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Commissions always seem to change the names of things in our city. They get elected and automatically they have brighter ideas. They give history no value. As D.D. points out in his blog below, the name changes have been to our ball fields. We have our centennial approaching and now we have a Commissioner, Scott Maxwell, even proposing to change the name of our City as well as heights within it. 
By: Lake Worth High School Alumnus with the initials of R. (Dick) D.(who wants to remain anonymous) Class 1960It has always surprised me how the City could remove or change a dedicated name of a field. I guess it was only an idea of the LW Youth Baseball Leagues. Somehow through all the paper work, the names of those fields were approved by the city. People have a way of forgetting or discounting history.
Dick Brown Field was the largest field and the one that Lake Worth High School used. Dick was a Catcher for the Cleveland Indians and caught for Herb Score before Herb got hit in the eye with a sharply hit ball which ended his career. Larry Brown (LWHS class of 58), Dick Brown`s younger brother, also played for the Cleveland Indians.
The Pony League Field was named Mayo Smith Field Manager of the Detroit Tigers. Mayo's daughter is Judith Smith (LWHS class of 1960). The Bronco League Field was named Dan Derringer Field. Dan died in a skin diving accident. He was a pitcher for LWHS.
The Mustang League Field was named Dale Morris Field. He volunteered much to the maintenance of all the fields. ( Trish Morris`s, father). The T-Ball Field was named after me, but I told them I didn't want that because there were so many more people that had done more for the Leagues.
The Lassie League, Girl Softball Field, was named Tom Nagel Field for the ex Police Chief of LW and who coached many years.
Our Leagues were a part of the Pony Boys Baseball Organization. The Home Base was Washington, Pa. We were world-wide like the Little League Baseball Organization, but never got as much promotion and had a few different rules.
Our 1974 Bronco League team won the World Series. The manager was Wally Alexander, the coach was Tim Shifflett, and the business manager was Ed McCoy. Robbie Thompson, one of the players on that World Series team, later played Pro Baseball for the San Francisco Giants. Note; Wally Alexander`s wife was Dennis Dorsey`s Secretary when he was Mayor. Tim Shifflett (class of 59) was a 4 Sport Athlete at LWHS. Coached and managed many years for our Leagues. Ole Tim loved the game of baseball and was a fantastic Coach. And I can't forget to mention Malcolm Caine, LW barber, who coached and volunteered many years to our leagues.
I will say being a part of that League for about 8 years was some of the best times in my life.
Lynn-
ReplyDeleteI seem to recall that the Pony League park was at one time named for Bob Wise, who tirelessly worked to make improvements to that park in the 1950’s. Dick Dotter, Larry Anderson, Johnny Edwards, Jim Hunter, and many others, including myself, enjoyed many hours of enjoyment in youth baseball as a result of the volunteer efforts of an unselfish and dedicated group of parents and local citizens of the town of Lake Worth.
Tom Oatway, Class of 1960
Good memory Tom. I dont remember the name Bob Wise. Dedication of the name to Mayo Smith Field was I think made by the City of LW and because he made it big time in the big leagues as a manager. The same for Dick Brown Field.
ReplyDeleteWhen were the names changed, and who did it?
ReplyDeleteThe city I would guess. Probably when the city torn down and made a new press box and concession area where the Mustang and Bronce field area was. The mustang field and press box was the oldest of the fields. We used to play mens softball there in the late 50`s. I can remember Ole Pepper Martin, a Muscular life guard at the LW beach, hit homers over the left field fence and into the fence across D street where the water tower is. Pepper could hit some rockets.
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