|
|
Some Kind of Game! New Hampshire Plays Baseball
 |
| New Hampshire's Robert "Red" Rolfe, with New York Yankees
teammates Frankie Crosetti, Tony Lazzeri, and Lou Gehrig, circa 1935. Rolfe, a Penacook native, signed with the
New York Yankees in 1931. Private Collection. |
The exhibition, Some Kind of Game! New Hampshire Plays Baseball,
was on view at the Museum of New Hampshire History from June 27 through December 6, 1998. Sponsored by Jefferson
Pilot Financial, the exhibition explored the state's many contributions to America's favorite pastime. It showcased
New Hampshire's school teams, youth leagues, town teams, industrial leagues, minor leagues, and profiles of the
more than 50 Granite Staters who made it to the major leagues. The state's once prominent role in the manufacture
of baseball equipment was also featured.
Before reading more about information that was included in the
exhibition, have fun testing your New Hampshire baseball knowledge by taking our online quiz.
New Hampshire has made many significant contributions to the
sport of baseball. Less than two decades after Alexander Cartwright codified baseball's rules in 1845, games were
covered extensively in the state's newspapers. New Hampshire is home to the nation's oldest Sunset League, founded
in 1907, and the state has supported several minor league teams, including the 1905 New England League champions.
Dating as far back as the 1870s, Concord, Dover, Epping, Fremont, Kingston, Nashua, Newington, and Portsmouth have
all fielded professional teams. The Nashua Hawks, who played in 1995 and 1996, were the last.
Another Nashua minor league team, the 1946 New England League Dodgers, was one of the first integrated teams in
organized baseball, its key players being Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe. As Jackie Robinson broke in that very
same year with Montreal in the Dodger farm system, Campanella and Newcombe led Nashua to a New England League Championship.
New Hampshire has also been home to more than four dozen major league players. Carlton Fisk, Mike Flanagan, Mike
LaValliere, Steve Balboni, and Bob Tewksbury are all familiar major league names. But, how many recognize the St.
Louis Browns' Arlie Latham of the 1880s, Fred Brown of the 1901 National League Boston Beaneaters, or Ted Lewis
who also played with Boston from 1896 to 1900? These are not household baseball names, perhaps, but Brown would
eventually become Governor of New Hampshire while Lewis would become President of the University of New Hampshire.
Among the notable New Hampshire major leaguers are Robert "Red" Rolfe and Birdie Tebbetts. Tebbetts had
a successful career not only as a catcher, but as a manager. Rolfe, a Penacook native, attended Phillips Exeter
Academy and graduated from Dartmouth College before signing with the New York Yankees in 1931. In his distinguished
nine-year career, he hit over .300 four times and played in six World Series. He was voted the Yankees all-time
best third baseman. Later, Red managed the Detroit Tigers and then finished his career as athletic director at
Dartmouth.
Less known are New Hampshire's contributions to the manufacture of baseball equipment. Plymouth's Draper-Maynard
Company was a pioneer baseball glove manufacturer, and in the decade of the 1920s, better than ninety per cent
of all major league players used Draper-Maynard gloves and mitts. Babe Ruth frequented the D & M factory along
with fellow Red Sox players who would travel to Plymouth to select their gloves personally. The company also produced
superior balls and bats for use in the major leagues.
About Us
The New Hampshire Historical Society is the independent nonprofit that saves, preserves, and shares New Hampshire history. The Society serves thousands of children and adults annually through its museum, library, educational progams, and award-winning publications.
Join Us!
Free admission to the Society's museum and free use of library research resources are two of the many benefits of membership. Join by calliing the membership department at 603/856-0621 or use our convenient and secure online membership form.
|
|
|
New Hampshire Fire baseball team from the
New Hampshire Historical Society collections.
|
 |
