Sunset Baseball League has been the town's outstanding hitter, but this season the tables have turned and one of the veterans is at the top of the list. He is Ray (Southy) Poppleton, resident of Irvine and a member of the Post Office Garage nine. Poppleton gained his early baseball experience at Irvine and for many years he has been a leading baseball figure. In addition to his fine hitting ability, Ray patrols the outfield in a very capable manner. There are very few players in the game here today who can go any better than the 1935 hitting champ. Here's hoping he can continue to perform as well for many more seasons."
1938-7-11 Top batting. Just a smidge left of first half. Jerry Giegerich leading with .419. Gagliardi in 3rd with .375.
1939-6-29 1st half batting. Fred Gagliardi led with .458. Giegerich in second with .424.
1933-8-15 Standings. Game played at Russell Field.
1939-5-26 Joe Gilson beat Freddie Gagliardi 2-0 in long-awaited mound duel. (Both pitched for Warren Moose.) 5 combined hits in six inning game.
Pitching duel was worth a $2.20 box seat.
"Here and there: Someone must have told Gagliardi that Elmo Wolfe had signed up with the National Forge before the game. Freddie drilled him twice out of the three times Elmo faced him... He also bounced a pitch off "Beechnut" Mintzer, but Gilson partially evened the score by plugging "Pug" Swanson ... The boys must have been practicing at the carnival . . . Youngsville has entered the semi-pro baseball field . . . "
1939-6-20 Gagliardi beat Gilson 10-0, k'ing 13. Only two of the runs were earned; the Marconi club tied a league record by making 13 errors behind Gilson.
The Clarendon club will hold a booster game on 6-22, with the undefeated National Forge club as visitor. Lists Clarendon line-up, with full names. Have Pug Swanson.
1939-7-14 Rabbit Swanson = Clarendon shortstop and manager. Richard Hines called "Dizzy Hines the Schoolboy."
Calls Jerry Giegerich red-head in commentary on how he plays in FSL.
1939-7-18 Walt Huber homered last night - the first Clarendon homer all season.
Elmo Wolfe homered on a 3-0 pitch at Vandergrift 7-17 and the opposing hurler was angry.
1933-8-26 G#2. NT 4, Swanson Tires 3. 1st game (8-25) was a tie
1933-9-10 Pike Peterson wins both games of doubleheader, pitching 20 innings to take championship.
Chris Caldwell won both games of the doubleheader. McCullough did not pitch.
Elmo Wolfe could not play - has an arm infection.
1934-9-09 Post Office Garage takes two games to tie series up 2-2. 1st game of doubleheader went 13 innings - 2nd was stopped in the sixth inning because of law forbidding sports after six o'clock on Sunday. "Horatio Alger and the Rover Boys had nothing on the Garage players yesterday. Jerry Giegerich was the first to step into the hero's role. With two down in the last of the ninth and the Transit leading, 1-0, Giegerich poled one to left center field that rolled under the temporary fence to give him a home run. Fritz Urbanski was the next outstanding player. In the eleventh, after the Transit had scored one in their half, he smacked a double, scoring McCullough to keep the counted knotted. Finally, "Cut" McCullough, P. O. Garage manager and yesterday's pitching star, smacked a single in the last of the twelfth to score Lord with the winning run.
Almost Equals Record
McCullough pitched the Post Office Garage to both victories yesterday and in doing so he tied one league record and almost equaled another. He turned in two wins in the same day to tie the mark set by Pike Peterson a year ago when he copped two victories from the Transit on the same day. However, McCullough pitched two less innings than did Peterson. Yesterday's games totaled eighteen innings, while Peterson's two wins a year ago added up to twenty frames, both games being ten innings long."
McCullough's slow ball mystified National Transit batters.
Chris Caldwell also pitched both games for National Transit. He was spent in the second game.
1934-9-23 National Transit 11, Post Office 7. "There was a large crowd on hand to witness the game. It is believed to have been the largest gathering ever to watch a baseball game on the Russell lot."
(1935-9-03 National Transit beat the Morticians on Sunday and Monday. The Morticians played "a hopeless brand of baseball."
"In both tilts Pike Peterson started for the Morticians, and in both frames was relieved when he lost his confidence after several errors by his teammates."
The Morticians can't be recognized as the same team that won the first half pennant. One reason for the Morticians' erratic playing may be the dissension within their ranks.
(1935-9-09 National Transit wins twice over weekend v. Peterson Morticians to win championship.
Harry Mintzer, NT 2b, handled 25 chances without an error in the four-game championship series.
