Williamsport PA baseball (13)

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Ted ellis
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p.1 #1 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

I spent the weekend at Penn State Friday night and Williamsport, Pa Saturday. Williamsport Pennsylvania is the home and origin of Little League baseball and the home of "Historic" Bowman Field, which is the home field of the Williamsport Crosscutters. The Crosscutters are an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.

The first four images are of Stoltz Field the first Little League baseball field in America.

Edited on Jun 22, 2009 at 09:49 PM · View previous versions

Jun 22, 2009 at 01:56 PM

Ted ellis
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p.1 #2 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

3-4 the field

Jun 22, 2009 at 01:56 PM

Ted ellis
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p.1 #3 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

5-7

Jun 22, 2009 at 01:58 PM

Ted ellis
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p.1 #4 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

8-10 @ Penn State versus the Spikes. The field lights at Penn state was poor as the game progressed.

Edited on Jun 22, 2009 at 02:31 PM · View previous versions

Jun 22, 2009 at 02:01 PM

Ted ellis
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p.1 #5 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

#11 at Penn State

#12 and 13 at Bowman field (terrible light). The last pitcher is my son Jordan Ellis. Thanks for the look. If you're a baseball fan a trip to Williamsport is worth the visit.

Ted Ellis

Edited on Jun 22, 2009 at 04:29 PM · View previous versions

Jun 22, 2009 at 02:06 PM

dj dunzie
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p.1 #6 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

Two great stories of the parks Ted... really enjoyed the park shots... should be posters!

Congrats to your son playing at such a high level... he's lucky to have a pop documenting his career like you! Great job!

Jun 22, 2009 at 03:11 PM

butchM
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p.1 #7 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

Gee Ted ... wished I knew you were in the area ... would have loved to chat with you ... my grandson will be playing in a tournament at Original Field next week .... shot several HS playoff games at Bowman last month ... haven't had time to get down to the 'Cutters yet this season .... I had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Stotz ... he really was quite a guy ... we were on a first name basis ... I called him "Mr. Stotz" ... he called me "Young Man" ...

but I was much younger then ....

Back in 1997, they had a ball toss that began at Original Field where they had the fellas from the teams in the first-ever LLWS take the field and toss the ball around the field then the ball was relayed by current and former LL players all the way to Lamade Stadium to celebrate the 50th anniversary. Quite an event ... my 6th grade teacher was one of the players from that first series ... so that made it even a more special event to shoot for me.

Jun 22, 2009 at 03:34 PM

P Alesse
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p.1 #8 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

Original still holds tours of the field and their "museum" and still continues to distinguish itself separate and apart from LLB Inc. A lot of that has to do with the conflict in visions between Mr. Stotz and then president, PJ McGovern, who came in with big rubber bucks and wanted to take LLB to commercial levels beyond what Mr. Stotz had ever envisioned. For one year, the LLWS was actually called the "Keds Tournament". McGovern had been the major supplier of rubber to Keds sneakers. Until recent, the Stotz collection of Little League memorabelia had been more vast than the LLB Museum itself. Fortunately, the Stotz family and LLB were able to break bread over the past 10-15 years and many of Carl's original items are on now on display in South Williamsport.

Ted... nice shots, but I have to admit... history aside, Original has not distinguished itself as "visually historic" in my opinion. The field on 4th avenue unfortunately looks like any other Little League field across the nation. Once again, it's awe is in the fact of knowing that the very first Little League game was played there and for ButchM... in knowing that the great Putsee Vannucci was there to capture it.

Jun 22, 2009 at 08:29 PM

Ted ellis
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p.1 #9 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

dj dunzie wrote:
Two great stories of the parks Ted... really enjoyed the park shots... should be posters!

Congrats to your son playing at such a high level... he's lucky to have a pop documenting his career like you! Great job!

Greatly appreciated DJ. As far as my son......how lucky I am.

Ted

Jun 22, 2009 at 09:35 PM

Ted ellis
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p.1 #10 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

butchM wrote:
Gee Ted ... wished I knew you were in the area ... would have loved to chat with you ... my grandson will be playing in a tournament at Original Field next week .... shot several HS playoff games at Bowman last month ... haven't had time to get down to the 'Cutters yet this season .... I had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Stotz ... he really was quite a guy ... we were on a first name basis ... I called him "Mr. Stotz" ... he called me "Young Man" ...

Jun 23, 2009 at 11:04 AM

darryn patch
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p.1 #11 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

Loving the last shot. Sensational, pick of the bunch IMO.

Jun 23, 2009 at 11:28 AM

Ted ellis
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p.1 #12 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

P Alesse wrote:
Original still holds tours of the field and their "museum" and still continues to distinguish itself separate and apart from LLB Inc. A lot of that has to do with the conflict in visions between Mr. Stotz and then president, PJ McGovern, who came in with big rubber bucks and wanted to take LLB to commercial levels beyond what Mr. Stotz had ever envisioned. For one year, the LLWS was actually called the "Keds Tournament". McGovern had been the major supplier of rubber to Keds sneakers. Until recent, the Stotz collection of Little League memorabelia had been more vast than the LLB Museum itself. Fortunately, the Stotz family and LLB were able to break bread over the past 10-15 years and many of Carl's original items are on now on display in South Williamsport.

Ted... nice shots, but I have to admit... history aside, Original has not distinguished itself as "visually historic" in my opinion. The field on 4th avenue unfortunately looks like any other Little League field across the nation. Once again, it's awe is in the fact of knowing that the very first Little League game was played there and for ButchM... in knowing that the great Putsee Vannucci was there to capture it.

Thanks for the reply Paul. I learned more about LLB from you and Butch than I previously knew.

