DOCSLIB.ORG

The Jimmy Clinton Story

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Jimmy Clinton Story Vol. 3 Issue 49 (#131) December 5, 2012 THE JIMMY CLINTON STORY By Scott Simkus OBB Editor After three consecutive last place finishes in the International League, a span during which the club averaged 97 losses, the Skeeters did the resi- dents of Jersey City, New Jersey, a huge favor and closed up shop after the 1915 season. Nobody could take the pain any longer. In six of the previous seven campaigns, the Skeeters finished dead last, or second to last, seven out of eight years. The last time they’d finished above .500 was back in 1907, when they clawed and scratched their way to a meager 67-66 mark, good enough for fifth place in the eight team Eastern League. In their place emerged an independent professional baseball team known simply as the Jersey City Club. Apparently, there wasn’t enough money in owner Dave Driscoll’s budget to come up with a more clever moniker. But in lieu of a flashy nickname, Driscoll’s bunch DID offer something folks in Jersey City hadn’t witnessed in quite some time: winning baseball. The team carried a small ros- ter- roughly 12 men- but most had had cups of coffee in the major leagues, and they quickly established themselves as a powerhouse in the New York/New Jersey semipro baseball scene. The real star of this bunch was one of the few men who had NOT played major league baseball, a pitcher by the name of Jimmy Clin- ton. You may recall Clinton’s name from last week’s issue of the OBB- he was the number two starter for Guy Empey’s Treat Em Roughs in 1919. For two seasons, Driscoll’s team road the coattails of Clinton’s pitching arm, beating numerous big league and top flight black baseball clubs during the summer. In September of 1916, Jim- my shut out the Cincinnati Reds on two hits. In his next start, he lost Jimmy Clinton, pictured here in 1908, to the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-0, but struck out 8 men in the process, includ- had an unconventional professional base- ball career. Although virtually unknown ing Rogers Hornsby twice. At the end of the year, he held the Washington today, he was considered the greatest Senators to three runs, recording his second victory over a big league team. semipro pitcher in New York City history. At about this same time, he also added a victory over the talented Cuban Stars, striking out 7 islanders during the contest. But it was the next year, 1917, that Jimmy Clinton and the Jersey Club had their break-out summer. The team’s right-handed star lead the club to wins over the New York Giants, Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds. He also notched another victory over the Cuban Stars. There were three losses to white major league clubs as well (the Yankees, Giants and Senators) but this was more due to poor defensive support (13 errors in three games) than poor pitching on the part of Clinton, who went the distance in every contest. News of the club began appearing regularly in New York City’s ma- jor papers. Because of their track record, the fans of Jersey City supported the club well during their weekend games and owner Dave Driscoll start- ed to think bigger. There was talk of bringing the team to Ohio, where they would compete in a national semipro championship tournament. He also mentioned a potential post-season trip to Puerto Rico, where they Outsider Baseball would make some money, while spreading the game on the islands. Fi- Bulletin nally, Driscoll settled on the unthinkable-- he wanted to secure financing to re-enter the International League in 1918- arguably the top minor loop www.outsiderbaseball.com in the country. They’d finished the 1917 campaign with a 34-4-1 mark and Founded June 8, 2010 were ready to test their mettle with the big boys. * * * * * Scott Simkus With the help of industrialist Harry Doherty (who ran the Doherty Editor-in-Chief Silk Sox factory and semipro ballclub), plus the financing of Jersey City businessman Joseph Moran, Driscoll was able to put together a ballclub Columnists and refurbish the home field in time to join the International League. In Kevin Johnson the starting line-up on opening day were three position players from the David A. Lawrence previous year’s independent juggernaut: Howard Lohr, Joe Harter and Mike Lynch Jimmy Irving. On the mound was none other than the previous season’s ace, Jimmy Clinton. Special Contributors Clinton limited visiting Rochester