1942-8-10 National Forge 8, State Hospital 2. Rabbit Swanson = State Hospital 2b and MG. National Forge is up 2-0 in series.
1942-8-11 State Hospital 5, National Forge 3. Large crowd.
1942-8-13 Steady drizzle postponed Thursday game until Monday 8-17.
1942-8-17 National Forge 7, State Hospital 4. 400 estimated overall ATT. Paid ATT of 283.
1934-7-04 National Transit loses two games by one run each to Titusville Penn Drakes. 1934-7-15 Baird Tire Independents 10, Jackson Club of Buffalo 3.
"In the past local independent baseball clubs have been censored [sic] because of lack of hitting power. The fans can have no criticism on that account for this season, for the Baird Tire Indies have been hitting at a pace which few clubs in this section can boast. They did it again yesterday against the Buffalo Jacksons when they rapped out a total of fifteen bingles.
Myron Jewell, who handles the business affairs of the local crew in addition to taking care of the major portion of the catching duties, was yesterday's leader."
1934-9-03 Baird Tire Independents won 7th straight game. Jerry Giegerich bats leadoff.
1942-8-20 Homestead Grays 6, Sunset League All-Stars 3. 1K ATT. Grays were delayed an hour when their bus had engine trouble. Joe Massa caught a Josh Gibson drive estimated at 425 feet - he had to back up a hundred feet to catch it.
Myron Jewell
1926-4-21 Was City Basketball League president, team captain of the Bankers, and league-leading scorer.
1939-5-27 "Judy"
1966-10-14 Pic. "A former bank messenger boy is now trust officer of the Pennsylvania Bank & Trust Co., Warren office."
Axel "Pike" Peterson
1918-8-18 Ottawa. Lines. Former Ottawa player wins both ends of doubleheader for Toronto.
1914-9-07 Ottawa team disbanding - Lou Peterson going back to Warrentown, PA.
1915-5-04 Ottawa. Louie Peterson is from Warren PA.
1911-5-15 Homered for South Side team in 16-8 win v. traveling men from Carver House. Also homering was Terry Peterson, who didn't sign with the St. Louis Nationals this year over a difference in salary proffered and wanted.
1911-8-31 It is understood that Axel Peterson will pitch for the Bloomer Girls.
1911-9-01 St. Louis Bloomer Girls faced Warren Independents - had four women and one of them started the game as pitcher - Axel Peterson of Warren replaced here. After the game the Bloomer Girls manager offered Peterson a liberal salary to accompany them the rest of the year, but he declined.
1950-7-24 Profile. Gives pro itinerary. Pitched for 27 years. Article opens: "Few Warren baseball fans realize that veteran "Pike" Peterson boasts one of the longest and most successful baseball careers in the entire district."
1964-5-20 Obit - w/pic as old man. Born in Warren, 1889-7-15. Died 1964-5-19.
Reuben Charles "Red" "Rabbit" "Pug" Swanson
1944-8-22 Received nickname of Rabbit in Johnson City TN. Broke his leg in 1923 while with Altoona of Railroad League.
1944-8-23 Memories - part of series called "50 years with Red Swanson"
1951-6-04 Red Swanson, accompanied by his wife and daughter, went to Oil City to see the Erie Sailors play and saw Billy Brown, local boy, play.
1952-2-04 Pic. Has renewed contract as Cleveland Indians scout. Lives at 9 Alston Street. He is "one of the best known ball players, managers and promoters in the area over a long period of years..."
He scouted for the Pirates from 1940 to 1943, the Cardinals from 1944 to 1950, and the Indians since 1950. Lists players he signed.
1952-4-10 Reports say that Red Swanson will coach a team of 13-14 year-olds sponsored by Western Auto.
1952-4-23 Is league president of the Penn-York Semi-Pro Baseball League. The Dunkirk Club of Buffalo voted to join the league instead of playing in the Buffalo Suburban League.
1956-6-23 Manager of the Struthers-Wells team - is going to Corry to attend a meeting of the Pennsylvania-New York League.
1958-8-06 History of the Warren Hot Stove League, a youth baseball organization that Red Swanson, Ray Caldwell, Pike Peterson and others helped form.
1959-3-06 Named President of the Penn-York Amateur Baseball League.
1960-2-15 At one time Red Swanson played with Warren Bingoes catcher
Gravelle, Cameron with the Oil City P.R.R. team, one of the fastest semi-pro clubs in the section. Gravelled suffered a fractured skull when hit by a pitch in Olean NY that almost put him out of baseball.
1961-9-01 Time for his birthday. Is still a scout for the Cleveland Indians.
