Wheelmen Acquire Stop & Shop Site / Stadium To Be Built

Westfield, MA - It was announced today, President's Day, by Westfield Wheelmen owner and president Anheiser Van Pilsner, that he had just purchased the site where today stands a Stop & Shop in downtown Westfield. "I have done this to do my part to help revitalize downtown Westfield," noted Van Pilsner, "I have always thought this site would have been ideal for the stadium but I decided not to purchase the site from the former owner and my good friend Mr. H.B. Smith because my plan was to let the new owners clean up the brown fields with their money...being the smart business man that I am." Groundbreaking will begin in April and the fast-track construction should have the stadium completed by early May.

The city scape will be the view from home plate as seen here.

                                            Artist rendition of the future Wheelmen Park

Gator Takes The Plunge!

Wheelmen second baseman Ron "Gator" Dumont recently took the plunge in the frozen Hampden Ponds in Westfield on behalf of the Westfield Wheelmen in the Penguine Plunge - A fund raising benefit for Amelia Park's Children Museum which only proves that you not only have to be a gamer to be on the Wheelmen but alot crazy.

Aren't you West Coast ballists jealous about what we do in these long New England winters?

Western New England Base Ball League / Springfiled Sunday Republican Article

A great article was recently published in the Springfield Sunday Republican written by Garry Brown that introduces the "new" 1886 vintage league in this region.

Currently we are floating with two league "web" sites.
http://wnebbl.blogspot.com/2011/02/western-new-england-base-ball-league.html
http://www.tnbdomeball.com/westernnewenglandbaseballleague.htm

Photo by Scott Tidlund

January Wheelmen Calendar Raffle Winners

The Westfield Wheelmen would like to thank all that played and helped the Wheelmen. Proceeds from this raffle will help the Wheelmen continue to do their "good deeds" for the community (as well as play some great histroical base ball) in fine fashion.

Take the time check out our webpage regarding our community work.
Wheelmen In The Community

The Winners

January 1st - Bob Cennamo of Westfield
January 2nd - Pamela Doukellis of Granville
January 3rd - Bernie St. Martin of West Springfield
January 4th- Linda Champagne of Westfield
January 5th - John Raymackors
January 6th - Ben Rodriguez of Westfield
January 7th - Joann Barnes of Agawam
January 8th - John Seybold of Enfield, CT
January 9th - Nicole Carlson of Westfield
January 10th - Lou Annino of Westfield
January 11th - Jim Avery of Westfield
January 12th - William Scherpa of Feeding Hills
January 13th - Steve "Old Time Hockey" Grimes of East Longmeadow
January 14th - Brandon Johnson of Southwick
January 15th - Marcel Gendron of Westfield
January 16th - Lori Winiarski of N. Granby, CT
January 17th - Paul Babineau of Springfield
January 18th - Dennis Clark of Southwick
January 19th - Donna Phillips of Southwick
January 20th - Tim Wing of Southampton
January 21st - Janemari Chateauvert of Wilbraham
January 22nd - Jeffrey Saltmarsh of Westfield
January 23rd - Keith C.
January 24th - Stan Choiniere of Southwick
January 25th - Michele Hicks of Blandford
January 26th - Debbie Garcia of Westfield
January 27th - Kate Davidson of Westfield
January 28th - Steve "Old Time Hockey" Grimes of East Longmeadow
January 29th - Paul Wellspeak of Westfield
Januaty 30th - Monique Schuboch of Wilbraham
January 31st - Quinn Baganz of Kingston, NY

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

When Casey Slugged The Ball

A rare follow-up to the Mighty Casey striking out. This time Casey gets his revenge...written by Nat Wright as published in Sporting Life June 1895

WHEN CASEY SLUGGED THE BALL


Oh, you all have heard of Mudville,

Heard of mighty Casey, too;

Qf the groans amid the bleachers

As the ball thrice past him flew;

But you haven't heard the story,

The best story of them all,

Of the day in happy Mudville,

When great Casey slugged the ball.




"Twas the day they played "the Giants;"

And the score stood ten to eight;

Two men were on the bases,

And great Casey at the plate,

"Swipe her, Casey," yelled the rooters,

And the hero.doffed his cap;

Three to win and two to tie

And Casey at the bat.




Mid a hush of expectation,

Now the ball flies past his head;

Great Casey grins a sickly grin:

"Strike one," the umpire said.

Again the pitcher raised his arm,

Again the horse-hide flew;

Great Casey spat upon the ground,

And the umpire said, "strike two."




"It's a roast,” came from the grand stand,

"He is bought without a doubt."

"He is rotten!" roared the bleachers,

"Throw the daylight robber out!"

"I'll break yer face," says Casey,

"That wan wint below me knee;

If I miss the nixt, ye blackguard,

Ye won't live long to see."




The next one came like lightning,

And the umpire held his breath,

For well he knew it Casey missed,

"Twould surely mean his death;

But Casey swung to meet it,

Backed by all his nerve and gall:

Oh, if you had but heard the yell,

As Casey smashed the ball!




He caught the pigskin on the nose,

It cleared the big town lot,

It sailed above the high church tower,

In vain the fielders sought;

And Casey didn't even run,

He stopped awhile, to talk,

And then amid the deafening cheers

He came round in a walk.




And now he keeps a beer saloon,

He is Mayor of the town,

The people flock to see him,

From all the country round;

And you need not look for Mudville

Or the man upon the wall,

Because the town's called Caseyville

Since Casey slugged the ball.

#####

Happy Thanksgiving!