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#1
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Calling all historians...
...so, I guess that means all of you?
I'm hoping I might be able to enlist your wonderful brains for a bit of help. I'm trying to put together a list of boroughs, cities, towns, hamlets, villages and even states that have adopted professional athletes as their 'favorite sons'. A prime example, there's Christy Mathewson Day in Factoryville, PA, honoring the great man who grew up there. If I'm not mistaken, the city has a marvelous statue of him in one of their parks. And another, if memory serves me, Commerce High School now has a Mickey Mantle statue on its grounds. Are there any others that you guys can think of? It doesn't have to be a star or well-known player either. In fact, I would probably be more interested in the fellas who most people have never heard of. Any help y'all can provide is appreciated. Thanks! Graig
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Check out my baseball artwork: www.graigkreindler.com www.twitter.com/graigkreindler www.facebook.com/graigkreindler |
#2
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Eddie Collins and Eddie Collins Jr were honored in Lansdowne, PA where Jr was born and HOF COllins lived during his A's playing days
http://articles.philly.com/1992-01-2...ackson-scandal There is also a marker on the street where Jimmy Foxx lived in Drexel Hill, PA and he also has a statue and a day in Sudlersville, Md where he was born Last edited by murphusa; 11-07-2013 at 11:16 AM. |
#3
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Looking for Toronto baseball items. Please contact me at chris@pacmedia.ca |
#4
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A town that is not very far from where I live is Watertown, Wisconsin which is the home of none other that Fred Merkle. Watertown does have a Fred Merkle field as well as a small monument to the towns famous son.
The inscription is as follows: This memorial is dedicated to the life of FRED C. MERKLE Born in Watertown, WI, Dec. 29, 1888. His father, Ernst Merkle, was a school teacher at Immanuel Lutheran School in Watertown at the time of Fred's birth. Fred made hismajor league debut on 9-21-1907. His outstanding talent, intelligence, and dedication to the game of baseball spanned 2 decades, having been a member of 6 World Series teams: 1911, 1912, 1913, 1916, 1918 and 1926. He was a potent line-drive hitter, agile first baseman and a speedster on the basepaths. He played for the New York Giants, Brooklym Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees. Donated in 2005 by The Merkle Family, David J. Stalker & Archie Monuments I thought the placement of the monument could have been better Now to be fair, the monument is on the grounds of the "Octagon House" in Watertown that does get a decent amount of traffic...but still. I know GraceCollector has some photos of my in-laws hometown, Marengo, Illinois where Carl Lundgren, who played for the Cubs and is featured on a t206 card (among others) grew up and is buried. He has a field named after him there and interestingly enought, that same field is one that Cap Anson played an exibtion game on as well. There is a historic marker at the field for Lundgren and is GraceCollector doesnt post his photo I will be heading to Marengo next weekend and can take one if needed. |
#5
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Aurora Nebraska has Clarence Mitchell Field.
It is currently used by the local american legion club.
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Interested in Nebraska Minor League Baseball Memorabilia. http://www.nebaseballhistory.com/ |
#6
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Wahoo Nebraska has Sam Crawford field. It is near the old business district. The town just put a lot of money into the field to improve its appearance.
On the plaque inside the stadium four Saunders County baseball legends in addition to Sam Crawford are honored. Lee Wiegert from Ithaca Nebraska was a Pioneer Nite League pitcher who in 1947 was invited to Dodgers spring training and repeated in 1948 with the Yankees. Les Munns from Wahoo, pitched for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1934 and 1935. Joe Kuncl from Prague Nebraska was a Pioneer Nite League Pitcher who played professional minor league ball from 1947=1956. Just a few miles west of Wahoo is Weston Nebraska, home of Bob Cerv. Bob Cerv played in 5 world series with the Yankees and his major league career stretched from 1951-1959. He was named to the All Star American League team in 1958 and started the all star game. He was also fourth in the voting for the most valuable player award in 1958, ahead of Mickey Mantle who finished fifth that year.
