Aug 16 7:00 PM McKenna Field Rainbow Graphics 2 M&T Bank 6	Aug 20 7:00 PM Palmer Field Bristol Greeners 1 M&T Bank 4	Aug 21 7:00 PM Palmer Field M&T Bank 2 Vernon Orioles 1	Aug 22 7:00 PM Palmer Field M&T Bank 2 Vernon Orioles 6	Aug 24 6:30 PM Palmer Field West Haven Twilight League 4 GHTBL All-Stars 3

Tag: wethersfield

Sun. 02/11/24Mon. 02/12/24 by Weston Ulbrich

Eight Twi-Loop Clubs to Return This Year

With summer around the corner, the Greater Hartford Twilight Baseball League is gearing up for our next Opening Day. Though an exact date has yet to be determined, you can expect more announcements as the schedule unfolds. Eight GHTBL franchises will return to action around late May of this year. The 2024 Regular Season should include another charity series at Dunkin’ Park. Each team will fundraise for a different food bank around the state. Read more about this effort called Stadium Series 4 Food Banks at Dunkin’ Park: Givebutter.com/ss4fb (more to come on this).

The twilight league continues to present a uniquely competitive experience for players of all ages. A mix of young and old teammates – local amateurs, college players, high school prospects, and ex-professionals – have developed talent, camaraderie and lifelong friendships. Deep into each season, teams seem to melt together in one way or another in pursuit of a common goal. To describe the GHTBL, one might say we’re a meritocracy operated by a large group of friends with help from umpires.

Peter Kelley, 1B, Vernon Orioles
GHTBL’s switch-hitting home run king of 2023.

Maybe that’s why GHTBL has staying power? For the last 95 years, the league has clung to a classic style of the game. Baseball purists seem to appreciate that the league requires nine players to a lineup while disallowing leniencies like metal bats, courtesy pinch-runners, and free-for-all substitutions. Whatever the reason, the tradition continues. After all, traditions are important, and they don’t go unrecognized. When a sport as beloved as baseball is played and witnessed in a pure form, virtually unchanged from years gone by, that’s something people can appreciate.

On behalf of President Holowaty and the Executive Committee, enjoy the rest of your off-season and here’s to another summer!

To apply for a roster spot, players are asked to fill out a Player Application found at GHTBL.org/join. Here’s a list of our current teams and managers:

League Management

BRISTOL GREENERS

Trevor Mays, Manager

EAST HARTFORD JETS

Chris Kehoe, General Manager

Jeff Criscuolo, Manager

M&T BANK

Tom Abbruzzese, Manager

Eric Malinowski, Assistant Manager

MIDDLETOWN METS

Weston Ulbrich, General Manager

Ryan Ruggiero, Manager

Ryan Ruggiero Middletown Mets Baseball GHTBL — Ryan Ruggiero

RAINBOW GRAPHICS

Tyler Repoli, General Manager

Jason Valliere, Manager

RECORD-JOURNAL EXPOS

Charlie Hesseltine, General Manager

AJ Hendrickson, Manager

SOUTH WINDSOR PHILLIES

Ron Pizzanello, Manager

VERNON ORIOLES

Steve Krajewski, GM

Kevin Powell, Assistant GM

Jack Ceppetelli, Manager

GHTBL Executive Committee

Andy Baylock Vice President — Andy Baylock
Vice President

Wes Ulbrich
Secretary

Ryan Ruggiero GHTBL Assistant Secretary — Ryan Ruggiero
Assistant Secretary

The GHTBL has organized competitive baseball since the summer of 1929. It all started at Colt Park during the game’s Golden Era, when top players from the Greater Hartford area went straight from the twi-loop to the professional ranks.

Cohen to Start Career at M&T Bank

In a bit of good news off the field, Andrew Cohen, pitcher for M&T People’s, has recently been hired by his team sponsor, M&T Bank. The career opportunity came about this past Spring and he will report to work in Wilmington, Delaware starting next week. Between then and now, Andrew has earned two wins and a save for Tom Abbruzzese’s “Bankers” franchise. Cohen graduated this past May from Bowdoin College. He grew up in Glastonbury and is a graduate of Loomis Chaffee. The GHTBL wishes Andrew all of the best in his professional pursuits!

The Twilight League would like to also express our gratitude to M&T Bank for sticking with the GHTBL as a team sponsor. The Buffalo, New York-based M&T Bank is currently acquiring the Bridgeport-based People’s United Bank in a high-profile merger. Here’s to a hundred years!

Sat. 04/16/22Sat. 04/16/22 by Weston Ulbrich

Nick Hock Hired to Minor League Post

Recently, Hartford Colts ace, Nick Hock accepted a job with the Baltimore Orioles organization. This spring Hock will ship out to Salisbury, Maryland, to work for the Delmarva Shorebirds of the Single-A Carolina League. He’ll be a member of the Player Development Department serving as an assistant to the coaching staff. Hock also expects to throw batting practice and simulated games. Shorebird home games are played at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

Hailing from Wethersfield, Connecticut, Hock has played twilight ball for the last five years. He’s thrown 252.2 innings, tallying 215 strikeouts, 9 complete games and 3 shutouts. Hock was named a GHTBL All-Star three times and won the Mike Liappes Award for Most Valuable Pitcher in 2020. Please join us in congratulating Nick Hock on his next baseball chapter!

Mon. 10/04/21Wed. 04/17/24 by Weston Ulbrich

Hartford Twilight Manager Spotlight: Tom Abbruzzese

Since 1976, Tom Abbruzzese has managed the same Greater Hartford Twilight Baseball League franchise.

Hartford Courant excerpt, June 21, 1981.

Abbruzzese initially managed Society for Savings Bank with his father, Mike Abbruzzese. They fielded strong teams rostered by the likes of Mark Riemer, David Gale and Kevin Gieras. Society for Savings eventually became Bank of Boston and then People’s Bank in the summer of 2000. The franchise has amassed fifteen Regular Season and Playoff Championships. The “Bankers” have recruited and advanced numerous professional players to and from the GHTBL year after year. With Abbruzzese at the helm, People’s remains a perennial contender.

Born on August 11, 1943, in Hartford, Connecticut. Abbruzzese is the longest serving GHTBL manager in history. He is a graduate of Wethersfield High School and Fairfield University (1965). Then he worked for the Hartford Parks Department for a brief period.