to 7 hits, striking out 4, as Jersey Gary Cieradkowski City won the lid-lifter, 9-2. Centerfielder Joe Harter singled and scored a Jeff Polman run. Left-fielder Howard Lohr, who had been the clean-up hitter and star of the independent J.C. Club, went 2-for-4 with a stolen base. But the next day, things became weird. Lohr, who’d had brief tri- als with both the Reds and Indians, bolted the Skeeters and re-joined the A Strategic Partner of www.seamheads.com semipro ranks. Joe Harter, who batted .300 in the opening series, left the club two days later, following Lohr back into outsider baseball. Mike Lynch Jimmy Clinton stuck around for one more start, shutting out Toronto Founder and President (the eventual IL Champions), 4-0, on 2 hits. Jimmy struck out five men, Seamheads.com walked four, and made three clean plays on defense. After the game, with a perfect 2-0 record, a 1.00 era, and only 9 hits allowed in 18 innings Copyright 2012 by Scott Simkus and pitched, Clinton ALSO quit the team. Outsider Baseball Bulletin. All rights Fans would soon discover that Clinton, Lohr and Harter had joined reserved. the Doherty Silk Sox, who were one of the kings of independent profes- sional baseball during that era. I’m reading between the lines here, but based on some pre-season promises which were not kept, it appears the tenuous relationship between Doherty and Driscoll had collapsed before the first pitch of the Jersey City Skeeters season was ever thrown. In fact, right before opening day, a hei- nous act of vandalism destroyed much of the Jersey City Skeeters newly refurbished ballpark. According the local papers, “Vandals...tore down picket fences, wrecked the grand stand stairs, smashed every pane of glass on the prop- erty and laid waste practically to every fixture on the grounds.” I’m not suggesting Doherty had anything whatsoever to do with this, Get a FREE trading card with but nor does it sound like the handiwork of teenage boys looking to have each new subscription! some random, albeit troublesome fun. It appears vicious and pre-meditat- Created by the great ed. Gary Joseph Cieradkowski The papers continued, listing additional damages caused at the bal- lyard: “At the entrance to the park the box office was wrecked. The stairs leading to the upper seats in the grand stand were hacked in different plac- es, apparently with an ax and broken window glass and bottles were scat- tered about the floor of the lower parts of the main structure. A telephone booth that originally stood in the rear of the grand stand was torn from its place and hurled down the stairs. It lay, smashed to bits, at the foot of the stairs. This booth had been installed by the Telephone Company at a cost of $150. Scores of iron seats of the grand stand were wrested from their fastenings and many of the partitions separating the private boxes were torn asunder.” “In the upper part of the grand stand, where Driscoll maintained a Subscribe Now and Get a Free private office, the wreckers held high carnival. The doors of the office limited edition Trading Card!! were ripped off, evidently with a crowbar, and the interior woodwork Get 52 issues of the smashed in every conceivable manner. Papers that Driscoll had stored Outsider Baseball Bulletin for just $22 away there were torn into shreds and the skylights were broken. per year! A $250 mowing machine was found in the bleachers and in a condi- tion beyond repair. Benches were ripped from the bleachers, and the fence www.outsiderbaseball.com in back knocked down. The players’ benches were wrecked and the wire screening in front of the grand stand torn down. The dressing rooms at the end of the field are a complete wreck. The shower baths were destroyed and the lead pipes carted off. The lead pipe, however, was the only thing carried away, so far as Driscoll could see yesterday.” When asked if he had any suspicions of who might be behind the damage, Driscoll said “How do you expect me to know when the police don’t know?” What was most disturbing to Driscoll was how the police failed to hear any of the vandalism occurring, as they patrolled the neigh- borhood the previous evening. It was befuddling. Although he was inter- viewed several times about the damage, not once did Driscoll suggest he believed kids were behind any of this. Before the season, the Doherty Silk Sox were committed to trans- ferring their three best players to Jersey City’s new International League franchise. Otto Rettig, Franky Bruggy and Bibbs Raymond were sup- posed to augment Driscoll’s team. Instead, within one week of the season opener, the exact opposite occurred, with the Doherty outfit cannibalizing the Skeeters’ roster, grabbing stars Lohr, Harter and Jimmy Clinton. Now, honestly, there isn’t anything connecting dots between the ball- park destruction and the Doherty team.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • An Analysis of the American Outdoor Sport Facility: Developing an Ideal Type on the Evolution of Professional Baseball and Football Structures
