100th Anniversary Souvenir Edition 29 June 2021 American Legion Post 28 Commander Carroll H. Owings “For God and Country” Welcome to Duncan Park Stadium and the American Legion baseball series for 2021! Our setting in historical Duncan Park, completed in 1926, is one of the oldest wooden grandstand stadiums in America. For over 94 years, competitive teams have made use of this facility. We are very proud to be a vital part of baseball history. Our American Legion Baseball program has been active for 88 years, and one of the most successful. We have hosted the state tournament more than 16 times, and our teams have won 9 state championships, two Regional and one National Championship. Last year our Juniors and Seniors played in the 2020 Dixie Youth Baseball League Program and had a super year both winning their league and The Seniors were runner up to N. Charleston for state Championship. As our 2021 competitive season begins, we know that our prestigious history of success will continue. Remember that our success is not only measured by our wins, but in how the game is played. American Legion Post 28 will always promote good sportsmanship, and expect our players, coaches, and fans to display the pride and dignity that is so needed in all aspects of our society today. Many thanks to the sponsors and the many individuals who donated their time and talent to participate in the program, making these games possible. Remember, all proceeds from this season goes to paying for these young men to play baseball. 29 June 2021, is Post 28’s 100th Year Anniversary. Enjoy your time with us at Duncan Park! Spartanburg American Legion Post 28 Commander Carroll H. Owings 1st Vice Commander John J. Barron 2nd Vice Commander Robert Greene Chaplain Ben Lineberry Adjutant David Ford Sergeant-At-Arms Robert Greene Service Officer Charles Landen Athletic Director John J. Barron Historian/Museum Curator Ed Y. Hall Judge Advocate Dwight Patterson Honor Guard Commander Jim Harbison American Legion Auxiliary Unit 28 President Barbara Wright Vice President Joanne Greene Secretary Martha Badger Historian Lesa LePage Chaplain Elizabeth Pearson Parliamentarian Frieda Davison Treasurer Carolyn Harbison Girls State Chair Geneva Padgett Veterans’ Affairs Chair Geneva Padgett 1st Sergeant-At-Arms Maxine Sprouse SPARTANBURG AMERICAN LEGION POST 28 94 WEST PARK DRIVE, DUNCAN PARK, SPARTANBURG, SC 29306 864-253-0376 www.al28sc.org 100th Anniversary Ceremony Duncan Park Stadium 29 June 2021 6:45 pm Coaches and Umpires meet at Home Plate. Teams lineup for tonight’s game. “Code of Sportsmanship” Spartanburg Coach Presentation to Inman Coach 7:00 pm Start 100th Anniversary Ceremony Prayer: Chaplain Ben Lineberry Welcome: CDR Carroll Owings Empty Chair Ceremony: First Vice John J Barron Read Proclamation “National Anthem” First Pitch: Jesse Campbell Uniform: Legionnaires: Red, White or Blue Golf Shirt. Honor Guard: Legion Full Dress. Empty Chair Ceremony: Summer Dress. Spartanburg American Legion Post 28 2021 Program Since 1933 “For God and Country” American Legion Post 28 First Vice Commander Athletic Director John J. Barron “For God and Country” American Legion Baseball has a long and proud history since 1925. Each year, about 3,500 legion baseball teams are formed in rival townships for the summer throughout America. The best baseball players from middle and high schools and some return from college to join Legion teams for an experience of a lifetime. It is not professional baseball, but it is the finest well organized community based program around. Legion baseball grew in South Carolina when the Textile Leagues were king and Spartanburg’s Duncan Park Stadium was home to minor league teams – the Peaches and Phillies. Spartanburg Post 28’s team formed in 1933 is the longest playing team in Duncan Park Stadium, and still calls the stadium home. Fans in Spartanburg and surrounding towns: Buffalo, Inman, Greer, and Gaffney show hometown pride in their Legion teams and support them all the way. Townsfolk longing for a nearby professional team to support and pull for should take notice of South Carolina American Legion League V. Upstate American Legion Posts field Senior (18 & 19) and Junior (13–17) teams scheduled to play seven inning games during the summer starting in June and ending with the final World Series game played in Keeter Stadium, Shelby, NC in August. This is a lot of baseball in just a short time and only committed teams pulling in the same direction will be successful. American Legion baseball is a team concept program, an opportunity for players to play at the next level, improve their game and become responsible community leaders. Spartanburg Post 28 covers the cost for players willing to commit 100% to playing baseball and wanting to become part of something larger than themselves. The “National Anthem” is played and “Code of Sportsmanship” repeated by competing teams before each game without exception. Please make plans to come out and support your hometown legion team. I will see you at the ballpark. 