Tom Abbruzzese holds mound meeting, 2019.

In 1971, Abbruzzese organized and coached a team in the Junior and Senior Division of the Jaycee Courant League who played home games at Hartford’s Colt Park. His team was sponsored by team sponsored by Society for Savings, a regional bank with staying power in Hartford. Abbruzzese then entered Society for Savings into the GHTBL during the summer of 1976.

Manager Tom Abbruzzese at Dunkin Donuts Park, Hartford, Connecticut, 2019.

Abbruzzese earned a Doctorate of Education from the University of Connecticut (1996). His current profession is as Director of Adult Education, in Newington, Connecticut. Previously he worked as Vice Principal of Ledyard High School Ledyard High School (1974-1995) and before that, Recreation Leader for the City of Hartford (1963-1976).

Manager Tom Abbruzzese, People’s United Bank, 2020

According to Abbruzzese, he is thankful for, “…not only for the outstanding players I have had the privilege of coaching and continue to have, but most importantly for their exceptional character as well. These two qualities are the ingredients for success.” Abbruzzese resides in Wethersfield, Connecticut.

Tom Abbruzzese (right) accepts GHTBL service award, 2020.

Manager Tom Abbruzzese at Dunkin Donuts Park, Hartford, CT, 2021.

Tue. 04/13/21Wed. 09/06/23 by Weston Ulbrich

When Ty Cobb Came to Hartford

More than a hundred years ago, Tyrus “Ty” Cobb, center fielder of the Detroit Tigers visited Hartford on three separate occasions. Like many players of baseball’s Golden Age, Cobb made appearances in cities and towns across the United States for additional income. Before Cobb’s first visit to Hartford in the fall of 1916, he was already known as the game’s best hitter. He had won the batting title nine times in a row and was named Most Valuable Player of the American League in 1911. Nicknamed “The Georgia Peach” by sportswriter, Grantland Rice as an ode to Cobb’s home state, Cobb was a ferocious competitor with a short temper, great speed, hitting ability and a split-handed batting style.

Prior to Cobb’s arrival in 1916, the America was preparing for what would become World War I. Hartford held its largest public gathering to date – a Preparedness Parade in response to heightened conflict in Europe. The city had 100,000 residents as well as the nation’s top insurance, banking and manufacturing firms. Per capita, Hartford was one of the wealthiest cities in the United States, and baseball was by far Hartford’s most popular sport. There were more baseball fields in Hartford than any other city in New England. This included Wethersfield Avenue Grounds, where the Hartford Senators of the Eastern League hosted games, and where a new grandstand was constructed in 1912.

WWI *Preparedness Parade*, Main Street Hartford, Connecticut, 1916.

When a 30 year old Ty Cobb first came to Hartford, it was after his dominating 1916 campaign. Cobb’s .370 batting average, 68 stolen bases and 113 runs scored led the Majors. The Detroit Tigers won 87 games and lost 67 under manager Hughie Jennings, finishing third in the American League. After the season, Cobb began to barnstorm New England with independent clubs like the New Haven Colonials for a guarantee of $300 per appearance. Alongside Cobb on the Colonials side were former New York Yankees pitcher, Ray Keating and Philadelphia Athletics shortstop and Torrington High School alumnus, Joe Dugan.

New Haven Colonials vs. Brooklyn Robins at Lighthouse Point, New Haven, September 10, 1916.

On Tuesday, October 24, 1916, Ty Cobb delighted a small crowd of 800 fans at Wethersfield Avenue Grounds. The game was not well publicized in advance but onlookers would not be disappointed. Cobb and the New Haven Colonials faced off against the city’s best semi-professional club, the Hartford Poli’s. He played center field, first base and served as relief pitcher. Cobb had two hits, showed off his speed in a run-down and pitched 3 innings of one-hit ball. He gave up a double to the Poli’s catcher, John Muldoon, a future professional from Hartford who had three hits on the day. Cobb and Colonials shut out the Hartford Poli’s by a score of 7 to 0.

Ty Cobb and the New Haven Colonials defeat Hartford Poli’s, Hartford, October 24, 1916.

When the United States entered the Great War in April of 1917, baseball clubs began drilling as if they were military units, including Ty Cobb’s Tigers. He became eligible for military service earlier than most professional ballplayers when he applied to the Augusta, Georgia Draft Board on May 23, 1917. Baseball was played throughout the war and Cobb went on to win two more batting titles with the Tigers before being drafted into the United States Army in late 1918. That year, he won his 11th batting title, hitting .382 in a shortened season due to hostilities in Europe between the Allies and the Axis Powers.

Christy Mathewson and Ty Cobb in Army uniforms, 1917.

Captain Ty Cobb in his Army uniform, 1918.

Signed portrait of Ty Cobb in Army uniform, 1918.

A week before the 1918 season ended, Cobb made his second cameo in Hartford. On August 25th, the Detroit Tigers and the St. Louis Browns staged a benefit game to support American Expeditionary Forces who were deployed on the Western Front. The Tigers and the Browns arrived in Hartford by train. The Browns featured their first baseman George Sisler, a gifted batsman and a Hall of Fame player in the making. Sisler was seven years younger than Cobb and he revered the Georgia Peach. “The greatness of Ty Cobb is something that had to be seen,” Sisler said, “and to see him was to remember him forever.”

Cobb and Sisler to play in Hartford, August 11, 1918.

George Sisler and other players of the St. Louis Browns, Hartford, 1918.

The benefit game drew more than 6,000 fans who filled the grandstand and lined the perimeter of Hartford’s Wethersfield Avenue Grounds. Ty Cobb wore a Cornell College baseball uniform because the team’s luggage was accidentally left at Union Station. Cobb’s play on the field was described as resplendent. He cracked two hits and made a one-handed catch in center field to save two runs. George Sisler had a ground rule double to left field and led his team in putouts. By the end of nine innings, Sisler and the Browns beat Cobb and the Tigers, 3 runs to 1.

L to R: Mayor Kinsella, U.S. District Attorney Thomas Spellacy and Ty Cobb, August 25, 1918.

