Boys of the Blue Ridge
Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing 1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League by Mark C. Zeigler CHAPTER 1 POST-WAR BASEBALL The towns surrounding the northern Blue Ridge mountains has had a taste of professional baseball for several years, before the Great World War (known today as World War I) abruptly curtailed the 1918 season just three weeks into the season, and the effects of the deadly Spanish Influenza, and lack of financial support wiped out professional baseball in the region in 1919. Baseball had been strong focal points for the participating communities that organized teams in the Class D, Blue Ridge League. This was a time when the trolley was the main source of transportation, and the vehicle of choice was a Maxwell. Radio was just in its infant stages, and television was not even heard of for almost another twenty years. By 1920, the 20th and 21st amendments allowed women the right to vote, while Prohibition was in full force throughout the country. The nation’s attitudes were changing, but one constant was baseball. People were reenergized after the war effort had ended, and were looking for new things to do in their spare time. Baseball offered them a few hours of distraction from their daily lives, and chance to support their community by “rooting for their home team.” The remnants of the war, and the Spanish Influenza of latter part of 1918 played a significant influence in lack of interest, and financial support of professional baseball in Blue Ridge League towns of Cumberland, Hagerstown and Frederick, Maryland, Martinsburg, West Virginia, and the Pennsylvania Townships of Chambersburg, Hanover and Gettysburg in 1919.
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