Overland Day: What is it?

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Posted By: bobw

Found some more articles about Overland Day in the Indianapolis Star. this one is from 1915. I found one from 1914 and will post it later

Indianapolis Star May 23,1915

WILLYS WILL GIVE EMPLOYEES TREAT

President of Overland Factory Will Take Giants and Tigers to Toledo for Entertainment of Persons Employed in Factory.


Overland day has been set for June 21, when the New York Giants and the Detroit Tigers Journey to Toledo to give 11,000 employes of the Willys-Overland Company their annual baseball festival.At his personal expense John N. Willys,president of the Overland company, will bring the two big league teams together for the first time in baseball history. Managers McGraw and Jennings have both promised that their teams will take
the field with their full playing strength and that the Overland fans will see the two famous teams at their best.
Although the Overland employes are the most important guests on this occasion,
there, will be present, also, Ban Johnson and John Tener, presidents of the American and National Leagues-
Vice President Daly of the New York Central Lines and a number of other men whose names nre prominent In business and financial affairs. It is the intention of Mr. Willys to run a private train from
New York to Toledo for the accommodation of his guests. In addition to receiving an afternoon of fun. the Overland employes will he paid regular wages for the afternoon.
This is the second year Mr, Willys has arranged for two major league teams to play in Toledo during the regular league season in order to provide his employees with an afternoon's rcreation. Last year the Philadelphla Athletics and the Chicago Cubs furnished an exhibition which attracted widespread attention
Whlle the American Assocation team was in Toledo it was the custom of the Overland company to close up the big factory for an afternoon and send all employees to one of the games early in the season. On this occasion Mr. Willys purchased the entire allotment of seats in order to provide room for the army of
automobile builders. Last year when the Mud Hens were transferred to Cleveland,it was decided to give Toledo a glimpse of real big league ball. This year negotiations of the same sort have been successfully carried out. The big Overland factory will close at noon on the day of the game. A giant parade with all of the Overland fans in line will form at the factory shortly after and headed by the Overland fifty-piece
band, will march to the ball park in ample time to see the preliminary practice of the teams. Seven brass bands, as well as the Overland Glee Club of seventy-five voices will help enliven the occasion.