04-24-2010
( Reply#: 5462 ) |
Jim R |
I must have been in the C group. We played at the park just east of the Brick Harding.
Harding K thru 7
Morton 8 thru 12
Class of 1972 |
04-25-2010
( Reply#: 5469 ) |
Jim Plummer |
I didn't make the team so I never went back. In fact, the only kids that made the team were the ones whose fathers showed up to practice. |
04-25-2010
( Reply#: 5473 ) |
Jay |
I played Little League in East Chicago for Club Kiyowga.
My first year, I made the team. I suspect that was because they had just enough kids try out for the amount of openings on the teams.
The next year when they had more kids tryout than openings on the teams, I got cut during training before the first game.
I still remember the walk home feeling mighty low.
It crushed my dreams of someday playing for the Chicago Cubs. |
04-25-2010
( Reply#: 5474 ) |
duane |
I never even tried out. I was a huge baseball fan (White Sox) and my good friend Tommy and I would play each day in the park across the street. We'd play catch or shag fly balls. I never was much for playing organized sports, but I would fervently watch all the ball games at Kosciosko Park. The Little League field was like a pro field, night games with metal poles with lots of lights, a concession stand, concrete block dugouts, and lots of bleachers. I also watched the Bishop Noll High School team, who also played at a different field in the same park.
Later, in Junior High, during football season we would get 22 guys together and play a pickup game of full contact football (sans any protective gear). Most of us were hobbling home at the end, but we had great games. We reffed ourselves and surprisingly, had few disputes. I thin the problem with all the organized sports today is that there is so much emphasis on winning, so many kids signed up for the teams, and most kids end up just sitting around waiting for their turn to play. I'm not sure how much exercise those kids actually get, just sitting waiting for their turn. |
04-27-2010
( Reply#: 5479 ) |
Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by duane
I never even tried out. I was a huge baseball fan (White Sox) and my good friend Tommy and I would play each day in the park across the street. We'd play catch or shag fly balls. I never was much for playing organized sports, but I would fervently watch all the ball games at Kosciosko Park. The Little League field was like a pro field, night games with metal poles with lots of lights, a concession stand, concrete block dugouts, and lots of bleachers. I also watched the Bishop Noll High School team, who also played at a different field in the same park.
Later, in Junior High, during football season we would get 22 guys together and play a pickup game of full contact football (sans any protective gear). Most of us were hobbling home at the end, but we had great games. We reffed ourselves and surprisingly, had few disputes. I thin the problem with all the organized sports today is that there is so much emphasis on winning, so many kids signed up for the teams, and most kids end up just sitting around waiting for their turn to play. I'm not sure how much exercise those kids actually get, just sitting waiting for their turn.
Yes duane, that Little League field in Kosciusko Park was impressive from day one. I'm proud of the fact that one of my uncles helped build it.
I also remember other organized baseball teams that played in Kosciusko Park for kids too old for Little League. There was the Babe Ruth league with teams sponsored by the Kiwanas and Elks.
I also used to love to watch adult softball games played next to the Little League field. I can remember only one team - Club Coloma.
Question for you duane.
Since you used to live across the street from Kosciusko Park, do you remember those waist high hedges that used to ring the outer perimeter of the park? And do you remember what year they were all removed? |
05-01-2010
( Reply#: 5511 ) |
duane |
Yes, I sure remember them. There were not only ones that ringed the perimeter of the park, but there were clusters of bushes throughout the park, especially on some of the hills. We used to build "forts" in some of them, especially the ones that were to the east of the tennis courts and north of the statue of Thadeusz Kosciusko.
I don't recall just when they dug them all out, but I remember the rationale. They wanted the park to be more "open" with the idea that it would be more safe. I suppose they thought that lurkers could hide in the bushes. I was always sad that they removed all of those bushes. It sure changed the nature of the park. |
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