In October of 1918, Cobb was drafted and assigned to the Army’s Chemical Warfare Services division. He simultaneously announced his retirement from baseball even though Cobb continued to play in benefit games. Before shipping out to France for 67 days, he made his final visit to Hartford on October 5, 1918. He returned as a member of the New Haven Colonials to play for the “semi-pro state championship” against Hartford’s top company team from Pratt & Whitney. Before the game, Cobb gave a speech in front of Hartford’s Liberty Loan Cottage encouraging people to buy war bonds. Pratt & Whitney ended up winning the contest 5 to 3 in windy weather over Cobb and the Colonials.

Ty Cobb in Detroit Tigers uniform, 1918.

Hartford Courant excerpt, October 3, 1918.

Ty Cobb featured in the Hartford Courant, October 4, 1918.

Liberty Loan Cottage, Hartford, Connecticut, 1918.

Ty Cobb’s second and third game in Hartford raised over $3,000 for the Bat and Ball Fund headed up by Clark Griffith, Manager of the Washington Senators. The fund supplied active United States soldiers of World War I with baseball uniforms and equipment. Hartford Soldiers Athletic Committee Chair and former professional ballplayer, John F. Gunshanan corresponded with Griffith to organize the Tigers versus Browns matchup. As the end of the war neared, the baseball goods were gifted to American soldiers in France and Italy. When Armistice Day arrived, people flooded Main Street for the greatest parade the city ever saw. As for the veteran Cobb, he returned home from military service wouldn’t officially retire until 10 years later as a member of Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics.

Armistice Day parade, Main Street, Hartford, November 11, 1918.

Clark Griffith’s Bat and Ball Fund, 1919.

U.S. Soldiers recieve baseball goods from the Bat and Ball Fund in France, 1918.

After 22 Major League seasons, Ty Cobb set 90 statistical records. These included highest career batting average (.367) and most career batting titles with 12. He held many of these records for almost a half century or more, including most career hits (4,191) until 1985 most career runs (2,246) until 2001, most career games played (3,035), at bats (11,434) until 1974 and the modern record for most career stolen bases (892) until 1977. Not surprisingly, Cobb has retained the career record for stealing home (54 times) and for stealing second base, third base, and home in succession (5 times). He ranks fifth all-time in games played and first in errors committed by an American League outfielder with 271. In 1936, Cobb received the most votes of any player on the inaugural Baseball Hall of Fame ballot with 222 out of 226 votes.

A retired Ty Cobb at his home in Atherton, California, 1957.

Ty Cobb’s National Baseball Hall of Fame plaque.

Sources:

Hartford Courant on Newspapers.com
Baseball-Reference.com

Learn more about Cobb from Charles Leerhsen’s
“Ty Cobb’s Character: What We Know That’s Wrong” on YouTube:

Learn more about Ty Cobb in “Ty Cobb’s Character: What We Know That’s Wrong” by Charles Leerhsen.

Wed. 09/18/19Wed. 03/31/21 by Weston Ulbrich

A Farewell to Wethersfield Ballplayer, Joe Hallisey

Inducted into the GHTBL Hall of Fame in 1986.

Joseph McMahon Hallisey passed away on September 13, 2019. Born November 20, 1925, at his home on Hillcrest Avenue in Wethersfield, Joe was the son of the late Joseph A. and Katherine (McMahon) Hallisey; he resided in Wethersfield his entire life.

A retired structural engineer, Joe owned and operated Hallisey Engineering Associates, Inc. in Wethersfield and Hartford for more than sixty years. Hallisey was married to his wife Maureen for 63 years.

Joe Halisey was a gifted third baseman and batter who played for the following GHTBL teams: Wethersfield Shadows, Yellow Cab and Wethersfield A.C.

He graduated from Wethersfield High School in 1943. Joe proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946. He earned a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., graduating in 1951.

A certified private pilot, Joe earned his instrument rating and was the proud owner of a Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer N7838D. Joe was inducted into the Greater Hartford Twilight Baseball League Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Wethersfield Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.

Fri. 08/02/19Thu. 11/28/24 by Weston Ulbrich

The Hartford Poli’s Baseball Club

The Hartford Poli’s burst onto the amateur baseball scene in 1905. They were formed by the energetic management and employees of Poli’s Theatre, a hub of vaudeville entertainment on Main Street. Backed by the iconic venue, the team brought together skilled players aged 18 to 30 and quickly earned a reputation as Hartford’s “fastest” club. Their popularity would peak around World War I when they hosted Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth for several benefit games.

Poli’s Theatre, Main Street, Hartford, Connecticut, 1903.

In contests that included major leaguers, the Poli’s drew large crowds and respectable challengers from across New England. Their fiercest rival was a crosstown team from Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company. The popularity of the Poli’s baseball club amplified the prestige attached to the theatre. Behind it all was their founder, Sylvester Z. Poli, a renowned theater magnate who established venues in Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Waterbury, and cities throughout the Northeast.

Sylvester Zefferino Poli, (December 31, 1858 – May 31, 1937) an Italian immigrant to the United States who became a world famous theatre magnate.

In their early years, the Hartford Poli’s were the cornerstone of the Poli Baseball League, an intercompany circuit formed by employees. The Poli’s quickly established themselves as a dominant force. In 1908, they clinched the league championship in dramatic fashion, crushing the New Haven Poli’s 18-6 in the title game. Their victory was crowned with a championship cup, presented in a grand ceremony by Sylvester Poli himself.

Poli’s Theatre employees form a baseball league, 1905.

Building on their success, the Hartford Poli’s outgrew the company league, and emerged as one of Connecticut’s premier independent teams. In their early seasons, they were managed by R. J. Kelly and captained by first baseman, Fred Jendron. Their top hitter was a man named Hockers Gamerdinger. The theatre’s doorman, Curtis Gillette, was the Poli’s assistant coach and second baseman.

Hockers Gamerdinger, Hartford Poli’s, 1912.

Gillette was promoted to superintendent of the theatre as well as manager of the team in 1913. He appointed first baseman Ed DeVanney as captain. The Poli’s had a remarkable season, winning 26 of 31 games against opponents like the Hartford Royals, Hartford Olympias and East Hartford Pastimes. The employee of Poli’s earned multiple amateur state titles and solidified their reputation as one of Connecticut’s elite independent clubs.

