Took some of the holiday to visit Troy, NY - and the monument to professional baseball in this city.
It was interesting to imagine these players once playing the game at top level. The monument is surrounded by 4 baseball fields.
The Troy Haymakers team photo has them holding pitch forks. Measured, the players appear very tall. This, accordingly to writers, is why the players who moved on to New York when the club disbanded, we're called GIANTS.
The team included the mighty Lipman Pike, the first professional baseball player. According to news reports, hit a ball out if the park and into the river.
5 Hall of Famers born in Troy. Home field to Unions of Lansingburgh, Troy Haymakers and Troy Trojans.
There is a Trojans sign (upper right) hanging from a building.
Me in a throwback pose in front of the monument.