    AN ANALYSIS OF THE AMERICAN OUTDOOR SPORT FACILITY: DEVELOPING AN IDEAL TYPE ON THE EVOLUTION OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL STRUCTURES DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Chad S. Seifried, B.S., M.Ed. * * * * * The Ohio State University 2005 Dissertation Committee: Approved by Professor Donna Pastore, Advisor Professor Melvin Adelman _________________________________ Professor Janet Fink Advisor College of Education Copyright by Chad Seifried 2005 ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to analyze the physical layout of the American baseball and football professional sport facility from 1850 to present and design an ideal-type appropriate for its evolution. Specifically, this study attempts to establish a logical expansion and adaptation of Bale’s Four-Stage Ideal-type on the Evolution of the Modern English Soccer Stadium appropriate for the history of professional baseball and football and that predicts future changes in American sport facilities. In essence, it is the author’s intention to provide a more coherent and comprehensive account of the evolving professional baseball and football sport facility and where it appears to be headed. This investigation concludes eight stages exist concerning the evolution of the professional baseball and football sport facility. Stages one through four primarily appeared before the beginning of the 20th century and existed as temporary structures which were small and cheaply built. Stages five and six materialize as the first permanent professional baseball and football facilities. Stage seven surfaces as a multi-purpose facility which attempted to accommodate both professional football and baseball equally.
    [Show full text]
  • Baseball in America the All-American Sport? an Interdisciplinary Unit for the Intermediate Levels (Grades 5-8)
    Baseball in America The All-American Sport? An interdisciplinary unit for the intermediate levels (Grades 5-8) Developed by With the support of Lisa Sax, NIE Coordinator/ Curriculum Writer Melanie Jivoff, Special Educator, Vicki Krisak, NIE Coordinator, Lincoln Middle School, The Post Standard, Syracuse, NY The Post-Star, Glens Falls, NY Syracuse City School District Anne Marie Voutsinas, Director, Layout and Design by Deborah Melfi, Science Educator, Syracuse Teacher Center, Syracuse, NY Lincoln Middle School, Jill Emery, Circulation Promotion Artist, The Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY Syracuse City School District Reviewed by Kelvin Chase, Special Educator, Mary Miller, NIE Coordinator Project funded through a grant from Lincoln Middle School, New York Newspaper Publishers the New York Newspapers Foundation, Syracuse City School District Association, Albany, NY in collaboration with The Post-Standard and the Syracuse Teacher Center Table of Contents Introduction..............................................................3 New York State Learning Standards...........................4 Learning Standards in Specific Lessons.......................5 Lesson 1 The Words of Baseball.................................8 Lesson 2 The Culture of Baseball...............................9 Lesson 3 The World Series......................................10 Lesson 4 Home Field Advantage..............................12 Lesson 5 Baseball Ethics...........................................15 Lesson 6 The Negro Leagues...................................17 Lesson
    [Show full text]
  • Washington, D.C. Major League Baseball Park Site
