MORNING STAR • MAy 6 - 12, 2010
PAGE 17
Local author promotes the legacy of Class D baseball By Tony E. Windsor
It has long been hailed as “America’s past time,” and baseball fans are still among some of the more dedicated sports enthusiasts. There are those who simply enjoy the competitive nature of the game; choosing to give loyal support each season to their favorite team. Then there are baseball fans who are passionate to the point that it becomes a mission to not only enjoy the sport in its present form, but also become immersed in its history; this describes Seaford native, Mike Lambert. Over the years, Lambert has become committed to promoting baseball, but his mission is focused around protecting the legacy of baseball’s impact on the eastern shore of Delmarva. It was baseball in its purest form; before national media coverage of the sport brought games into America’s living room. It was called “Class D” baseball and Lambert is a foremost authority on its local history. Lambert has one of the most extensive collections of Eastern Shore League (ESHL) memorabilia to be found anywhere. His knowledge of the game as it impacted the region from 1922 to 1949 is staggering. When talking about the ESHL, Lambert literally lights up. He calls his passion for the subject, “my mistress.” He talks about ESHL players like Jimmie Foxx, Frank “Homerun” Baker, Mickey Cochrane and future Orioles and White Sox manager, Paul Richards, as if they were personal friends. Lambert has taken his passion to a higher level and has recently authored a book, “Eastern Shore League, Images of Baseball.” The book, released on April 5, is published by Arcadia Publishing, a national publisher of local and regional history books. The book is 128 pages packed full of
Replacement restricts lanes
The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces that Highway Safety Systems, Inc., will continue to replace guardrails across Sussex County. During the replacement, motorists will encounter intermittent lane restrictions through Friday, May 14, pending weather. The work schedule will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Work will take place at the following locations: • Kent Avenue from Double Bridges Road to Jefferson Bridge Road, Ocean View • Bethany Road from Main Street to Polly Branch Road, Selbyville • Frankford School Road from Shockley Town Road to Thatcher Street, Frankford • Concord Road from Route 13 to Bethel Concord Road, Blades • Cods Road from 13 Curves Road to Fowlers Beach Road, Milford Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling throughout these locations and expect lane shifts. Real-time traffic information and construction project updates are available online at www.deldot.gov, or tune to WTMC 1380 AM.
vintage, never before seen photos from private collections, including those of Lambert and his fellow ESHL collector, Donnie Davidson of Cambridge, Md. Lambert said he and Davidson will oftentimes find themselves bidding against each other when vying for a piece of ESHL memorabilia. In his book, Lambert explains what the goal is with his newest venture. “Having collected and studied this glorious baseball league for several decades, I am committed to teaching its history at every opportunity,” he writes. “By reading the story behind these extraordinary artifacts and studying the interesting facts of the ESHL, you will not only learn about the Eastern Shore League, but you will also understand how minor-league baseball operated from the 1920s through the 1940s.” Inside the pages of the book are rare graphics, including tickets, game programs, contracts, stock certificates, balls, bats, personal player letters and schedules. One such photo shows the first paycheck received by Lambert’s friend and former ESHL league player, Robert “Ducky” Detweiler, from the Federalsburg [Md.] A’s. The check for $37.12 was part of the $75 per month paid to him by the Federalsburg Athletic Association for the 1939 season. In the book there are also photos and information about the “Seaford Eagles,” a team that was part of the ESHL from 1946 to 1949. In 1947, the Seaford Eagles was an affiliate of the New York Giants. In that same year, the Eagles won the ESHL championship, defeating the pennantwinning Cambridge team in a seven-game playoff. Lambert’s book chronicles the history of ESHL teams that played on home fields including Seaford, Dover, Milford and Laurel in Delaware; Crisfield, Cambridge, Salisbury, Easton and Pocomoke City in Maryland; and Parksley and Northampton in Virginia. As part of the 100th anniversary celebration of Minor League Baseball in 2001, Bill Weiss and Marshall Wright, two veteran chroniclers of minor league baseball, researched and rated the “Top 100” Minor League teams of the century. In the listing among such historic Triple-A minor league teams as the Baltimore Orioles, the Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers and the Indianapolis Indians, was the Eastern Shore League’s Salisbury Indians, who were ranked in the number eight spot.
“Amidst the Triple-A colossi occupying the upper echelons of Minor League Baseball’s Top 100 list, one Class D club managed to slip into the top group. Playing in a small town in Maryland, this team seemingly performed the impossible in a truly singular campaign, Weiss and Marshall said on the website, MiLB.com. In 1937, under the management of ESHL icon, D’Arcy Raymond “Jake” Flowers, the team managed to go from a 0-26 record to capture the pennant. Weiss and Wright wrote, “Salisbury’s achievement in 1937 is believed to be unique. Their comeback from a 0-26 record to capture the pennant is a worthy enough achievement in itself. However, when you include Salisbury’s 21 missing wins into their record, the Indians’ winning percentage of .833 stands supreme, never equaled by any 20th century full-season minor league team.” On Sept. 1, more than 3,000 Salisbury fans turned out to honor the “wonder team,” as The Sporting News called the Indians. Washington owner Clark Griffith was the guest of honor. Engraved 17-jewel wristwatches were presented to all the players, Flowers and the three front office officials. In addition, Flowers received an automobile. Even the bus driver, the scoreboard operator and the batboy received gifts. The Indians responded by trouncing Pocomoke City 10-2 (Weiss, B. & Wright, M. 2001). In his book, Lambert writes extensively about Jake Flowers and also has photographs including newspaper clippings from the 1937 Indian’s pennant-winning season and a baseball signed by not only the entire Salisbury Indians team, but by Flowers, the club’s owner and two league presidents. Lambert said it is his love of the ESHL history and desire to promote its legacy to people who may know little about it that drives his passion for the subject. “I’m not in it for the money,” he said. “I just want to help keep this league and its players from being forgotten.” Lynn Beahm, publicity manager for Arcadia Publishing, said Lambert’s book is “doing extremely well” and is already in a second printing. “Within a couple of weeks of being released we started seeing the book stock dwindling and realized we would need to do a second printing,” she said. “It is rare that a book has a second printing in such a short period of time, if at
In Loving Memory of Our Mom, Joyce Mears, on Mother’s Day
Surprise Mom with beautiful, fresh flowers this
Mother’s Day May 9
We Deliver Our custom bouquets will incorporate her favorite blooms for a unique and personal gift she’ll love.
JOHN’S FOUR SEASON’S
It’s hard to believe that you are no longer here. Our hearts are breaking but our love keeps you near Like a ray of sunshine everyday memories of you come our way. All our love forever, Children: Shelly, Richard and Lisa Fiancé, Ronnie; and Grandchildren: Chris and Jessica, Courtney, Kara Beth and Jaread
all. This book is very successful.” A book signing is being planned at the Delmarva Shorebirds Stadium in May or June. In addition to Shorebird’s Stadium, Lambert’s book, “Eastern Shore League, Images of Baseball” is available at area bookstores, including Browseabout Books, Rehoboth Beach; independent retailers, including Walgreens; and online retailers including Amazon.com, Borders Books and Barnes & Nobles.
FLOWERS & GIFTS
Stein Hwy. at Reliance, John Beauchamp 302
June 21, 1953 ~ March 8, 2010
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410-754-5835