Batter Up!
Batter up! It’s springtime in Essex, and the spirit of Opening Day is in the air once again. From the championship runs of the Essex Moose to the days when Orioles stars like Brooks Robinson visited Essex, the museum’s Baumgartner Collection Book #74: Baseball captures it all. Take a look at Essex baseball players from seasons past:
Baumgartner Collection Book #74: Baseball
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Read PDF online at archive.org
The Essex Heritage Society Book 74 – Baseball is a comprehensive collection of local sports history from the 1960s and 1970s, documented through newspaper clippings, team photographs, and season results from the Essex and Middle River areas.
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Youth Leagues and Champions: The book details the various divisions of the Essex Baseball Clubs, Inc., including the Minors (ages 9–10), Majors (11–12), and Pony Leagues. Notable champions mentioned include the Essex Moose (Pony League), the White Sox (Majors), and the Senators (Minors).
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Major League Connections: Opening Day and trophy ceremonies frequently featured stars from the Baltimore Orioles, such as Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Paul Blair, Boog Powell, and Brooks Robinson.
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Community Involvement: Beyond the players, the PDF highlights the “untiring services” of local figures like Milton Hasselhoff, a long-time parade chairman and organization leader, as well as the numerous local businesses that sponsored teams.
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Regional Competition: It documents inter-area play, including the Seneca-Chase Little League and the Stem-Bridge Recreation Council, which celebrated several county championships in the late 1960s.
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American Legion Baseball: The collection includes detailed game recaps for the Essex American Legion Post 148 team, noting key players like Don Clatterbuck, Joe Werner, and Jerry Smith.
Click on photos above to enlarge.
These photos and clippings come from the Heritage Society Baumgartner Archives and other sources, scanned by member Rita Gaunt with additional research and photos by archivist Scott Huffines.
This print archive captures a historical snapshot of life in Essex and Middle River, Maryland. The archive contains nearly 300 categorical binders documenting our community activities with articles, pamphlets, and photographs from 1969 through the 1980s. The Heritage Society has been scanning the collection to our website to share with our extended community.
As we continue to build new collections, we are seeking new materials such as photographs and ephemera that pertain to the community and business history of Essex and Middle River. Please contact essexmuseum@gmail.com if you have historical memories or items to donate or would like to become a member.
Read more about the Heritage Society Baumgartner Archives.