    W ASHINGTON, D.C. MAJOR L EAGUE B ASEBALL P ARK S ITE E VALUATION P ROJECT S UBMITTED T O : The D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission The D.C. Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development The Washington Baseball Club, L.L.C. S UBMITTED B Y : Brailsford & Dunlavey Project Management Sports Facility Planning Project Finance Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Urban Design Heinlein Schrock Stearns Sports Architecture Jair Lynch Companies Real Estate Consulting Gorove / Slade Associates Transportation Planning Justice & Sustainability Public Outreach November 6, 2002 D.C. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PARK SITE EVALUATION PROJECT T ABLE OF C ONTENTS I NTRODUCTION E XECUTIVE S UMMARY I. WASHINGTON, D.C. IN THE 21ST C ENTURY: A DYNAMIC C ITY P RIMED FOR B ASEBALL 5 II. BASEBALL P ARK P LANNING P RINCIPLES: THE E LEMENTS OF S UCCESS IN AN U RBAN S ETTING 13 III. BASEBALL P ARK P ROGRAM: STATE OF THE A RT, TAILORED TO THE M ARKET 25 IV. SITE E VALUATION P ROCESS: COMPREHENSIVE, OPEN P LANNING A PPROACH 29 V. RECOMMENDED S ITES: FIVE U NIQUE O PPORTUNITIES FOR AN OUTSTANDING V ENUE 33 VI. PROJECT E CONOMICS: A FEASIBLE P UBLIC-PRIVATE P ARTNERSHIP 61 VII. CONCLUSION: THE T IME FOR A D IALOGUE 69 BRAILSFORD & DUNLAVEY Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects D.C. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PARK SITE EVALUATION PROJECT Image provided by Frank Ceresi, Images of Baseball in Washington, DC, www.fcassociates.com. Swampoodle Grounds, c. 1888. View of the Washington Nationals playing the Chicago White Stockings at the old Swampoodle Grounds on the site of the current Union Station.
    [Show full text]
  • Us Ballpark Rules
    US BALLPARK RULES SPIKES ARE NOT ALLOWED at US Baseball Park. Molded Cleats or Turf Shoes must be worn at this venue. If a player is caught, he will be removed from that game. If a player is caught a second time or a second player on that team is caught the coach and player will be removed from that game. Any further violations could be cause for dismissal from the event. OUTSIDE TUMBLERS, COOLERS, FOOD AND DRINKS ARE NOT ALLOWED. Coolers for teams and players are allowed but must stay in the dugout. From car to dugout only. Coolers will be removed if outside the dugout area. No outside food is allowed inside the park, however concessions will be available at the complex. NO SUNFLOWER SEEDS, GUM, TOBACCO, OR FOOD ON THE FIELD. Food and gum must be kept outside the playing field and is not allowed in the dugout. Sunflower seeds and tobacco are not allowed inside US Baseball Park under any conditions. NO PETS INSIDE THE PARK. No pets will be allowed inside US Baseball Park, with the exception of service animals. All service animals must have certification. Service animals must remain on a leash at all times. NO VIOLENCE OR FOUL LANGUAGE is allowed at US Baseball Park. The Park is a friendly family environment and physical interactions and abusive language will not be tolerated. Anyone who violates this rule will be asked to leave. NO BICYCLES, ROLLERBLADE, SCOOTERS, OR SKATEBOARDS. Our goal is to keep everyone safe while enjoying the game of baseball. If a spectator is caught using one of these they will be asked to remove the equipment from the property.
    [Show full text]
  • Spring Training
    SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA SPRING TRAINING CACTUS LEAGUE FUN IN THE SUN or baseball fans, it’s like a dream come true. Imagine a place where, every day for a whole month at 1:00 in the Fafternoon, you can choose between as many as eight to 10 Major League Baseball games being played by 15 teams in 10 of the most intimate ballparks in the country. This dreamlike scenario unfolds every spring in Scotts- dale and the Valley of the Sun metro region, beginning in mid-February when pitchers and catchers report to their respective teams’ spring training camps, and runs through the end of March with more than 200 games on the Cactus League schedule. So, get ready to live the dream and let this guide show you how! CACTUS LEAGUE HISTORY Scottsdale’s longtime home team, the San Francisco Giants, has called Scottsdale Stadium its spring home since 1984, but the squad has roots in the desert dating back to 1947, making it one of the Cactus League’s two founding franchises. respectively, in Scottsdale’s Home Teams 1958. By 2009, the Scottsdale is home to three of the Cactus League’s Cactus League had heaviest hitters. The two-time World Champion reached its current San Francisco Giants take on the competition in high-water mark the heart of downtown at Scottsdale Stadium. A with 15 teams short drive north, the Colorado Rockies and Ari- conducting spring zona Diamondbacks play at Salt River Fields training in close at Talking Stick, located on the Salt River Pima- proximity to each Maricopa Indian Community.