The Poli’s scouted local greats such as pitchers Ed “Smiler” Oppelt and Jack Vannie, infielder Joe Griffin and a potent two-way player named Rex Islieb. These players formed superior lineups that often overpowered the competition. About ten years into the franchise, the Poli’s were a centerpiece of amateur baseball in the capital city. Their home fields included Colt Park and Wethersfield Avenue Grounds.

Poli Theatre expanded its baseball presence in 1915 by constructing Poli Field in East Hartford. Spanning ten acres, the park featured a grandstand that extended from first to third base. Wire netting was installed behind home plate to protect spectators from foul balls. With a new home and a talented hometown roster, the Poli’s were a main attraction, drawing massive crowds and hosting some of baseball’s biggest stars.

On Tuesday, October 24, 1916, legendary Detroit Tigers outfielder, Ty Cobb arrived in Hartford to take on the Poli’s. As a guest star for the New Haven Colonials, Cobb showcased his all-around ability as a center fielder, first baseman, and relief pitcher. He tallied two hits, flashed his trademark speed in a rundown, and pitched three innings of one-hit ball. Cobb’s only blemish on the mound was a double by Poli’s catcher John Muldoon, who racked up three hits. Despite Muldoon’s efforts, Cobb and the Colonials shut out the Poli’s and their guest star, Benny Kauff, with a decisive 7-0 victory. Perhaps because it was a Tuesday afternoon, the exhibition drew an intimate crowd of 800 fans.

Manager Gillette recruited New York Giants pitcher Benny Kauff to face Ty Cobb and the New Haven Colonials, 1916.

Joe Griffin, Shortstop, Hartford Poli’s, 1916.

Babe Clark, Captain and First Baseman, Hartford Poli’s, 1916.

Lester Lanning, Outfielder, Hartford Poli’s and Wesleyan University graduate, 1917.

Rex Islieb, Shortstop, Hartford Poli’s Baseball, 1917.

New York Bloomer Girls play against the Hartford Poli’s, 1917.

Then in mid-September of 1918, the Poli’s welcomed recent World Series champion George Herman “Babe” Ruth of the Boston Red Sox. Ruth appeared in a benefit game for American troops fighting overseas in World War I. His arrival in Hartford was met with a wave of excitement, as cheering fans lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the Babe. Poli’s manager Curtis Gillette drove Ruth to the Hotel Bond on Asylum Street, where Ruth was immediately swarmed by reporters eager to capture every moment of his visit.

Hartford Poli’s Baseball Club with Babe Ruth (back row, third from right), 1918.

Ruth and the Poli’s faced off against the Fisk Red Tops of Chicopee, Massachusetts, on Sunday, September 15, 1918. Ruth pitched and batted third in a stellar performance. He recorded two hits, including a double that ricocheted off the “Bull Durham” tobacco sign in center field. On the mound, he dominated with a complete-game shutout, allowing four hits. The Poli’s edged out the Red Tops 1-0, thanks to Ruth’s Red Sox teammate, catcher Sam Agnew, who drove in the game’s only run. Opposing them was another Red Sox star, Dutch Leonard, tossing for the Red Tops. The Red Sox players dazzled over 5,000 spectators at Wethersfield Avenue Grounds, and Ruth earned $350 for his appearance.

Bill Kopf, Shortstop, Hartford Poli’s, 1918.

New Haven Colonials vs. Hartford Poli’s, 1918.

Al Mamaux, Pitcher, Hartford Poli’s guest star, 1918.

Fred Rieger, Pitcher, Hartford Poli’s, 1918.

Joe Briger, Catcher, Hartford Poli’s, 1918.

John “Boggy” Muldoon, Catcher, Hartford Poli’s, 1918.

A week later, Ruth returned to play for the Poli’s in a Sunday doubleheader at Wethersfield Avenue Grounds. The Poli’s went toe-to-toe with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in a pitcher’s duel. Five Major League players, including Ruth, appeared that day. Ruth recorded a quality start but was outdueled by Pratt & Whitney’s ace and Red Sox teammate, “Bullet” Joe Bush. Despite Ruth’s strong performance, the Poli’s were narrowly defeated 1-0.

Ruth to play at the Hartford Grounds with Poli’s, 1918.

In the second game of the day, Ruth and the Poli’s confronted a former Hartford Senators pitcher turned New York Yankee, Ray Fisher. Fisher was the headliner for a Fort Slocum team who ended up besting the Poli’s. Ruth played first base, had a base hit and scored their lone run. A crowd of more than 3,000 were in attendance for the occasion; a doubleheader featuring Babe Ruth in Hartford.

The following year, on September 28, 1919, Babe Ruth reprised his role with the Hartford Poli’s in a game against the New Britain Pioneers. Hartford Mayor Richard J. Kinsella threw out the ceremonial first pitch and posed for a famous photograph with Ruth. The Great Bambino hit two homers over the right field fence, but due to a “short porch” ground rule, he was only allowed one base for each long ball. Earlier in the day, Ruth had hit a batting practice home run said to travel over 500 feet. The Poli’s shut out the Pioneers in front of more than 6,000 fans at Poli Field in East Hartford.

Hartford Poli’s vs. New Haven Nutmegs, 1919.

Mayor of Hartford, Richard J. Kinsella and Babe Ruth, 1919.

The Hartford Poli’s convinced Babe Ruth to make an encore appearance in 1920, following his first season with the New York Yankees. On October 2, 1920, Ruth starred for the Poli’s in a game against New Departure at Muzzy Field in Bristol, Connecticut. Batting cleanup, he played nearly every position and went 4 for 4, with three singles and a double. Despite Ruth’s standout performance, New Departure shut out the Poli’s, thanks to crafty pitching from Gus Helfrich, a minor league spitballer from the New York State League. To accommodate the massive crowd, extra trains and trolleys were scheduled to Bristol that Saturday afternoon, drawing 10,000 fans to witness Ruth’s final game with the Hartford Poli’s.

Ruth Four Hits at Bristol for the Hartford Poli’s, 1920.

Babe Ruth in the batter’s box, Muzzy Field, Bristol, CT, 1920.

Babe Ruth tagged out, Muzzy Field, 1920.

Babe Ruth playing first base, Muzzy Field, 1920.

Ruth accepts honorary gift, Muzzy Field, 1920.

