Amateur Baseball
In his discussion of
athletics in Greenbelt, Peyton Hubbard states that "Greenbelt was a
haven for the sports enthusiast."
For the Greenbelt resident who was looking to participate on a
baseball team there were many options. There were softball teams
available for men, women, boys and girls and there were baseball
teams available for men and boys. Although, as Petyon states, the list of
sports played in Greenbelt is "quite diverse," and althought basketball
may have been slightly more popular, "softball
and baseball were rapidly becoming Greenbelt's favorite sports,"(8) as they
approached the 1940's.
This much is evident from the June 1, 1938 edition of the Greenbelt
Cooperator, which states that 3 new baseball and softball diamonds
that were to be constructed behind the swimming pool would be a
"welcome replacement for the makeshift diamonds that have sprung up
around town." In order to pay for the building and future maintenance of
the fields, Greenbelt decided that for each dollar of town funds to be
spent on the budget, 6
cents was set aside for the parks and playrounds.(8) Thus, with excellent
factilites now constructed,the
Greenbelt Athletic Club, which was established on February 4, 1938,
began a softball league in which teams from different blocks competed.
Games were generally held in the evenings or on weekends, though not on
the Sabbath.(9) The mens league consisted
of 7 teams:
Cliff Dwellers
Rum Row
Snob Hill
Wonder Boys
Emeralds
Boos
Paradise Lane
The Red Birds were added to the league the second year of it's existence.
The top team in league was by far and away the Cliff Dwellers, who managed
to
go undefeated for the first four years the league was held. In addition
there was a four team women's
league as well with the teams known as: Berries, Doves, Huskies, Scrubs.
Each week during the season the Greenbelt Cooperator would publish
at least one
box score of a game the previous week. The Cooperator also
listed the league leaders in batting average, doubles, triples, home
runs and pitching from time to time. Each week during the season
their was a column devoted to the previous week's action in the
sports section of the Cooperator.
In addtion to these teams, the Recreation Department ran one townwide
softball and one townwide baseball team which was selected on the basis
of tryouts and competed against other county teams. The Greenbelt teams
were some of the most competitive in the area, and they always enjoyed a
good deal of succes when competing against rival towns. In 1940, the
Greenbelt Reps, as they
were known, won the Prince George's County men's softball championship.
The championship game was played at Magruder Field in Hyattsville, and
about 200 Greenbelt fans made the trip.(8)
The Reps were managed by Ben
Goldfaden, who was also the director of the Athletic Club. Goldfaden also
managed the baseball team which represented the town and played against
other nearby towns. He coached several other teams throughout the
town, including Greenbelt High's undefeated basketball team. He
starred in the town softball league as well.
Ben
Goldfaden
The
baseball team was open to anyone over 17 years old, and
the team was picked by tryouts.(2)
Greenbelt also featured the only American
Leigon team in Prince George's County. American Leigon baseball was open
to all boys under 17 years of age. The Greenbelt team was especially
strong because boys from many neighboring areas came out for the team.(8) It
seems strange however, that a community with such isolationist tendencies
would welcome children from the other communities. The Greenbelt team
had an excellent manager in Leo Mullen, a former minor league catcher
for the Birmingham Barons of the Southern League. It was his
influence which likely helped to bring in the boys from out of town.
The residents of Greenbelt would not let you be mistaken however. It
was the Greenbelt boys who were the stars of the team.
Their was also a church softball league which ran concurrently to the
softball and
baseball seasons. This league was more laid back and less competitive
than the other leagues. This league was thought of as more of a diversion
and a way to get out and get some excerise, rather than a fierce
competition. Greenbelt residents of all skill levels participated in the
league.(4)
Overall, 1940 proved to be one of the most successful years for Greenbelt
in terms of competition. The men's baseball team went 24-6, and though
their was no championship, they were generally considered the class of the
league. The aforementioned men's softball team was 28-11 on their road to
the championship. Even the boys got in on the fun, going 9-2 and coming
in second place in their baseball league.(8)
In addition to the three newly
constructed fields, games were also played at a field behind Branchville
Road, and much later, at McDonald Field. One of the more memorable
moments for the boys team occured when Detroit Tigers catcher Birdie
Tebbets showed up for the boys' practice one day when the Tigers were in
town to
play the Senators. A town resident had grown up with the Tigers'
catcher and had asked him to come out to practice as a surprise. He
obliged and put on a hitting exhibition and gave the boys a few
"helpful hints." Many of the Greenbelt boys were said to be in awe of
him, having never seen a major league player before.(6)
The girls teams were not as popular, as girls of the time were more
enraptured with dolls and other more
"feminine" pastimes than baseball. While most of the girls would probably
have preferred to stay home or play a different game, their parents
dragged them out on the diamond and taught them the game.
The uniforms for most of the teams were purchased at the Sweater and
Knicker Outlet, which "specialized in uniforms and athletic equipment."(5)
Greenbelt High School Team
Like the other sports teams at Greenbelt High, the baseball was team was
very successful. From the outset they were destined for the playoffs
every year. The star of Greenbelt High in 1939 and 1940 was catcher Harry
Ewing, who displayed excellent home run power. The team played all of
their games at the field behind Branchville Road. If the field was not
suitable for the play then they would try to move the game to Baden Field,
if circumstances allowed.(9) Not
suprisingly, Greenbelt High wore green and white uniforms.
Back to Baseball In Greenbelt