LITTLE LEAGUE/PONY LEAGUE BANQUETS
Back in the 50’s, they had an annual dinner for the local baseball leagues that was far superior to the functions they have today. This was when baseball was played “for the love of the game”. In those days, when you asked for an autograph, it was a gesture of honor to the player you were asking. How things have changed. And you could read every name signed on your program. There was no charge to get anyone to sign. I imagine they came just for the free chicken dinner. The following are some of the attendees at those long ago dinners.
Little League Banquet - February 7, 1956
Ron Waller
Dick Porter
Billy Werber
Poke Whalen
Billy Hunter
Pony League Banquet - January 27, 1956
Joe E. Brown
Benny Bengough
Tommy Byrne
Del Ennis
Willie Jones
Frank Powell
Frank “Home Run” Baker
Dick Porter
Jake Flowers
Little League Banquet - February 5, 1957
Ernie Harwell
Gus Triandos
John Andre
Bill Nicholson
Jim Mutscheller
Frank “Home Run” Baker
Bill Walsingham
Pony League Banquet - January 15, 1957
Lefty Gomez
Benny Bengough
Stan Lopata
Sal Maglie
Curt Simmons
Frank Powell
Pony League Banquet – January 14, 1958
Don Kellett
Harry Anderson
Frank “Home Run” Baker
Benny Bengough
Lew Burdette
Ed Calhoun
Jack Sanford
Frank Powell
Bill Talbert
Frank Roberts
“Wiffy” Cox
Ron Waller
Dick Porter
Billy Werber
Poke Whalen
Billy Hunter
Pony League Banquet - January 27, 1956
Joe E. Brown
Benny Bengough
Tommy Byrne
Del Ennis
Willie Jones
Frank Powell
Frank “Home Run” Baker
Dick Porter
Jake Flowers
Little League Banquet - February 5, 1957
Ernie Harwell
Gus Triandos
John Andre
Bill Nicholson
Jim Mutscheller
Frank “Home Run” Baker
Bill Walsingham
Pony League Banquet - January 15, 1957
Lefty Gomez
Benny Bengough
Stan Lopata
Sal Maglie
Curt Simmons
Frank Powell
Pony League Banquet – January 14, 1958
Don Kellett
Harry Anderson
Frank “Home Run” Baker
Benny Bengough
Lew Burdette
Ed Calhoun
Jack Sanford
Frank Powell
Bill Talbert
Frank Roberts
“Wiffy” Cox
7 comments:
Sis & I served them dinner, much to our pleasure!
(with other hs girls, of course.)
Just to guage these celebrations fairly,did any of the attendees eventually go pro?
Gus Triandos was a catcher / 1st baseman for the Orioles.
I remember when I received a trophy from Brooks Robinson at a banquet when our team came in first place.
This was when I played for the Salvation Army. I forgot what year that was but I believe it was around 1966 - 67.
Brooks made every player there feel special.
Boy times kave really changed
Did they play with underinflated balls like the do now?
sal maglie played for the new york giants and i think tommy byrne played for the brooklyn dodgers both were pitchers
sorry tommy byrne pitched mostly for the new york yankees
Yeah that was back when you had to try out for the team and if you didn't make it, tough titty. You played harder and tried out next year.
Unlike today everyone makes Little League just for paying their registration fee and that's why you always have half a team that can't catch or hit the baseball. Everyone gets a trophy just for having their name on the team. UGH!!
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