For more than 15 years, the Hartford Poli’s were a top-tier amateur baseball club. By 1920, the team had developed some of the best talent in Hartford, including standout third baseman Rex Islieb, left-handed ace Bill Pike, and hard-throwing pitcher Jim O’Leary. In 1921, the Poli’s disbanded and evolved into a new team, the All-Hartfords, with a roster largely made up of former Poli players. Though a century has passed since the Poli’s played, their contributions remain culturally significant, serving as a source of entertainment and civic pride for the city.

The Man Behind the Poli’s

Poli’s baseball clubs were sponsored by Sylvester Zefferino Poli, a theater mogul, vaudeville pioneer, and entertainment proprietor. Born in 1853 in New York City to Italian immigrant parents, Poli initially gained recognition as an expert wax sculptor in 1881. His successful wax figurine business set the stage for his future ventures in vaudeville. Poli went on to become a major figure in the theater industry, pioneering vaudeville theaters throughout the northeastern United States.

In 1903, he opened Poli’s Theatre on Main Street in Hartford. By 1916, Poli was celebrated as the largest individual theater owner in the world. Upon his retirement at age 70, he had amassed 28 theaters, 3 hotels (including the Savoy in Miami), 500 office buildings, and two major development sites. Poli’s influence in the entertainment industry left a lasting legacy, especially in Connecticut.

The summer home of Sylvester Z. Poli and his family, “Villa Rosa” Woodmont, Milford, Connecticut, 1910.

“The Fortune Hunter” at Poli’s Theatre, 1912.

Poli’s Palace Theatre, Main Street, Hartford, CT, 1914.

In July of 1928, Sylvester Poli merged his company with Fox New England Theaters, retaining majority interest in the newly created Fox-Poli’s. However, in May of 1934, Loew’s Theatres purchased Poli’s remaining theaters, which were rebranded as Loew’s-Poli Theaters. In his final years, Poli resided at his summer home, Villa Rosa, in the Woodmont section of Milford, Connecticut, a palatial estate named in honor of his wife, Rosa Leverone.

Poli’s Capitol Theatre, Main Street, Hartford, designed by Thomas W. Lamb. Opened August 28, 1920.

Fox Poli Theatre, Main Street, Hartford, Connecticut, 1929.

Loews Poli Theatre in the background, Hartford, Connecticut, 1956.

Sylvester Z. Poli passed away on May 31, 1937, at the age of 79 from pneumonia. Loew’s-Poli Theatre in Hartford lasted long afterwards, until 1957.

Sources:

Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2019, p. A1. Newspapers.com, www.newspapers.com
Paventi, Michael. “CPTV Documentary Profiles Italian-Born New Haven Theater Mogul Sz. Poli.” Hartford Courant, 14 Jan. 2021, www.courant.com/2021/01/14/cptv-documentary-profiles-italian-born-new-haven-theater-mogul-sz-poli/.
Mister Wonderland. Vimeo, vimeo.com/ondemand/misterwonderland.

Sat. 06/15/19Wed. 04/03/24 by Weston Ulbrich

Bulkeley Stadium, Gone But Not Forgotten

Morgan G. Bulkeley Stadium

Former names: Clarkin Field (or Stadium) from 1921-1927 and Wethersfield Avenue Grounds (or Hartford Baseball Park) from 1901-1921.
Location: Hanmer Street & George Street, off of Franklin Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut.
Capacity: 12,500
Opened: 1928
Demolished: 1955
Tenants: Hartford Baseball Club (1902-1932, 1934, 1938-1945), Hartford Blues Football Club (1925-1927), Savitt Gems (1932-1945) and Hartford Chiefs (1946-1952).

Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, 1928.

Morgan G. Bulkeley Stadium was once a major sports venue in Hartford, Connecticut. It was the site of Babe Ruth’s final ballgame and thousands of minor league games. Bulkeley Stadium served as the home of the Hartford Baseball Club, a minor league team nicknamed the Senators, the Bees, the Laurels and then the Chiefs. Major league stars and amateurs from all around the world made appearances at Hartford’s most historic stadium.

Initially constructed in 1921 as Clarkin Field, the stadium was renamed in 1928 to honor former Connecticut Governor, United States Senator and the First President of the National League, Morgan Gardner Bulkeley. Semi-professional baseball teams like the Savitt Gems and the Hartford Indians frequently used Bulkeley Stadium. The facility also featured the Hartford Blues of the National Football League, nationally sanctioned boxing matches, motor sports and artistic performances.

Map of baseball venues throughout Hartford’s history, 2004.

A block east of Bulkeley Stadium was the ballpark’s original site; Wethersfield Avenue Grounds – also referred to as Hartford Baseball Park, Hartford Base Ball Grounds, or the Hartford Grounds. In March of 1896, Hartford’s Manager William Barnie led the construction a grandstand on the south side of the city, measuring 150 feet wide and 20 feet tall. In December of 1905, James H. Clarkin purchased the Hartford Senators and leased Wethersfield Avenue Grounds. At the time, the diamond was, “regarded as the finest in this section of the country,” according to the Hartford Courant.

Barnie secures Wethersfield Avenue Grounds, 1896.

Hartford Ball Park, Wethersfield Avenue, 1896.

Wethersfield Avenue Grounds, Hartford, Connecticut, 1908.

Countless games were played at Wethersfield Avenue Grounds by all levels of baseball. High demand in the facility led to improvements and renovations on several occasions. The first remodel was completed in spring of 1910, which included a new ticket office, a large concessions stand and carpeting in the clubhouse. Manager Bob Connery of the Hartford Senators (Connecticut State League) was reportedly pleased with the improvements according to the Hartford Courant on April 9, 1910. Wethersfield Avenue Grounds became a destination for the game’s biggest names.

William Moore, Hartford Groundskeeper, 1910.

New Haven vs. Hartford at Wethersfield Avenue Grounds, 1912.

Benny Kauff, Outfielder, Hartford Senators, 1913.

Hartford Senators & Judge Kenesaw Landis, Wethersfield Avenue Grounds, 1916.

In the summer of 1916, the infamous Ty Cobb delighted a small crowd of 800 Hartford fans at Wethersfield Avenue Grounds. Cobb guest starred for the visiting New Haven Colonials at first base and as relief pitcher against the semi-professional Hartford Poli’s. Alongside Cobb on the Colonials was Torrington High School alumnus and Philadelphia Athletics shortstop, Joe Dugan. The Colonials beat the Poli’s 7-0. Cobb would visit Hartford again in 1918, though his visit would be overshadowed by another great slugger.

