Westfield Baseball Great Joe Mazieka Passes Away

Westfield baseball great of the late 1930s and 1940s Joe Mazieka passed away this past Monday. Joe was a great help to me while I was researching Westfield baseball during the late 30s and 40s and helping me identify key players from that time period beyond that of microfilm. For that I am grateful to have known him.

http://obits.masslive.com/obituaries/masslive/obituary.aspx?n=joseph-w-mazeika&pid=147476156

Wheelmen Single Game Ticket Sales Causes Frenzy at the 'Shire

By 9:00 AM this morning, four hours before single-game seats would go on sale at the 'Shire, thousands upon thousands of Wheelmen cranks caused mayhem on Rte. 10 & 202 and the Mass Pike clogging up roads and exit ramps. Wheelmen owner Anheiser Van Pilsner had no choice but to allow parking IN the stadium. Unfurtunately only about 28 seats were available for sale.

Actually, its a photo of Bush Stadium in Indianapolis which closed in 1996 as a minor league park and was also the home to many scenes from the movie 'Eight Men Out.' Saddly, it is currently housing cars from the "Cash For Clunkers" promo in that area. Back in 1931 when it was known as Perry Stadium, Ray Fitzgerald from Westfield, MA hit the first home run in the stadium, some 450 feet to leftcenter. For this achievement Ray received $100 bonus and a wristwatch. In the photo Ray is in his Indianapolis uniform.

Stadium photo by: Jalopnik