WESTFIELD – Local baseball historian Dan Genovese is hard at work on the next chapter in his baseball series. Volume II of Genovese’s series left off at the end of WWII. Volume III of The Old Ball Ground is expected to focus on a men’s fast pitch softball team, the Front Page Cigar, before hitting the mid-1970s.
“I have heard bits and pieces about this team over the years but never really took much notice until you learn about men’s fastpitch softball at the height of its popularity in the 1950s and 1960s,” said Genovese, who is currently researching material for his next book. “These were excellent athletes, typically who played baseball in college or throughout the Korean War and were raising young families during a post war boom time, some white collar, some blue collar. There was no slow pitch softball and as a post college/post-war athlete, there was no adult baseball leagues other than Tri-County. which was usually for the younger players. This was the true definition of a semi-pro team as some players were paid to play.”
Front Page Cigar star pitcher Pete Pashko receives a celebratory cigar from team owner Harold Hudson. (ANNMARIE FITZSIMMONS PHOTO)
Games were played on week nights and weekends at Jachym Field, although back then it was known as Recreational Field, according to Genovese with a second level consisting of a softball diamond down the current left field line and included a fence, lights, concession stand and announcers booth.
It was said any night, you could expect a few hundred to several hundred people at these games as it was the thing to do in the summer – – and these athletes did not disappoint.
“Sadly, most of the players from this era are gone or are very difficult to locate,” Genovese said.
The author has reached out to family members in hopes of finding photos and personal reminders, and is still in search of contributing photos and/or stories from players or fans who can remember going to these games.
“I would love to hear about these experiences so I can add to my book,” Genovese said. “I have yet to locate a photo of the field set-up but I know they are out there and it would be a shame for these images to stay buried forever.”
Genovese said finishing this third volume of his series is of great importance to show the younger generation that “after dinner” entertainment in the 50s and 60s featured these type of games to take their minds off the seriousness of the times as there were no video games or streaming services which are prevalent in this day and age.
Front Page Cigar (RON RISCIOTTE PHOTO)
“This was the ‘duck and cover’ era when people were building bomb shelters in their back yards and we would all get together on summer nights and the ball game was maybe just a back drop to life at the time but to these men, many of whom played overseas in Korea, playing this game, at this level was not just recreational softball but this was a serious game and required exceptional skill, some would argue a greater skill set than baseball and also enabled them to stay in touch with their ‘brothers in arms.”
For today’s Little Leaguers and Babe Ruth ball players, this story is one that shows them that there was a world before them.
“Players from the 50s, 60s, and 70s are now their grandfathers and great grandfathers,” Genovese said. “They can learn and appreciate those in the game that have come before them before they are gone. I know it happened to me with former players that I met and knew and had no idea who they were or what they accomplished.”
Anyone with stories, information or photos related to Front Page Cigar are asked to email Dan Genovese at [email protected].
