Quote:
Originally Posted by ValKehl
On June 24, 1950, Willie Mays made his debut in white professional baseball with the Trenton Giants at the former slave-trading stronghold of Hagerstown, Maryland. Here's the link to an interesting piece in today's Wash. Post about his debut and his much-later-in-life return to Hagerstown: https://wapo.st/3zkxNyi |
This story is surreal to me, I live 10 minutes from Hagerstown and quite literally just got home from a card show in the Hagerstown valley mall an hour ago.
It's just like every other town around. The fact it was so bad for Willie specifically but the other areas around were fine is just strange and makes you wonder why Hagerstown? I'm thinking it was possibly a local leader at the time with strong charisma that might've swayed people in a very bad way. Or some sort of local hate mob.
Here is my 1924 matchbook holder from the Shireys young men's shop. With home and road schedule for the Hagerstown terriers on either side.
Fun fact: The Hagerstown Terriers never actually played in 1924, they were renamed the Hubs in 1924. So this matchbook cover was certainly made well in advance.
Fun fact #2 Lefty Groves first ever minor league start was against Hagerstown Where he lost 4-2, however he fanned 9 and impressed orioles scouts.
His first minor league win was funnily enough against Hagerstown.
Fun fact#3 The Blue ridge league (area of towns shown on matchbook cover and a few other towns, but mainly the ones shown) is extremely heavily collected by locals, moreso than I've ever seen a local pre-war league. Items are very hoarded and are very expensive when they come up.