2021 Spartanburg Post 28 Baseball Team Schedule Senior Team 9/7 Jun 9 1 Spartanburg @ Greer 12 Jun 22 14 Spartanburg @ Gaffney 6 Jun 10 4 Spartanburg @ Inman 5 Jun 23 1 Buffalo @ Spartanburg 2 Jun 15 7 Inman @ Spartanburg 3 Jun 28 10 Spartanburg @ Buffalo 0 Jun 16 2 Buffalo @ Spartanburg 12 Jun 29 0 Inman @ Spartanburg 8 Jun 18 14 Spartanburg @ Gaffney 1 Jun 30 0 Spartanburg @ Greer 10 Jun 21 8 Greer @ Spartanburg 7 Jul 6 2 Gaffney @ Spartanburg 12 First Round Playoffs: Spartanburg Post 28 vs. Chester Post 27 July 12-Spartanburg won 6-2, July 13-Spartanburg won 16-6 Second Round Playoffs: Inman Post 45 vs. Spartanburg Post 28 July 20-Inman won 3-2, July 21-Inman won 8-1 2021 Senior South Carolina Tournaments July 30- August 1, State: Segra Park, Columbia, SC August 3-8 Southeast Region Tournament: Montgomery, AL August 12-17 American Legion World Series: Keeter Stadium, Shelby, NC Junior Team 6/6 Jun 8 4 Gaffney @ Spartanburg 6 Jun 24 6 Spartanburg @ Inman 8 Jun 9 3 Inman @ Spartanburg 4 Jun 25 5 Spartanburg @ Greer 15 Jun 14 11 Inman @ Spartanburg 12 Jun 28 11 Spartanburg @ Gaffney 6 Jun 15 6 Spartanburg @ Gaffney 3 Jun 30 0 Greer @ Spartanburg 15 Jun 22 12 Greer @ Spartanburg 1 unplayed Spartanburg @ Greer _ S 6/11/21 Jun 23 1 Spartanburg @ Gaffney 11 unplayed Spartanburg @ Inman _ RO 6/7/21 First Round Playoffs: Spartanburg Post 28 vs. Lexington Post 7 Gray July 12-Lexington won 11-1, July 13-Lexington won 21-9 2021 Junior South Carolina State Tournament July 23-28 Riley Park, Sumter, South Carolina Games start 7 pm unless noted otherwise. Playoffs for both Senior and Junior Teams begin July 12th Schedule Updates: http://www.legion.org/baseball/schedule?state=sc http://www.al28sc.org/baseball Home Team Fields Spartanburg-Duncan Park Stadium Greer-Stevens Field Buffalo-Timken Sports Complex Inman-Jim Everhart Field Gaffney-Jerry ‘Jug’ Wallace Field Schedule updated: August 8, 2021 John J. Barron, Post 28 Athletic Director American Legion Baseball Purpose and Scope To inculcate in youth a better understanding of the American way of life and to promote the principles of 100 percent Americanism. To instill in the nation’s youth a sincere desire to develop within themselves a feeling of citizenship, sportsmanship, loyalty and team spirit. To aid in the improvement and development of the physical fitness of our country’s youth. To build for the nation’s future through our youth. Code of Sportsmanship I will: Keep the rules Keep faith with my teammates Keep my temper Keep myself fit Keep a stout heart in defeat Keep my pride under in victory Keep a sound soul, a clean mind, and a healthy body "I can remember a sports writer asking me for a quote and I didn't know what a quote was. I thought it was some kind of soft drink." - Joe DiMaggio Who Were the Other Teams That Called Duncan Park Home? by Ed Epps Duncan Park Stadium, designed by local architect Frank Collins and built in 1926, is a classic wooden grandstand American ballpark. One of the oldest ballparks in the country, the Duncan Park field has been recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, and the City of Spartanburg recently applied for an Historical Marker from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History for its status as home stadium of The Spartanburg Sluggers, a Black semi-pro and barnstorming team that played for some thirty years and hosted noted Negro Leagues teams like The Homestead Grays, The Indianapolis Clowns, and the New York Black Yankees. Scores of future Major League Baseball players ran the bases at Duncan Park, and vintage wooden seats from Shibe Park in Philadelphia are installed in the grandstand to this day. Most citizens of Spartanburg know about The Spartanburg Phillies and The Peaches, and if you are reading this program, you are certainly a fan of American Legion Post 28. There were other teams who played here too, though, and their tenure is also notable. The Spartanburg Spartans existed before Duncan Park Stadium was built, and they played in the historic structure from 1926 until 1940 except for some years when the hard times of the Great Depression brought an end to many sporting events and shuttered many league offices. During most of the years of their existence the Spartans were an Independent semi-pro team, playing as members of the old Sally league; during their final two years in Spartanburg they became a Class B affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. Few of the Spartans are remembered today, but three who are worth mentioning were Debs Garms, Hal Wagner, and Mike Kelley.