Following the November 1950 dissolution of the Northern League (summer collegiate) St. Johnsbury Tri-County Yankees baseball club (“Tri-County Yankees Call Quits, Board Of Directors Vote To Relinquish Baseball Franchise,” The Caledonian-Record, Fri. Nov. 17, 1950, at p. 5), men’s recreational league softball assumed a prominence as a staple of the summer amateur athletics calendar in the Scale City of the early 1950s.
A notably lopsided, high-scoring game occurred on Friday night Aug. 1, 1952 at Legion Field when the Spanish Villa Restaurant team overwhelmed the Purina Mills softballers, 35-1 (“Softball League Villa 35, Purina 1,” The Caledonian-Record, Sat. Aug. 2, 1952, at p. 5). The paper of record noted that in “[s]etting a new all-time high in five departments, the Villa scored 16 runs in the first inning and then went on from there to chalk up a 35-1 win which sent them into a three-way tie for first place along with Murphy Motors and the VFW […] Here are the records established in last night’s debacle: Total of 35 runs – 30 base hits – 53 times at bat – 16 runs in one inning – 20 batters going to the plate in one inning.” (Ibid.)
Among the softball and St. Johnsbury/Lyndonville luminaries playing that evening for Spanish Villa were restaurant proprietor and 2nd baseman Sam Handy, who went 5 for 6, scoring 5 runs; third baseman Bob Gervais, who went 4 for 6, scoring 3 runs; shortstop John Carroll, who likewise went 4 for 6, scoring 3 runs; left fielder Carl Wright, who went 3 for 6, scoring 4 runs; catcher Bob Pellerin, who went 5 for 6, scoring 5 runs; center fielder Andy Cowens, who went 2 for 5, scoring 5 runs; and winning pitcher Charlie Handy, who tossed a four-hitter and contributed at the plate as well by going 2 for 6 and scoring 2 runs.
A memorable Friday evening softball run-scoring avalanche by Spanish Villa on the Legion Field sod seventy summers ago in St. Johnsbury.
“I speak as I please” to quote Eddie “Munt” Garcia. (CR 3/2022) I suspect Edward’s mother has never had the same ability to post a “screed” such as this when she was considering birth in reverse. The first amendment is reserved only for those still living in their parents’ basement, curled up next to their cache of hopelessness. What a sad state of a nation and a community to exhibit such poor behavior and an affinity for lawlessness. Shame on Dana for printing this drivel of faux masculinity and outrage. Thank goodness St. J has access to Planned Parenthood, because if this is an example of exemplary citizenry and patriotism, the water supply must be tested for contaminates.
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“I speak as I please” to quote Eddie “Munt” Garcia. (CR 3/2022) I suspect Edward’s mother has never had the same ability to post a “screed” such as this when she was considering birth in reverse. The first amendment is reserved only for those still living in their parents’ basement, curled up next to their cache of hopelessness. What a sad state of a nation and a community to exhibit such poor behavior and an affinity for lawlessness. Shame on Dana for printing this drivel of faux masculinity and outrage. Thank goodness St. J has access to Planned Parenthood, because if this is an example of exemplary citizenry and patriotism, the water supply must be tested for contaminates.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.