In 1918 and 1919 the one and only Babe Ruth played at Wethersfield Avenue Grounds as part of his annual barnstorming tour. Days after winning the World Series with Boston Red Sox, Ruth made his first appearance in Hartford on September 16, 1918, playing for the Hartford Poli’s. Ruth pitched the Poli’s to a 1-0 victory versus the Fisk Red Tops. He hurled a complete game shutout and allowed just four hits. Ruth batted third in the order, recording a single and double. He drew a crowd of about 5,000 spectators and earned $350 for his appearance.

Babe Ruth plays at Wethersfield Avenue Grounds, 1918.

In 1921, Owner Clarkin built a new venue about a block from the old Wethersfield Avenue Grounds. The site was located at the intersection of Hanmer Street and George Street off of Franklin Avenue in South Hartford. The grandstand, made of steel and concrete, wrapped around the field from foul pole to foul pole. Locker rooms below the stands were equipped with showers, baths, and telephones. The facility was dubbed Clarkin Field (or Clarkin Stadium), and it quickly gained an outstanding reputation as one of New England’s best ballparks.

Hartford Police defeat Waterbury Police at Clarkin Stadium, 1921.

Clarkin Field hosted Lou Gehrig at the controversial start of his professional career. Larrupin’ Lou began with the Hartford Senators of the Eastern League in 1921, 1923, and 1924. Jim Thorpe, the famous Native American olympian and football player, appeared in the Senators lineup towards the end of his baseball career. Leo Durocher, Jo-Jo Morrissey, Kiddo Davis, and Pete Appleton were also Senators during the 1920’s.

Hartford Senators with Lou Gehrig (seated, center) at Clarkin Stadium, 1923.

In 1927, an accidental fire severely damaged the grandstand at Clarkin Stadium. Though it was rebuilt two months later, the Hartford Senators played all of their games on the road until mid-July. Perhaps because of losses incurred by the fire, Clarkin decided to retire from baseball. He sold the team and Clarkin Field in 1928.

Both the Senators and the stadium were purchased for over $200,000. The buyers were a group of investors led by Robert J. Farrell, a real estate and insurance agent and a longtime business manager for the Senators. Hartford continued to play in the Eastern League under Farrell’s direction. Before the 1928 season, Clarkin Field was renamed Bulkeley Stadium to honor Morgan G. Bulkeley – who had passed away six years prior. Many upgrades were made to the venue including new seats made of steel. Unexpectedly, President Farrell died at age 32 of acute appendicitis in 1930.

New stadium seating, Bulkeley Stadium, 1928.

William Eisemann, Catcher, Hartford Senators, Bulkeley Stadium, 1928.

Mayor Norman Stevens & Robert J. Farrell, Bulkeley Stadium, 1928.

Pittsburgh Pirates visit Bulkeley Stadium, 1928.

Bulkeley Stadium boxing, Bat Battalino v.s. Eddie Lord, 1929.

Robert J. Farrell, Hartford Baseball owner, 1930.

Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Hank Greenberg played for the 1930 Hartford Senators at Bulkeley Stadium. King Bader was Hartford’s manager that year. During the depths of the Great Depression, the Senators were purchased by the Brooklyn Dodgers organization. Hartford entered affiliated baseball and won the 1931 Eastern League championship behind Red Howell, Al Cohen and Bobby Reis. When the Eastern League disbanded in the middle of the 1932 season, Bulkeley Stadium and the City of Hartford were left without a headlining baseball club.

Hartford Senators and Judge Kenesaw Landis, 1930.

Hartford Courant reporters play at Bulkeley Stadium, 1930.

Hartford vs. New Haven at Bulkeley Stadium, 1931.

Hartford vs. Allentown at Bulkeley Stadium, 1932.

Then in July of 1932, a semi-pro club called the Savitt Gems became tenants at Bulkeley Stadium. They were backed by a local jeweler and baseball promoter, Bill Savitt. He first created the Gems in 1930 as part of the Hartford Twilight League. With the stadium as their home, the Gems became one of the most famous semi-pro teams in America. From 1932 to 1945 the Savitt Gems welcomed big league stars to Hartford including: Babe Ruth, Cy Young, Ted Williams, Honus Wagner, Lloyd Waner, Dizzy Dean, Jimmie Foxx, Jim Thorpe, Chief Bender, Josh Gibson, Martin Dihigo, Satchel Paige, Johnny Taylor, Johnny Mize, Bill McKechnie, Moose Swaney and Monk Dubiel.

Bulkeley Stadium Official Scorecard, 1932.

Savitt Gems vs. New Britain Falcons at Bulkeley Stadium, 1932.

Bill Savitt & the Savitt Gems, Bulkeley Stadium, 1932.

Savitt Gems vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1933.

Johnny Taylor pitches for the Savitt Gems at Bulkeley Stadium, 1934.

Motorcycle racing at Bulkeley Stadium, 1935.

Bill Savitt & Dizzy Dean at Bulkeley Stadium, 1936.

Savitt Gems vs. Cleveland Indians, 1937.

In 1938, the Boston Bees of the National League brought back minor league baseball to Hartford. Boston purchased the Hartford Senators and leased Bulkeley Stadium. The club was referred to as the Hartford Senators and the Hartford Bees (and Hartford Laurels). During the 1942 season, Del Bissonette served as player-manager while eventual Hall of Fame pitcher, Warren Spahn earned 17 wins and 12 losses. A few years later, Hartford won the 1944 Eastern League pennant due to pitching by Hal Schacker and Pete Naktenis, a Hartford native and a former Savitt Gems ace.

Charlie Blossifield & the Hartford Bees move into Bulkeley Stadium, 1938.

Hartford Bees at Bulkeley Stadium, 1938.

Hartford vs. Springfield at Bulkeley Stadium, 1940.

Governor Hurley on Opening Day, Bulkeley Stadium, 1941.

The Eastern League’s Hartford Baseball Club, Bulkeley Stadium, 1942.

Bob Brady, Catcher, Hartford Bees, Bulkeley Stadium, 1944.