    [Show full text]
  • The First Fifty Years of Professional Baseball in Richmond, Virginia : 1883-1932 Scott .P Mayer
    University of Richmond UR Scholarship Repository Master's Theses Student Research 5-2001 The first fifty years of professional baseball in Richmond, Virginia : 1883-1932 Scott .P Mayer Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.richmond.edu/masters-theses Recommended Citation Mayer, Scott .,P "The first fifty years of professional baseball in Richmond, Virginia : 1883-1932" (2001). Master's Theses. Paper 732. This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Research at UR Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of UR Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Abstract The First Fifty Years of Professional Baseball in Richmond, Virginia: 1883-1932 Scott Patrick Mayer Master of Arts in History ,University ofRichmond, May 2001 Advisor: Dr. W. Harrison Daniel A detailed history of Richmond, Virginia's relationship with professional baseball has never been chronicled, especially the turbulent, early years of its development. This study explores Richmond's relationship with baseball from 1883-1932. It includes information about the men who played on the field, the team owners, and also comments on the relationship shared by the team and the city. The most reliable source of information regarding early baseball is the local newspaper. A detailed reading of the Richmond Daily Dispatch, and the successive Richmond Dispatch and Richmond Times-Dispatch, was undertaken for this project. While several newspapers have existed in Richmond's history, often competing for readership during the same period, the Dispatch was selected for its continuity in publication and for its support and consistent reporting ofbaseball.
    [Show full text]
  • Is Not Doubleday's Only Game
    Hall of Fame is Not Doubleday's Only Game Several weeks ago, on August 2-4, Cooperstown was the focal point of the baseball world for the 57th consecutive Joe Harris (left), head groundskeeper at Doubleday Field, visits with Don Smith, year as the game's all-time greats con- of Smithco, at the baseball field's front gate. Photos courtesy: Don Smith. verged on the upstate New York village to honor the four 1997 Hall of Fame inductees: knuckleballer Phil Niekro, Fame came a year later, in 1939, addition, there is approximately chosen by the Baseball Writers' when Cooperstown, the purported site 40,0000 square feet of warning track Association of America (BBWAA); and of baseball's 1839 invention, hosted and infield skinned area to groom. Tommy Lasorda, Nellie Fox and Willie season-long celebrations of the game's During the baseball season, the Wells - chosen by the Veterans mythical centennial birth date. In field is either fully or partially condi- Committee. June, at the height of the festivities, tioned. every day. "We condition with For the 51st year, celebrations the National Baseball Hall of Fame the scarifier every day, and mow about included a Hall of Fame Game - this was established. It attracted 25,000 three times a week," says Harris. The year between the Los Angeles Dodgers fans that year and now hosts more pitcher's mound and home plate area and the San Diego Padres (the first than 250,000 visitors annually. are conditioned after every game. Hall of Fame Game between National Other than the renovated infield League clubs).