Ted

Edited on Jun 24, 2009 at 12:11 AM · View previous versions

Jun 23, 2009 at 11:29 AM

butchM
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p.1 #13 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

P Alesse wrote:

Ted... nice shots, but I have to admit... history aside, Original has not distinguished itself as "visually historic" in my opinion.

Quite true ... Original Field is a little "Plain Jane" as far as historical sites go ... but I think that is the character it is suppose to represent ... humble beginnings that was about kids having the opportunity to play organized baseball, a place to learn the fundamentals of the game and also the lessons of becoming good citizens .... the tiff between Stotz and McGovern is reflected in the distinction between the two "museums." Stotz was all about the kids, McGovern wanted to use the kids to sell more product. In the end they both did get mostly what they wanted.

In the early years, the media and tv were along for the ride, now ABC/ESPN runs the show. The schedule is set to their satisfaction. Access is governed by the network's needs and desires. It can't helped that there is a loss of innocence when someone starts throwing around mountains of money at an event that was designed as a truly amateur event for children. It's still a great event and a monumental achievement to win the title or even be one of the few teams to participate. It's just not always pleasant to witness the greed of the adults behind the scenes.

I do understand what Carl was upset about those many years ago with the series becoming too commercial when the main focus of the organization was volunteerism, stewardship and teaching ... not a vehicle for big corporations seeking to bolster profits. Fortunately, at the local level around the world, there is still an emphasis on the kids themselves.

Jun 23, 2009 at 01:09 PM

butchM
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p.1 #14 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

Ted ellis wrote:

Thanks for the reply and the history. Will be back in Williamsport this weekend. PM me.

Ted

Sure ... this weekend I have a triathlon, a parade and a class reunion to shoot on Saturday ... but if you are going to be at Bowman Friday or Sunday I can probably swing by ... I'll PM you later today.

Jun 23, 2009 at 01:11 PM

Ted ellis
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p.1 #15 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

darryn patch wrote:
Loving the last shot. Sensational, pick of the bunch IMO.

Darryn:

Thank you for taking the time to comment.

Ted

Jun 24, 2009 at 12:10 AM

Ted ellis
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p.1 #16 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

butchM wrote:
Ted ellis wrote:

Thanks for the reply and the history. Will be back in Williamsport this weekend. PM me.

Ted

Sure ... this weekend I have a triathlon, a parade and a class reunion to shoot on Saturday ... but if you are going to be at Bowman Friday or Sunday I can probably swing by ... I'll PM you later today.

I will be getting in mid-game Friday night. I will leave Sunday morning.

Ted

Jun 24, 2009 at 10:39 AM

surfing girl
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p.1 #17 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I was born and spent several years in Williamsport and my brother attended the baseball camps each summer at the "modern" Lamade Field location in S.Williamsport. My grandparents lived for a time across the West 4th Street bridge from Bowman Field in Newberry. Both sides of my family originate in Cogan Station.

Jul 08, 2009 at 04:53 AM

photolew
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p.1 #18 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

The lighting at Bowman does leave alot to be desired for sure....

If you want some more Williamsport trivia, the current lights were put in I think about 10 years ago...the ones they replaced came from the old Polo Grounds in NY when it was torn down

Jul 08, 2009 at 10:25 AM

P Alesse
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p.1 #19 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

surfing girl wrote:
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I was born and spent several years in Williamsport and my brother attended the baseball camps each summer at the "modern" Lamade Field location in S.Williamsport. My grandparents lived for a time across the West 4th Street bridge from Bowman Field in Newberry. Both sides of my family originate in Cogan Station.

I might know him. I was on staff at that camp from 1979-1992

Jul 08, 2009 at 12:21 PM

surfing girl
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p.1 #20 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

P Alesse wrote:
surfing girl wrote:
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I was born and spent several years in Williamsport and my brother attended the baseball camps each summer at the "modern" Lamade Field location in S.Williamsport. My grandparents lived for a time across the West 4th Street bridge from Bowman Field in Newberry. Both sides of my family originate in Cogan Station.

I might know him. I was on staff at that camp from 1979-1992

He attended late 60s as he graduated from HS in '73. It sure is nice to see what things look like now. I haven't been back in several years.

Jul 09, 2009 at 01:21 AM

photolew
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p.1 #21 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

Ive not posted much in the 9 years I've been amember here....but its pretty funny seeing my home town teams on here.....looking forward to shooting at Volunteer Stadium on Friday night

Jul 09, 2009 at 01:43 AM

P Alesse
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p.1 #22 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

photolew wrote:
Ive not posted much in the 9 years I've been amember here....but its pretty funny seeing my home town teams on here.....looking forward to shooting at Volunteer Stadium on Friday night

Are you Lew Wenzel out of Muncy?

Jul 09, 2009 at 02:36 AM

photolew
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p.1 #23 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

Hey Paul....thats me. We need to get together when you are out here next month...assuming you are coming for the series.(that sounds familiar doesn't it....

Jul 09, 2009 at 11:44 AM

P Alesse
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p.1 #24 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

photolew wrote:
Hey Paul....thats me. We need to get together when you are out here next month...assuming you are coming for the series.(that sounds familiar doesn't it....

)

One of the perks that the local district has is its championship games are held at Volunteer stadium. The local DA has been pestering me for years to come up and do action pixs....but its never worked out schedule wise.

Wonderful. I know we have always missed each other due to time constraints. Let's try and work something out this year. BTW... one of my favorite eating establishments in that area is Haywood's. We'll see if ButchM can join us.

Jul 09, 2009 at 12:59 PM

photolew
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p.1 #25 · Williamsport PA baseball (13)

Just ate at Haywoods on Monday night in fact....lots of my images are hanging up there....One thing about Haywoods is you won't go away hungry.

Jul 09, 2009 at 01:44 PM


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