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1st Little
League Baseball Champions
August 22,
1954
The Tigers
defeated the White Socks
Hartford
Michigan |
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Front Row L-R
1. Larry Larson (bat boy) HHS 1964 2. Gary Lightner HHS 1962
L-R
1. Richard Avery HHS 1962 2. John Smith HHS 1962 3.
Bill Jackson (catcher) HHS 1960 4. James Rademacher (pitcher) HHS 1961 5. Tom Norden HHS
1960 6. Primo Capovilla, Jr (pitcher) HHS 1959 7.
Tom MacKenzie HHS 1956 (coach) 8. David Lightner HHS 1959 9. __?__ Longway
10. Bob Kendzior (catcher) HHS 1961 11. David Bigelow HHS
1960 12. Jim Squires HHS 1959
Hartford Little League was
started in 1954 by my father, John Kendzior, Art Swisher, Rich Rademacher,
and Charles Martin [Martens]. They all got the equipment we needed.
When Little League started, every boy in town was put
on a team and they all had to play in the game - lose or win. We
were taught how to play the game.
We played on the northwest end of the old football
field. There was no raised pitchers mound and we could lead off,
just like the big boys. We played in blue jeans and t-shirts.
Baseball started when school let out for the summer and we played until
school started again in the fall.
Teams were formed and the 2 teams with 2 best records played
at the end for the championship. Our team, the Tigers, won the
first game - Tigers 11, White Sox 3.
If I remember correctly, Jim Rademacher pitched the
first no hitter, and I was the catcher.
December, 2008
- historic note by Bob Kendzior HHS 1961
(Bob has #15 on his shirt in the photo above)
Hughie Munro was the announcer.
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November 2008
Photo contributed by David Norden HHS 1962 (he may be the boy batting in the
background on the right?) |
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