- Sports - Janesville Sesquicentennial
-
- [Photograph; caption reads: The Parker Pen baseball team
was the best in the Janesville Industrial League back in 1910.
Players wore uniforms of gray flannel with red trim. Note the
"lucky curve" insignia on their coat pockets. That
was the national symbol for Parker Pen.]
-
- 1870 team leads off city's baseball lineup
- When sports-minded people think of Janesville, one of the
first things that comes to mind is
- baseball.
- Indeed, the history books show that Janesville has been a
good baseball town as far back as the
- 1870s. The Janesville Mutuals, in fact, became one of the
first minor-league teams in history by joining 12 other Midwestern
teams in the League Alliance in 1877.
- Although the Mutuals' history was brief, with the League
Alliance disbanding after only one year,
- their spirit didn't die. One of their players, John Montgomery
"Monte" WARD, broke into the major leagues the
next year and lasted 17 years, compiling a 163-102 record as
a National League pitcher and playing 10 more years as an infielder.
The Philadelphia native was inducted into baseball's Hall of
Fame in 1964.
- Meanwhile, the Mutuals' presence sparked interest in baseball
for area residents, who made it one
- of their favorite pastimes over the next several years.
- In the early 20th century, semi-pro baseball teams became
a hit in the area. But because individuals
- made no lasting commitment, players changed teams almost
at will.
- In 1941, the area's first truly professional team - the Janesville
Cubs - formed and participated in
- the Class D Wisconsin State League. However, the Chicago
Cubs' affiliate ceased operations in 1953, at the same time as
major league baseball came to Milwaukee.
- During their 10-year stay (the league didn't operate in 1943-45)
at the Rock County Fairgrounds,
- the Janesville Cubs finished seventh or eighth six times.
But, despite the team's poor finishes in the eight- team league,
interest ran high, enabling Janesville to lead the league in
attendance in 1951.
- Three Cubs players advanced to the major leagues. They included
Harry BRIGHT (Pittsburgh and
- Washington), Cliff ABERSON (Chicago Cubs) and Don
ELSTON (Chicago Cubs).
- Janesville's bid to gain another minor league team failed
in 1981. Terry CAMPBELL and his
- associates had hoped to land the franchise which now belongs
to the Beloit Brewers, but the bid for a public-funded facility
was denied by the Janesville City Council, thereby spoiling this
city's chances to join the Midwest League.
- Janesville has produced its own pipeline to the major leagues.
The record shows that four local
- natives have successfully climbed baseball's ladder.
- The first was Joe CANTILLION, who managed the Washington
Senators from 1907-1909. His
- teams finished last twice and seventh (out of eight teams)
once.
- Bill LATHROP, Sr., was the first to make it to the
major leagues as a player. He pitched for the
- White Sox in parts of the 1913 and 1914 seasons, compiling
a 1-2 record in 25 games.
- Bob STRAMPE was next, pitching seven games for the
Detroit Tigers in 1972. He ended his 10-
- year professional career in the San Diego Padres' organization.
- Most recently, Tom KLAWITTER made the Minnesota Twins'
roster this season. A relief
- pitcher, KLAWITTER presently is on the Twins' disabled
list, recovering from elbow surgery.
- These players possessed great natural ability in making it
to the majors. But each, particularly
- STRAMPE and KLAWITTER, benefited from the baseball
fever that first gripped Janesville in the late 1800s.
- It was on a chilly night on June 2, 1958, at Monterey Park
that Boys' Baseball Inc., of Janesville,
- was born. Now in its 28th season, Boys' Baseball flourishes
at nearly a 10-acre, four-diamond site near the Creston Park
shopping mall, helping develop the kind of skills that have enabled
Janesville's various teams to capture numerous state championships
over the years.
- Although high school baseball was non-existent in Janesville
for nearly 30 years, it burst back onto
- the scene in 1955 and has risen to great heights ever since.
Janesville has produced three WIAA state championships and one
state runnerup, while advancing a team to the state tournament
10 of the last 12 years.
- Beyond the boys' baseball and high school programs, the Janesville
American Legion teams have
- been equally successful. In the 1970s, the city won four
of its six state Legion championships.
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