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Interested in Nebraska Minor League Baseball Memorabilia. http://www.nebaseballhistory.com/ Last edited by tachyonbb; 11-07-2013 at 02:00 PM. |
#7
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HOF Nolan Ryan is the favorite son of Alvin, TX. Additionally, he is the major benefactor of Alvin Community College. When he signs for $$, this is who benefits. Ryan has been honored by the city of Alvin many times and the Nolan Ryan museum called The Nolan Ryan Center is located on the campus of the college.
Johnny Vander Meer is the pride of Midland Park, NJ. Vandy was honored by Midland Park with his own day in 1938 and is still prominently featured in their local museum. Vandy never lost touch with his roots and visited his friends and family there until he passed away in 1997. HOF Bob Feller hailed from Van Meter, IA. Early in his career he was referred to as "The Heater from Van Meter". The Bob Feller Museum is located in Van Meter and is a major draw for tourists that pass through Iowa. Last edited by Scott Garner; 11-08-2013 at 04:46 AM. |
#8
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Quote:
In the photo, I'm holding this postcard which showed what the site I'm standing on looked like in 1906. |
#9
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As a proud New Jersey resident Birthplace of Baseball happy to share some of the many towns here that celebrate their favorite sons who have prospered in Baseball's major leagues. Hall of Famer Joe Medwick is from about 5 miles away, Carteret NJ. there is a small memorial in Carteret park. Perth Amboy was home to the O'Brian brothers famous for their 1954 Topps card which the share, a sign in town commemorates this. My Favorite is in Paterson NJ home town to Lou Costello where downtown is a statue of him with Baseball garb with the words of Who's on first memorialized on the front.
I have visited Factoryville Pa and Keystone college on a day when the play a game of "Town Ball" and celebrate Christy Mathewson,lots of fun J |
#10
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Well, he wasn't born and didn't live there, but the town of Mauch Chunk, PA thought so much of Jim Thorpe, that they changed the name of the town to Jim Thorpe in memory of him, and Thorpe's body is indeed there - in a mausoleum in a roadside park. I read recently that there is now a movement underway to try to move Thorpe's body back to his home state of Oklahoma. If that happens, wonder if the town will change its name again. Maybe they could honor the memory of Gene Mauch.
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#11
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Tim Keefe Square, Cambridge Mass
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#12
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Ki Ki Cuyler's Sports bar in Harrisvllle Michigan is a sports bar that honors the Hall of Famer and is located at the very house that he grew up in. Harrisville is a very small Northern Michigan town near Lake Huron and no doubt still very proud of its association with one of baseball's greats from the first half of the last century.
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#13
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Royston, GA is proud of Ty Cobb.
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Tiger collector Need: T204 McIntyre Need: E121 Veach arms folded Monster Number 520/520 |
#14
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Omaha has Bob Gibson Blvd. It is a short stretch of road near Rosenblatt Stadium. The stadium has been torn down.
There is also a Bob Boozer Dr. in Omaha after the NBA basketball player. Grand Island Nebraska has a Tom Osborne Expressway, named after the football coach/athletic director. Indianapolis has a rather unique sculpture honoring John Wooden. It shows John kneeling with five sets of legs around him. My daughter thought it was creepy. There is plaque also. http://www.flickr.com/photos/wbur/8162113515/
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Interested in Nebraska Minor League Baseball Memorabilia. http://www.nebaseballhistory.com/ Last edited by tachyonbb; 11-08-2013 at 06:34 AM. |
#15
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Eddie Plank has a plaque and is celebrated in Gettysburg, PA
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#16
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The tiny town of Nelliston, NY has a street named Dahlen Street. On it, still stands the house that Bill Dahlen lived in for a long time. No plaque, but the street was named for him.
I also believe Utica, NY celebrated George Burns (the ball player) Day and has a plaque to him. Pennants can be found from the celebration.
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For information on baseball-related cigarette and tobacco packs, visit www.baseballandtobacco.com. |
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