1961-8-31 Birthday is on 9-03. Still scouting for the Indians when last we talked to him.
(
1927-5-31 Red Swanson playing 2b and leading off for Jamestown (NY) Spiders.
Elmo Wolfe
1935-3-16 Selected to Warren City Basketball League All-Star team as a forward for National Transit. He was a "newcomer to the league this season. After being forced out of high school competition by an appendicitis operation, he came back about midseason and went with the National Transit to become one of the outstanding performers because of his speed on the court."
1939-12-30 Elmo Wolfe will sign with BRO and report for spring training. Profile. In the Sunset League, he hit .237 in 1933 (Times-Mirror), .236 in 1934 as a reserve outfielder (NT), .304 in 1935, .559 in the first half and .446 overall in 1936, .459 in 1937 (Times Square Merchants), .381 in 15 games in 1938, and .261 in 7 games in 1939. (He couldn't play much local ball last year because he was too busy playing with the Forge.) He made 4 errors in 1935 and didn't make another until he made one in 1938. Wolfe expects to report to Elmira.
1940-5-27 Graduated from Edinboro State Teachers College
1941-7-21 Profile. Will go into the Army air corps on 8-28. Starred in basketball and football with Warren High. Lettered in basketball and football at Edinboro, and came back to Warren to play summer ball with the Moose, Indies, and Forge. Tried pro ball for a couple of years.
1949-4-18 Signed as coach of athletics for Tarboro NC HS. "At the present time he is taking graduate work at East Carolina Teachers College, and is serving as assistant baseball coach and instructor in physical education."
Will report to Tarboro to set fall football underway. Until then, he plans to play with Plymouth in the Albemarle League.
National Forge and Ordnance of Irvine - aka NFO Forgers.
1949-5-06 "As I am writing this letter I am confined to a bed in Hamot hospital. As the result of recent operations my baseball playing days are over. My right leg is in pretty bad shape as the result of a shop accident last December. Up to now I have spent 17 weeks in three hospitals.
I just finished reading two recent issues of the Lake Shore Visitor-Register sport pages. They were very good and I enjoyed them very much.
You have an excellent case in your fight against the PIAA on behalf of the PCIAA. I agree with every word that you have written.
If you, or any of the other sport fans who remember me, have the chance I would appreciate your dropping down for a visit. The 60 miles between Erie and Warren seem much longer when you are away from home.
Dick Giegerich, Hamot hospital."
"Behind Giegerich's letter was tale of a brilliant sports career that was crushed virtually at its height.
Sport fans down around Warren, Titusville, Bradford, Du Bois and surrounding areas probably know the yarn well. Fans in this section may also recall Giegerich if they start racking their minds or begin tearing through their records.
Down around Warren, Dick Giegerich and his brother, Jerry, are still rated among the best all- around football, basketball, and baseball products ever to come out of Warren high.
Jerry, who loved baseball best of all, worked his way well up into class AA baseball circles and has long been an outstanding star in the south. [???]
Dick, who loved all three sports and occasionally tried his luck at bowling, hunting, and fishing, re- mained in Warren.
Giegerich, however, will always be remembered for his playing days with the National Forge and Ordnance company baseball club of Irvine. He also starred with the court five. Dating back to the late 1930s until the present time the NFO Forgers have ranked as the top semiprofessional baseball club in the Middle Atlantic area.
There has never been any secret to the fact that in their prime many of the Forgers turned down class AAA and class AA contracts for reasons known only to themselves.
From 1939 until 1941, when the tournaments were disbanded, the NFO club ranked as district semipro champs. In the same interval they went as far as third and fourth places in the finals for the state champ- ionship.
Warren fans still contend that the Forgers would have won state crowns both years except for the heavy traveling schedule.
Most of the games were played at night at Vandergrift. The team worked days, traveled to Vandy played their game, traveled back to Irvine, went to work, traveled to Vandy, played, etc.
In 1940 the Forgers played Ford City and in 1941 Natrona, when both were state champions, in post-tournament games and had the fun of defeating both.
Forge followers love to remember one game played in the state tournament against Brackenridge at Davis field in Vandergrift, now the home of the Middle Atlantic league Pioneers.
Irvine defeated Brackenridge that night, 11-8. The Forgers lined up with seven lefthanded batters in the lineup and continually shot for the short right-field wall at Davis field.
To indicate Irvine's batting power, eight of the Forgers' runs went sailing home as the ball went riding over the wall.
