Sports in the ‘50’s
How many people remember the various sports leagues that flourished in the 1950’s, other than the Little League, which I have already covered? I remember when the grade school basketball league was around. I think the schools involved were St. Francis deSales Catholic School, North Salisbury Elementary School, Prince StreetElementary School and East Salisbury Elementary School. Maybe some readers will remember other participants and will comment. While St. Francis had eight grades compared to six for the other schools, they never seemed to dominate. Maybe they only let boys play up to the 6th grade. The gyms were tiny, but it didn’t seem to matter since all the players were tiny. The only grade school gym I can remember was East Salisbury. St. Francis didn’t have a gym. Most of the games were played at the gym of Wicomico Junior High School on E. Main St. This was also a rather modest venue. I often wonder what happened to that league that was so important to the boys of that era.
Another change has taken place in high school sports. Wi-Hi’s biggest competition in basketball back then was Crisfield. We always thought the reason they were so good at basketball was because they played all summer, not being able to raise nine players for a baseball team. They also had a boy that was 6’9” and that was a giant for the time. I think his name was Larry Tawes. The games were very well and enthusiastically attended and were always on Tuesday and Friday nights. Other games that were eagerly anticipated were the Laurel and Seaford games. You could observe many students at these events sporting their beloved school colors by wearing their school jackets. They don’t even have school jackets anymore. And the age of the “letter sweater” has also gone by the wayside. It used to be a real badge of honor to wear that sweater with the big letter sewn on it.
Football was always popular, and the Wi-Hi game with Cambridge on Thanksgiving Day was a highlight. The game in the afternoon and Thanksgiving dinner after the game made for a memorable day – especially if Wi-Hi won. Wi-Hi always had a good team, and it was because of Charlie Berry. It is said that he went down the school halls, and if he saw a boy with good size, he told him to report to the football field after school. I don’t think that his tactics would be politically correct in this day and age, but he sure got the most out of those boys. He also taught them valuable life lessons that I’m sure many of them carry out to this day.
Just as in major league sports today, the age of innocence has passed us by and we may never regain it. Sports for the sake of good, clean competition doesn’t seem to matter as much as winning at all costs. But, is the cost too high?
5 comments:
Too high if a sports injury plagues one for the rest of his or her life.When I graduated,Marion still had a high school,but I don't recall if they had any sports teams.Great post.
Very good George , yes I remember those days. Sports was considered a game. Now if all sports would fail somehow , this nation would collapse .
My coach would tell us , " it's not whether you win or lose ,but how you played the GAME". Wayne
I played football and I wrestled in high school,but believe it or not I have the fondest memories of Field Day.There were always kids who were faster and stronger than the others,but a red ribbon meant just as much to me as a blue ribbon did.
How about fast pitch softball. We had some great teams and great pitchers as well. John Albert Ennis Chubby Jones come to mind. Jacks Sanitary Service was a great winning team. Also everyday at noon everyone would tune in to the R.T. sports reel. He gave us all the local sports news. Also the King and his court came here. A four man softball team. They traveled around beating all the other teams. But in Salisbury when their pitcher was showing off we were hitting home runs. So Salisbury almost beat them and they were so embarassed they vowed never to come back.
10:51-The era of which you speak was the golden age of softball in Wicomico County.I recall when The King and his court came to town.They had no idea what they would encounter when they arrived & showed off with all sorts of pitching feats before the game started.They only won by the skin of their teeth and darn sure did not want a rematch.Personally I don't think they could have beaten our team a second time.
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