Hartford vs. Williamsport, Bulkeley Stadium, 1944.

Hartford Baseball Club, Bulkeley Stadium, 1944.

On September 30, 1945, Babe Ruth returned to Hartford to play in a charity game at Bulkeley Stadium as a member of the Savitt Gems. At 50 years old, Ruth drew a crowd of more than 2,500. He took batting practice before the game and clouted a home run over Bulkeley Stadium’s right field fence. During the exhibition, Ruth coached first base. He later entered the game as a pinch-hitter and grounded out to the pitcher. The ballgame was Ruth’s final appearance of his playing career. Ruth passed away less than 3 years later at the age of 53.

Babe Ruth plays for Savitt Gems, Bulkeley Stadium, 1945.

Bill Savitt & Babe Ruth at Bulkeley Stadium, 1945.

Babe Ruth plays his last ball game on the Savitt Gems at Bulkeley Stadium, 1945.

In 1946, Hartford’s minor league franchise changed their name to the Hartford Chiefs as a result of their major league affiliate, reverting their official name back to the Boston Braves. Players Gene Conley, George Crowe, Frank Torre and local Wethersfield native, Bob Repass were standouts for the Hartford Chiefs at Bulkeley Stadium. When the Boston Braves moved to Milwaukee after the 1952 season, the Hartford Chiefs of the Eastern League were also relocated.

Warren Spahn (center, left), Bulkeley Stadium, 1947.

Hartford Chiefs vs. Wilkes-Barre, Bulkeley Stadium, 1947.

Hartford Chiefs vs. Trinity College, Bulkeley Stadium, 1947.

Boston Braves vs. Trinity College, Bulkeley Stadium, 1948.

Hartford Fire Department, Bulkeley Stadium, 1948.

Johnny Taylor, Hartford Chiefs at Bulkeley Stadium, 1949.

Hartford Courant All-Stars at Bulkeley Stadium, 1949.

Boston Braves vs. Boston Braves at Bulkeley Stadium, 1949.

1950 Hartford Chiefs at Bulkeley Stadium.

Hugh Casey, Brooklyn Dodgers at Bulkeley Stadium, 1950.

Major League All-Stars vs. Hartford Indians, 1950.

Johnny Mize and Gene Woodling, New York Yankees at Bulkeley Stadium, 1950.

Anguish over Gene Conley Bulkeley Stadium, 1951.

Gene Conley, Hartford Chiefs, Bulkeley Stadium, 1951.

Tommy Holmes, Manager, Hartford Chiefs teaches clinic, Bulkeley Stadium, 1951.

Business Manager Charles Blossfield, 1951.

Trinity College Baseball, Bulkeley Stadium, 1952.

Eddie Matthews at Bulkeley Stadium, 1952.

St. Louis Browns, Bulkeley Stadium, 1953.

Jim Piersall & Joey Jay, at Bulkeley Stadium 1953.

In 1955, Bulkeley Stadium was sold for the last time. The Milwaukee Braves conveyed the property for $50,000 to John E. Hays Realty of Hartford. The stadium fell into disarray and was eventually demolished. A shopping center was planned for the site but it never materialized. Instead, a nursing home called Ellis Manor was built on the property.

Bulkeley Stadium Monument Dedication, 1998.

A stone monument and a stone home plate were dedicated at the site in 1998. At another commemorative ceremony in 2013, James Francoline was in attendance. Francoline was a pitcher with the Hartford Senators and the Savitt Gems who threw batting practice to Babe Ruth at Bulkeley Stadium – long gone but not forgotten.

On the baseball field at Bulkeley Stadium, Leo Durocher played his first season of professional baseball. On the same diamond, Lou Gehrig, learned the rudiments of first base play and went directly from there to Yankee Stadium and baseball immortality. Hank Greenberg was a raw rookie who couldn’t make the grade here and had to be shipped down to Evansville. The greatest athlete of all time, Jim Thorpe, wore the Hartford uniform in one of the most bizzare periods of the city’s baseball history. Paul Richards was a Hartford catcher there and Van Lingle Mungo, a Hartford pitcher. Babe Ruth and Ted Williams played at Bulkeley Stadium when Bill Savitt was keeping the place alive. A man could go down Franklin Avenue to Bulkeley Stadium and see young ball players who were going to be the very best in the majors.
Bill Lee, Sports Editor, Hartford Courant, July 9, 1955.

Ellis Manor on site of Bulkeley Stadium, 2014.

References

The Hartford Courant database on Newspapers.com
“Bulkeley Stadium: Hartford’s last home to pro baseball”. SABR. Retrieved 2016-01-24.

External Links

Tue. 11/06/18Mon. 04/19/21 by Weston Ulbrich

When Babe Ruth Barnstormed Greater Hartford

A young George Herman “Babe” Ruth visited the Greater Hartford area of Connecticut, to play baseball on multiple occasions. Like many big leaguers of his time, Ruth barnstormed the nation to earn additional pay. When he first visited the Constitution State in the fall of 1918, Ruth was a 23 year old starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. He had won more games than any left-handed pitcher in the previous four seasons. During that stretch, he compiled a 2.28 earned run average and a .650 winning percentage. His phenomenal achievements and large physical traits gave him instant appeal.

Ruth warming up at the 1918 World Series.

Ruth’s first appearance in Connecticut came after the 1918 World Series wherein the Red Sox defeated the Chicago Cubs. A victorious Ruth pitched 29 ⅔ scoreless innings (a mark not broken until Whitey Ford recorded 33 ⅔ innings in 1961). Attending the World Series was James H. Clarkin, sole proprietor of the Hartford Senators of the Eastern League. Clarkin tried to recruit both teams to play an exhibition game in Hartford benefiting American soldiers fighting in World War I. When his offer was declined Clarkin managed to land Babe Ruth instead.

Ruth and Boston Red Sox win 1918 World Series.

When Connecticut baseball fans received reports of Ruth’s arrival, they were clamoring to see him in action. Days after winning his second World Series, he appeared in several exhibition games throughout the state. His initial stop was in New Haven at Lighthouse Point Baseball Park. Ruth played first base for the semi-pro New Haven Colonials. He slugged a home run in a 5 to 1 loss against the Cuban Stars made up of players from the Negro Leagues.