    [Show full text]
  • Sharpsburg Youth Baseball Park Rules
    SHARPSBURG YOUTH BASEBALL PARK RULES SYB-Park Rules APR 2021 Page 1 SHARPSBURG YOUTH BASEBALL, Andrew Bailey Park Sharpsburg, Georgia 30277 COWETA COUNTY www.sharpsburgbaseball.com INDEX TABLE OF CONTENT SECTION I PLAYER PARTICIPATION SECTION II PLAYER REQUIREMENTS SECTION III Nominal Time, Run, and Inning Limits SECTION IV Pitching Rules SECTION V Unique Park Rules SECTION VI Protests SECTION VII T-Ball Rules SECTION VIII 8U SECTION IX 10U, 12U, 14U, 18U SECTION X Unique Fall Ball Rules SECTION XI BAT Rule SECTION XII BATTING CAGE Rule SECTION XIII Uniform Rule SYB-Park Rules APR 2021 Page 2 SHARPSBURG YOUTH BASEBALL, Andrew Bailey Park Sharpsburg, Georgia 30277 COWETA COUNTY www.sharpsburgbaseball.com SECTION I PLAYER PARTICIPATION A. REQUIREMENTS 1. A continuous batting order (all players bat), and unlimited fielding substitutions will be used for all age groups. This rule does not pertain to pitching or base running. a. If a player is ejected, an out will be called each time their at bat occurs, for the remainder of that particular game. b. Players ejected from a game will be suspended for the team’s next game. c. If a player is removed from a game due to injury or illness, the opposing team’s manager should be notified, and the player’s remaining at bats will not be called outs. 2. For all age groups, all players on a team must enter each ball game and play at least each alternating inning. No player will sit on the bench two (2) consecutive innings. 3. No player shall sit twice in a game until all players have sat once.
    [Show full text]
  • Preserving the Diamond Baseball Stadium/Ballpark Design: Case Study of Fenw a Y Park in Boston, Massachusetts
    University of Rhode Island DigitalCommons@URI Open Access Master's Theses 1993 PRESERVING THE DIAMOND BASEBALL STADIUM/BALLPARK DESIGN: CASE STUDY OF FENW A Y PARK IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS Christine A. Mello University of Rhode Island Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses Recommended Citation Mello, Christine A., "PRESERVING THE DIAMOND BASEBALL STADIUM/BALLPARK DESIGN: CASE STUDY OF FENW A Y PARK IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS" (1993). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 414. https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/414 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@URI. It has been accepted for inclusion in Open Access Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@URI. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PRESERVING THE DIAMOND BASEBALL STADIUM/BALLPARK DESIGN: CASE STUDY OF FENWA Y PARK IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS BY CHRISTINE A. MELLO A RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE AND MASTER OF COMMUNITY PLANNING AND AREA DEVELOPMENT UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 1993 MASTER OF COMMUNITY PLANNING RESEARCH PROJECT OF CHRISTINE A. MELLO Approved: Major Professor Dr. Howard H. Foster, Jr. Acknowledged: Director ~~111~1-~ Dr. Marcia Marker Feld ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to offer my special appreciation to all those who have so graciously contributed to this project. In particular, I would like to thank Dr. Howard Foster and Dr. Farhad Atash for their unending support and encouragement, particularly through the summer. Special thanks to David Westcott, Steven Fusco, and David Freeman for their continual assistance, advice, and patience during throughout the project and graduate school.
    [Show full text]
  • Palos Baseball Organization 2019 Palos Rumble Tournament Rules
    Palos Baseball Organization 2019 Palos Rumble Tournament Rules Play is governed by Official Baseball rules, and Pony League Baseball rules, unless superseded by these tournament rules or by the umpires during pre-game ground rules. 1. ROSTERS Teams shall roster a minimum of 9 players and a maximum of 15 players. Teams may be selected in any manner according to your league guidelines, however all rostered players must have played the majority of their games within their recreational league during the regular season. AND UP ARE ALLOWED.NO FULL TIME TRAVEL TEAMS ALLOWED FOR 8U, 9U AND 10U. 11U 2. BIRTH CERTIFICATES Team manager must present birth Certificates of each player to the host league prior to the start of the first game. Documents will be reviewed and immediately returned to the manager. We will use may 1st as the birthday cut-off date. The player’s age on may. 1st is their tournament age. 3. LENGTH OF GAMES Pinto (8) 6 innings Mustang (9 &10) 6 innings Bronco (11 &12) 7 innings Pony (13 & 14) 7 innings 4. SLAUGHTER RULE Although there is no limit to the number of runs a team can score in an inning, if at the end of the below mentioned inning that team is fifteen (15) runs ahead, the game is complete. Pinto After (3) innings (2 ½ if the home team is ahead) Mustang After (3) innings (2 ½ if the home team is ahead) Bronco After (4) innings (3 ½ if the home team is ahead) Pony After (4) innings (3 ½ if the home team is ahead) Although there is no limit to the number of runs a team can score in an inning, if at the end of the below mentioned inning that team is ten (10) runs ahead, the game is complete.