Two seasons ago Erie fans were all, agog when Tookie Gilbert slammed three home runs one night in double-header at Vandergrift. Elmo Wolfe, playing for the Forgers, did it in three successive times at bat, besides picking up a triple and single.
Wolfe, who recently accepted a coaching post at a southern high school, campaigned with the Erie Vets club in the 1947-48 Times City league. The Vets cakewalked to the title.
The year Wolfe hit his three homers in one game he wound up replacing Vandergrift's Stanczak as state batting king with a cool .625 average in seven or eight games and a slugging average way over the .800 mark. But we are getting way ahead of our story. Giegerich was one of the stars of that Forge team and was up until last December when he was hurt.
There was little need to catch with men like Harry (Rosey) Rosequist, Ab Mack, and Reed Pierce to handle the mitt.
And no need to hurl with men like Frankie Kulick, Bill (Pinky) Caffery, Dick (Dazzler) Hines, Fred (Jughead) Gagliardi, and Big Hank Wise to do the chucking.
If you have any trouble remembering these names just drop down and ask Mike Cannavino to refresh your memory. These were the boys that battled Mike's Erie Gunners and Meadville Pioneers win for win.
Playing in the outfield the Forgers had Joe Massa, Elmo Wolfe, Nick Creola, and Geigerich.
In the infield they had Emmy Morrison, Red Hajnik, Stiggy Petrewski, Les James, Joe Nagle, Mike Stock, Rabbit Swanson, Mike Solock, and occasionally Giegerich.
The 1942 and 1944 seasons were great years for this crew. In 1942 they swept through Warren's Sunset league split season undefeated and won the Shaughnessy playoffs in three out of four games.
In 1944 the club won 32 out of 34 games. That year, Dick Hines won 16 out of 17 starts, coming back from virtual oblivion after losing the top of a finger on his pitching hand.
Giegerich was always a .300 average hitter and a .985 fielder, both in fly chasing and diamond duty. We, however, like to remember him for starting a triple play one Sunday afternoon at Irvine's Wilder Field.
Dick went behind second, snagged a liner with his gloved hand, touched second and then threw to first for the three-ply killing.
Giegerich was within a yard of the man on first, but elected to throw to the first baseman for the putout rather than attempt a run down.
Another point of interest about the Forgers is that most of them were and are Catholics.
The boys hail in general from Warren's Holy Redeemer and St. Joseph's parish, St. John's of Tidioute, and St. Luke's of Irvine. Giegerich is a member of St. Luke's parish."
1939-7-13 Warren Indies 4, NFO 2.
1940-6-30 National Forge 3, Corry 0. Fred "No-Hit" Gagliardi threw a 1-hitter.
State Hospital 4, Emblem Oils 1. Gilson pitched for State Hospital.
1940-7-02 7-02. National Forge 11, Girard 0. There will be an all-Warren county series for semi-pro championship of northwestern Pennsylvania. Frank Kulick k'd 15 in 3-hit win.
1940-7-05) 7-03. National Forge 5, State Hospital 0. National Forge took a step towards winning its second straight northwestern Pennsylvania semi-pro title. 7-04. National Forge 4, Titusville 0. Freddie Gagliardi, husky right-hander, threw his second one-hit shutout in less than a week.
"Tonight at Irvine the second and possibly the last game of the district semi-pro tournament will be held. with the National Forge, defending champions, taking on the State Hospital, whom they defeated Wednesday night in a shutout, 5 to 0. To date the Forgers have not permitted an opponent to cross the plate and only ten hits have been charged against Forge hurlers in the tourney. All in all, the Wolfemen have performed like real champions and we pick them to win again tonight."
1940-7-05 National Forge 10, State Hospital 2.
(
1940-7-29 Warren. Beat Wellsville-Sinclair 7-1 in a NYPL game. Lost to them in prior years.
Beat the Pittsburgh Lyceum club 8-7 in the state tournament at Vandergrift.
Fred Gagliardi, who hurt his arm several weeks ago, returned and pitched seven strong innings.
Elmo Wolfe is NFO manager.
1944-8-24 Beat Asheville NY 7-2 for 28th win.
Warren
8) Homestead Grays 13, Warren 0. Warren made one error to Grays' two - but. Pike Peterson pitched for Warren. Swanson lead off.
Polish Falcons 5, Warren 1. Vern Group of Corry batted 5th and pitched for Warren. Warren made two errors to Falcons' 5 - but.
Warren Independents/Indies
1939-6-21 Talk. District championship playoff coming up, it sounds like.