The next evening, on Saturday, September 14, 1918, Ruth departed from New Haven and arrived in Hartford. He attracted large crowds of people hoping to meet the budding superstar. He was driven into the city by Manager Curtis Gillette of the semi-pro Hartford Poli’s baseball club to lavish accommodations at Hotel Bond on Asylum Street. The Hartford Poli’s were known as one of the “fastest” clubs in New England. The next day, Ruth joined the Poli’s on the Hartford’s top-notch diamond at Wethersfield Avenue Grounds.

On Sunday, September 15, 1918, Babe Ruth and the Hartford Poli’s opposed the Fisk Red Tops of Chicopee, Massachusetts. While pitching and batting third, he recorded two hits including a double off the “Bull Durham” tobacco sign on the center field wall. Ruth also threw a complete game shutout, allowed 4 hits and led the Poli’s to a 1-0 victory. He beat his Red Sox counterpart, Dutch Leonard who guest starred on the mound for the Fisk Red Tops. Another Red Sox teammate, Sam Agnew played catcher for the Poli’s and drove in the game’s only run. Ruth and the gang entertained a Hartford crowd of more than 5,000, earning $350 for his appearance.

A week later, Ruth once again played at the Wethersfield Avenue Grounds for the Hartford Poli’s in a doubleheader. In the opening game, the Poli’s went head to head with the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft company nine. Five Major Leaguers including Ruth appeared that day. Ruth again was starting pitcher and hit third in the lineup. Even though he pitched well, Ruth was out-dueled by his Red Sox teammate and Pratt & Whitney guest star, “Bullet” Joe Bush who won the game by a score of 1 to 0.

Babe Ruth and “Bullet” Joe Bush, Boston Red Sox, 1918.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Ruth and the Poli’s faced an army base nine from Fort Slocum near New Rochelle, New York. Ray Fisher, former Hartford Senator turned New York Yankees ace mowed down Poli batters. The Fort Slocum nine beat the Poli’s by a score of 4 to 1. Ruth played first base, hit a single and scored the Poli’s lone run. A crowd of about 3,000 people were in attendance for this rare occasion; a doubleheader featuring Babe Ruth in Hartford.

The Babe must have enjoyed stopping over in Connecticut, because in autumn of the following year, he came back. This time he brought his Boston Red Sox teammates to Muzzy Field in Bristol, Connecticut, where Ruth would set a new record. On September 21, 1919, he played first base and hit fourth for the Red Sox versus Bristol’s semi-pro juggernaut, the New Departure Endees. The team was sponsored by New Departure, a division of General Motors, and a manufacturer of ball bearings for automobiles, planes, ships and military equipment.

Babe Ruth & Eddie Goodridge of New Departure, Muzzy Field, 1919.

Also on the field for the Red Sox was Hall of Fame outfielder, Harry Hooper who had two hits and a run on the day. Though it was Babe Ruth who stole the show. “All eyes were pointed at the famous baseball mauler,” according to the Hartford Courant when he blasted the first ever home run at Muzzy Field. Hooper was on first base when the Babe connected with a pitch thrown by New Departure’s Freddie Rieger, a star pitcher for the Pittsfield team in the Eastern League. Ruth’s homer sailed over the right field fence as 5,000 onlookers cheered in adulation. The Red Sox won by a score of 6 to 2 over New Departure. The game would be remembered as Connecticut’s most thrilling sporting event of the year.

Babe Ruth and Lester Sigourney, New Departure Manager, Muzzy Field, 1919.

L to R: DeWitt Page, Babe Ruth and Judge William J. Malone, Muzzy Field, 1919.

While the rest of the Red Sox went home, Ruth stay in Connecticut. He played first base in another game with the Hartford Poli’s on September 28, 1919 at Poli Field in East Hartford. The Poli’s were met by the New Britain Pioneers, the Hardware City’s top ball club. Mayor of Hartford, Richard J. Kinsella threw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch and posed for a photograph with Ruth. The Babe hit two balls over the right field fence but was only allowed one base for each long ball due to a “short porch” ground rule. Earlier that day he had hit a batting practice homer said to be struck over 500 feet. The Poli’s shutout the Pioneers 3 to 0 before a crowd of more than 6,000 fans.

Babe Ruth and Mayor Richard J. Kinsella, Hartford, Connecticut, 1919.

Spectators at Poli Field, East Hartford, Connecticut, 1919.

A few months later, on January 5, 1920, Babe Ruth was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Red Sox for $125,000 cash and $300,000 in loans. His services were sold after Ruth refused to return to the Red Sox at a salary of $10,000 per year. The Yankees struck the deal of the century. Ruth went on to smash his own home run record with an astounding 54 dingers in the 1920 season, while batting at .376 clip. New York only made Ruth bigger, better and in higher demand to fans across the country. Fortunately for cranks in Connecticut, the Babe kept coming back to play for the Poli’s.

By the end of 1920, the New York Yankees were runner-ups in the American League behind the Cleveland Indians. As the season came to a close, Manager Gillette of Hartford persuaded Ruth to join the Poli’s once more. Again they faced the New Departure squad at Muzzy Field. On October 2, 1920, The Babe hit clean up for the Poli’s, played every position except pitcher and went 4 for 4 with 3 singles and a double. Nonetheless, New Departure shutout the Poli’s 7 to 0 thanks to crafty pitching from Gus Helfrich, a minor league spitball hurler from the New York State League. Extra trains and trolleys were scheduled to Bristol that Saturday afternoon, allowing 10,000 fans a chance to see Babe Ruth one last time at Muzzy Field.

Babe Ruth coming to Muzzy Field, Bristol, Connecticut, 1920.

Babe Ruth at Muzzy Field, Bristol, Connecticut, 1920.

Connecticut’s amateur and semi-pro baseball clubs regularly hosted Babe Ruth and in return, he left a long-lasting impression. In Greater Hartford and beyond, Ruth earned baseball thousands of new fans. He barnstormed throughout the East Coast in grand fashion, ushering in the home run era and baseball’s Golden Age (1920 to 1960). He retired in 1935 after leading the New York Yankees to their first 4 World Series wins. Ten years later, Babe Ruth took the final at bat of his career when he appeared in an exhibition game for the Savitt Gems at Hartford’s Bulkeley Stadium.