    [Show full text]
  • Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Of
    ,I v.~­ THE EVOLUTION AND HISTORY OF SOFTBALL IN THE UNITED STATES BY IRVIN KAWARSKY, B. S. A FIELD REPORT Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Education in Drake University Des Moines, Iowa January, 1956 r.::-~ lq.J Kl THE EVOLUTION AND HISTORY OF SOFTBALL IN THE UNITED STATES BY IRVIN KA~l.ARSKY, B. S. Approved By Committee: Chairman~o!J~ TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION . l II .. THE ORIGIN OF THE Gli.ME . 3 Evolution of modern softball . .. 7 Forerurmers of modern softball game . 17 III. THE AMJI.TEUR SOF'TBALL ASSOCIATION . 29 rv. SOFTBALL IN THE FORTY-EIGHT STATES . 41 v. SOFTBALL IN IOWA . 79 VI. MISCELLANEOUS SOFTBALL DATA . • 84 VII. SUMMARY AND CONCilJSIONS . 97 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 99 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to trace in detail the history and development of softball. This was accomplished by intensive research of all material available pertaining to the introduction and first mention of softball in the civilized world ~hrough its development to the game that is played at the present time. All books, encyclopedias, and articles that were accessible to the writer on the subject of softball were carefully studied. In presenting the history of softball as a player and spectator sport, it was also necessary to review the part played by the Amateur Softball Association and its effect on the national development of the Sources of data. The data pertaining to this study were collected from both primary and secondary so·urces. Most of the material set forth in Chapters II through V is secondary in nature and comes from recognized and accepted softball authorities and from the records of national ath- letic organizations.
    [Show full text]
  • Solfest No-Hitter Boosts Red to Day Two of Legion State Tournament
    SOLFEST NO-HITTER BOOSTS RED TO DAY TWO OF LEGION STATE TOURNAMENT PAYNESVILLE, Minn. (August 1) -- Tri-City Red opened the 2019 Minnesota American Legion State Tournament with two wins on Thursday, starting the day with a 1-0 win over Austin, before pounding Eastview 10-2 in the nightcap. In game one, John Solfest threw a complete game no-hitter, to lead Red to a 1-0 victory over Austin. He recorded 12 strikeouts on just 91 pitches. The lone base runners came on a leadoff walk, a fielder's choice in the first, an error in the fifth, and a walk in the sixth. Red's one-run came in the bottom of the first inning, when Jonah Sparks drew a one-out walk -- and then stole second base. He moved to third when Robert Hogan singled, before he scored on an RBI ground-out from Ike Mezzenga. In game two, Red fell behind early as Eastview scored a first-inning run. Red immediately responded in top of the second inning with three runs of their own. The first three batters all reached -- Carter Traczyk on an error, Ike Mezzenga on a double to left-center field, and a John Solfest two-RBI single to right. Solfest then scored on a double off the bat of Cole Stenstrom. In the third, Red opened the floodgates, sending 13 batters to the plate, scoring seven runs on five hits -- including two two-RBI singles from Mezzenga and Brett Bateman, with John Solfest and Robert Hogan adding RBI singles. The ten runs accumulated in the second and third innings were enough for the Red pitching staff.
    [Show full text]