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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 |
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 |
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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.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps73649a28.jpg 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 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps7d1f05d1.jpg 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. |
Aurora Nebraska has Clarence Mitchell Field.
http://www.nebaseballhistory.com/aurora4.jpg http://www.nebaseballhistory.com/aurora2.jpg It is currently used by the local american legion club. |
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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. |
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.
http://www.nebaseballhistory.com/wahoo/w1.JPG 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. http://www.nebaseballhistory.com/crawfordweb3.jpg |
Tilden Nebraska has Richie Ashburn Field
http://www.nebaseballhistory.com/tilden1.jpg It is a small field with minimal stands and a dirt infield. |
Lincoln Nebraska built Landis Field in the early 20's. It was named after Kennesaw Mountain Landis. They thought that he might attend a game or two if they named the field after him. The field is no more but Dan Bretta has a number of pictures of the field. On another note I discovered that one of the employees at the school where I work is his grand daughter.
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The hamlet of Strykersville, New York notes on the "Welcome to Strykersville" sign on the main road into town (such as it is -- strictly rural) that it's "Home of Jim Konstanty." Does that count?
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Werner Park in Papillion Nebraska, home of the AAA Omaha Storm Chasers has a statue of Bob Gibson
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One of the times I was in Poland I made sure I visited Kutno, the town where Stan Musial Field is, home of little league baseball in Eastern Europe. Stan's father was from the area and Kutno adapted him. The locals told me he's visited there and donated the money for the ball field which is part of a larger baseball complex. I gotta tell you, it was strange to talk baseball in Polish!
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Graig,
There is Joe Louis' fist in downtown Detroit. (If they haven't sold it)...lol There was a nice huge mural of Steve Yzerman, which they have now removed, but it gave his birth year, then stated "adopted by Detroit, 1983". Here is the Louis Fist. I am sure there are better photos though. Attachment 120905 |
St Paul, Nebraska celebrates Grover Cleveland Alexander Days every July...they also have a baseball museum there.
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Have I mentioned how much you guys rule? Thank you so much for all of these answers, they're gonna be super helpful for a future endeavor.
If y'all know any more and have the time, keep 'em coming! Thanks again, Graig |
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 |
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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Tim Keefe Square, Cambridge Mass
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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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I know Meeker, OK is where Carl Hubbell grew up. They have a museum dedicated to him and a few years back they renamed Main St. to Carl Hubbell Blvd. I have a mini bat somewhere that celebrates the 50th anniversary of Hubbells pitching performance in the '34 all star game and it is from Meeker.
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Boyceville, WI - Andy Pafko. They have Andy Pafko Athletic Park.
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Ellensburg, WA - Dean Nicholson Blvd. is the main drag to Leo Nicholson Pavilion at CWU. Dean played firstbase for the semi-pro Ellensburg Cowboys & Leo started the local Little League. They have the most wins by a father/son duo in NCAA basketball history at the same university (more than 1,100 at CWU). Here they are together discussing strategy for the cameras 1950....
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/...holson1950.jpg |
Connie Mack Drive and Connie Mack Field in East Brookfield, MA, his birthplace. Right on Rte 9 in the center of town
Jack Barry Square, Shrewsbury, MA and Jack Barry Field, Worcester, MA - member of Connie Mack's $100,000 infield. Long time College of the Holy Cross baseball coach in Worcester. Since this should not be just about baseball I am including ones from my favorite sports, the Olympics. James Brendan Connolly - the winner of the first gold medal in the modern Olymics, 1896 in Athens. Statue of him landing the hop, step and jump now called the triple jump in Joe Moakley Park on Columbus Ave., South Boston near the football stadium. Arthur Longsjo - the only American athlete to compete in the Winter (Speedskating) and Summer (Cycling) Olympics in the same year, 1956. Died in a car crash in 1958. Monument to him on Main St, Fitchburg, MA. Johnny Kelley - 2 time winner of the Boston Marathon and two time Olympian. Statue of him as a young man and older man near Walnut St. and Commonwealth Ave., Newton, MA. Jesse Owens - Jesse Owens Memorial Park in Moulton, Alabama. There is a replica of his birthplace and a 14 1/2 foot tall statue of him. Just down the road is Helen Keller's house. Tommie Smith and John Carlos - statue of their 'Silent Gesture', the 1968 Olympic protest is at San Jose State University in California. Paul Anderson - 1956 Olympic weighlifting gold medalist and generally acknowledged as the World's Strongest Man of all time - monument to him outside the Georgia World Congress Center near the Georgia Dome and across from CNN. There is also the Paul Anderson Memorial Park in Toccoa, GA. Statue of Jack Kelly, Sr. father of Princess Grace (Kelly), Olympic gold medalist and one of the greatest American rowers of all time, located on the Schuykill River in Philadelphia. |
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...7NyTruxton.jpg
Truxton, New York...population 1133...honors its native son John J McGraw |
Columbia PA just put up a memorial for James Tilden Sheckard, "The greatest ball player in the world".
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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/ |
Eddie Plank has a plaque and is celebrated in Gettysburg, PA
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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. |
Remembered another one:
Hamilton New York has a "Hooks Wiltse Field." I found this rather strange photo of the monument on Flickr http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...dman/hooks.jpg |
Atlantic City, NJ is the home to John Henry "Pop" Lloyd stadium and the Pop Lloyd Committee which has an annual awards banquet to honor various people.
www.popsballyard.org. |
Hey all,
Just wanted to thank everybody again for contributing to this thread. All of your posts were incredibly helpful. I REALLY appreciate it all. Graig |
Addie Joss
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The Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Carolina League play at Judy Johnson Field. The HOF'er grew up in Wilmington and the stadium has a nice statue of him out front.
I know of a couple streets for major leaguers. Jack Martin Blvd in Brick, NJ was named after the 1912-14 player that lived in town and Doc Cramer Blvd in Manahawkin, NJ is right by where he spent his last years. |
Quote:
http://www.markgrace.com/MarengoField1.jpg In the photo, I'm holding this postcard which showed what the site I'm standing on looked like in 1906. http://www.capanson.com/pictures/Ans...tcardFront.jpg |
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