Saturday, August 29, 2015

Base Ball Park, Knoxville, Tenn.

Over the years I've had the pleasure and privilege of meeting people involved with, or interested in baseball in east Tennessee.  One of those is Walter "Hawkeye" Bates.  I met Hawkeye through his involvement with the Knoxville Holstons Vintage Base Ball Club.  He's a member and I'm a fan.  Several months ago he mentioned to me that he had a photo/postcard of an old baseball ground in Knoxville.  My interest was immediately piqued.

We talked about it off and on through the summer and he finally got tired of me pestering him and sent a photo my way.


I looked through my reference notes and by the date that Hawkeye shares this would most likely be Chilhowee Park Base Ball Park.

I did see a listing on ebay for this postcard and a date of 1913 was attached.  I don't know if that was the date that the postcard was mailed or if there's some other info that indicates that this park was in use that year.  If it does depict a park in 1913 that might have been Caswell Park.

Thanks for sharing this, Hawkeye.  Keep your willow supple.

Monday, August 24, 2015

Wonder how this worked out...

We've all wondered what the skipper and the ump are actually saying when they get together and express their displeasure for a call or each other. 

Athletes and coaches are "mic-ed up" in current sporting events, why not do it 57 years ago?
The Sporting News - April 30, 1958
Well, as the photo caption says, the placing of the microphone enabled "...fans to hear the managers and umpires discuss ground rules in pre-game huddles and for the announcing of lineup changes after the game is underway."

I guess they didn't get to hear the juicy stuff.  Unless the coaches were really loud.