Mining for Souls
Page 35
Sports in Lyon Mountain page 1
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First Baseball Diamond - behind Mary Mykalosky home
lmbb54a.jpg (above 1/2 of lmbb54.jpg)
lmbb54a.jpg (above 1/2 of lmbb54.jpg)
Boys of Summer 1940
Back row - left to right:
Joseph "Jud" Tolosky, Roger Tolosky, Clarence Benjamin, Bill Robinson,
Bill Kowalowski, Philip Stacavich.
Front row - left to right:
Walt Bingel, Leonard Rounds, Ernest Dubrey, Jerry Blanch, John Kowalowski,
Slavin Chase, Keith Woodward.
Bystander Charles Sherman - far right;
Center: Batboy Farley Chase.
It is said history kicks dust over our tracks,
seedlings grow into trees and memories fade. It was this writers experience
to enkindle memories of the great American sport of baseball in Lyon Mountain.
With this assignment, the availability of forgotten photographs, old with
age, boxed and kept in attics for years were loaned to me so that you may
reminisce. In the research done, baseball seems to be the earliest outstanding
sport in Lyon Mountain dating back to 1906. Tennis, basketball and
bob-sledding were also popular sports but not to the extent of the game on
the diamond. Because of their success as teams, Lyon Mountain became a challenge
for area towns travelling as far as South Hero, St. Johnsbury, and Alburg,
Vermont.
UMPIRES ORGANIZE
In the summer of 1950 the "Old Timers" in Lyon
mountain saw a need for an organization of baseball umpires. No longer able
to play the game because of father time but loving it still a group including
Walt (Porky) Bingel, Robert (Duke) Chase, Leonard (Teddy) Rounds, Roger (Archie)
Tolosky and others met at the American Legion Home to form such an organization.
This association is known today(1975) as the "Lyon Mountain Chapter of New
York State Umpires Association" with 20 active members.
Leona Bingel
I wish they had included more sports in this
publication, as I remember Lyon Mt. as a sports town and still is. There is
still an active Legion Baseball team that outplays teams from larger areas
such as Plattsburgh. I grew up in Dannemora, and played sports in the 50's,
and followed it in the 60's. My older cousin "Sonny" Bigelow was a very good
baseball player, and known for his home run power. I watched him many times
and at least once on the ball field in Lyon Mt. He hit a home run that day
against one of the best pitchers in the area. I think his name was Rounds,
who went on to the minor leagues as many from the Lyon Mt. teams went to try
out for the Majors. I hope others will find these pages on the internet and
reply to add to the history of baseball and other sports in Lyon Mt....................................................ROD
2/1/2000
Go to Sports in Lyon Mountain page 2
Sources:
Adirondack Museum photos, Blue Mountain Lake, NY;
History of Clinton County, New York;
Go to Page 1 of The History of Lyon
Mountain.
Go to Page 3 of The History of Lyon
Mountain.
Go to Mining History for The History
of Mining in the North Country.
Go to Page 5 of The History of Lyon
Mountain.(for article on Lyon Mt. and Mineville)
Go to Page 36 of Mining for Souls.
Back to Page 34 of Mining for
Souls.
Go to Page 1 of Mining for Souls.(cover
page)
Rod Bigelow
Box 13 Chazy Lake
Dannemora, N.Y. 12929
rodbigelow@netzero.net 
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