"While we're on this subject, we'd like to tell the fans of the city that the present outlook for a continuance of semi-pro baseball locally is extremely bright. The Indies are not bankrupt, and the only reason for holding up the announcement of future games was the desire of the management to check all accounts payable so that the club didn't get in too deep and leave the suppliers of equipment, grounds keepers, etc., holding the bag Treasurer Bleech has announced that all bills are paid and has flashed the green light, meaning that the high class clubs will be played as scheduled. We don't think we're telling tales out of school when we state that the players have voluntarily abrogated their pre-season agreements and have agreed to play for what they can get, so that baseball may go on and the Centennial year will not be a bust in Warren. With the support of the fans, however, the players will be playing for a little more than spike marks."
1939-7-29 "The Warren Independents are looking for a good crowd tomorrow afternoon at Russell Field when they meet the strong Smethport Quakers. From the number of spectators who have turned out to see the previous games, with the exception of the opener and the battle with the National Forge on the Fourth of July, the Indies are beginning to wonder whether the fans are still interested in the sport. The two contests mentioned were the only ones in which the club has not lost money. With the price reduced to a minimum, there should be no excuse for a poor turnout tomorrow."
Game preview. Art Johnson = Indies manager. Dick Hines will probably pitch - he pitched yesterday in the Sunset League.
1937-6-01) Indies split doubleheader. Pike Peterson pitches his best game in years on Pike Peterson Day. Beat former MLB Ray Caldwell (Bradford Hanleys) Caldwell was 49 - was 19-7 in SOUA at 43.
Warren fans donated money to Peterson.
1939-7-13 Warren Indies 4, NFO 2. Indie Nick Creola homered over the 321-foot right field fence. Bobby Fuss went into the pine trees in right to rob Elmo Wolfe of a triple.
"Every time we look at that Forge field we wonder why this town can't have one just half as good... The gate was a little disappointing... The Indies' winning share was $30 while the Forge took $90 on the Fourth, but, of course, it was the middle of the week, and a lot of fans had no way to get down there..."
Warren Merchants
1933-7-09 Warren. Warren Merchants won 4th straight game in league. Have Joe Massa, Jewell, and Wolfe.
Warren Moose
https://piratesprospects.com/2020/06/game-rewind-pirates-vs-moose-august-17-1924.htmlhttps://www.tribtoday.com/news/local-news/2024/09/moose-grays-battled-in-front-of-2000/
1938-6-15 Warren Moose 20, NY Colored Stars 3.
(
1938-7-11 Warren Moose 8, Titusville Merchant-Industrials 7. 3rd straight win v. TMIs. Wolfe made four hits. Warren Moose 5, Brockway 4.
"Fall of 1938. In Warren, Pa., a town of 15,000 nestled in the skirttails of the Allegheny Mountains, the hills flamed red, and golden and a faint blue haze softened the gray, functional outlines of the oil‐refinery cracking tower, the iron works and the W.P.A. watchman's shack beside the sewer‐line ditch. "
"Almost every Sunday the kids went to Russell Field, hard by the railroad tracks..."
"If, as was usually the case, the kids didn't have 25 cents for a ticket, they tried to scramble over the weathered board fence without getting caught by the harried cop inside. Foiled at the fence, the kids waited by the gate, hoping for the blessing of the Red Jacket players as they arrived at the field after having dressed at the Moose Club."
"At half‐time, because Russell Field had no locker rooms or fieldhouse,
"Russell Field is gone now, like the rest of that fading and largely unlamented world. An electronics plant squats where Whizzer White, Johnny Blood, Walt Kiesling, Joe Cardwell and the other Pittsburgh Pirates of 1938 performed."
https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/baseball-history/forgotten-history
"“One summer day in 1939 a kid squatted on the bank behind home plate at Russell Field in Warren, Pennsylvania, fielding foul balls (which could be redeemed for a nickel each – no small consideration in those days), and saw Josh Gibson hit the longest home run ever struck in Warren County. It was one of many impressive feats performed by touring Black players that excited the wonder and admiration of that foul-ball shagger. This book is the belated fruit of his wonder.”
Bob Peterson
Preface, "Only the Ball Was White"
1963-12-16 Red Swanson told that Jim Magee, old-time ballplayer, is ill and confined to bed. Played with the Norris Athletic Club, at one time under contract to SLB, and played in Panama Canal Zone League.
Honus Wagner Day
1938-7-26 Honus Wagner Day was yesterday. He was kept busy greeting local admirers and renewing acquaintances from his time with Warren in 1895. 1500 people saw him off at the station.
1962-7-15 Memories of 1938 Honus Wagner Day - when the Moose beat the Pirates.
