Book Description

Though renowned as the "Birthplace of Little League Baseball" and the host of the annual Little League World Series, the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, has also been heir to a minor-league legacy that few cities of comparable size possess. In this engaging tribute to the memories of Williamsport's halcyon professional baseball era, discover an integral part of the city's civic identity and social fabric during the past century. Williamsport's Baseball Heritage includes the city's landmark ballparks, including Athletic Park, the West Third Street Field, and Bowman Field, and features rare snapshots of prominent players and influential boosters. A charter member of the old New York-Penn League in 1924 (later renamed the Eastern League), Williamsport enjoyed one of the longest periods of affiliation with the league, despite its small size relative to other member cities. Historic Bowman Field, constructed in 1926 and once considered the gem of the of the Eastern League, remains the second-oldest operating minor league ballpark in the country. It has been visited by countless barnstorming Major League and Negro League teams, Hall of Fame players such as Jim Bunning, and famous baseball personalities such as Connie Mack, Branch Rickey, and Casey Stengel. An authoritative and comprehensive view of the era, Williamsport's Baseball Heritage will rekindle fond memories among fans and players alike. Images in this collection were culled from The Grit, formerly Williamsport's longest-running Sunday newspaper, the D. Vincent Smith and Putsee Vannucci photograph collections, and the private collections of many Williamsport residents.