Parkersburg Is Spring Training Site

Even though they may at times push themselves through a blanket of snow, “Easter flowers” have always been a harbinger of spring. And then, as if stirred by months of winter repose by the pretty yellow flowers, ballplayers, the knights of the diamond, young and old, begin a ritual that has occurred in Parkersburg for over a century. Whether they be neighborhood boys taking advantage of a sunny afternoon, or the industrial league gathering for their first formal practice, baseball season begins with “spring training.”

The training season of the early 1930s offered a special treat for the baseball bugs of Parkersburg. Through an arrangement with the Parkersburg Athletic Association, owners of the South Side Ball Park, the Detroit team of the East-West Colored League chose Parkersburg as their training grounds.

The South Side Ball Park had been built some years earlier by Earl “Buck” Starr and Fergus O’Conner. Starr had been a hero of the ball fields, both locally and on the fields of semi-pro leagues throughout the east; O’Conner was a successful stone quarrier who loved the game of baseball. Their arena of play was one of the finest in the area. Located adjacent to the East Street bridge on the south side, the looming, covered grandstand and high challenging fence proved an attraction for fans and players.

As is still the practice today, exhibition games followed a week or two of “loosing up” and conditioning. A highlight of the 1932 exhibition season was a game between the Detroit Wolverines and the famous Homestead Grays. The Detroit club was made up almost entirely of former St. Louis Stars. The Stars had been champions of the Negro National League in 1931, and World Colored Champions in 1930. At the time, the Grays touted two baseball legends, Sachel Page and “Smokey Joe” Williams. The game was scheduled for Sunday, April 10, at the south side complex. Umpiring would be handled by “Buck” Starr with help from Parkersburg native and former Cincinnati Reds star first baseman, Dick “Doc” Hoblitzell.

The Sunday game was rained out and rescheduled for the following Friday. Over the years the Grays had played several exhibition games before Parkersburg fans, thus it wasn’t surprising that a large crowd would turn out to witness another exhibition by the “pros.” The rather listless game, however, proved a disappointment for the local rooters. Even the usual comedy that often accompanies such games was missing. Detroit won the contest, 3 to 1.

The following week local players had the opportunity to challenge. Manley Deaver, manager of the Viscose team, expected his strong independent group would rival the visitors from Detroit.

“Fireball” Farrar was to start on the mound for the Viscose “Spinners,” with relief coming from the arm of “Lefty” Swadley. The infield for the locals was composed of Wolfe, McHenry, Kibble and the Grimm brothers, Otto and Ralph. In the outfield were Lionel Eagle, Foster and Milt Baker. Bobby Cook and Charles Curry were on standby.

The April 18, 1932, edition of the Parkersburg Sentinel reported that game day was very chilly. The few rooters that did brave the weather were in overcoats. Whether or not the weather was to blame, fans witnessed a “ragged” exhibition of our national sport. But a combined total of 32 hits surely presented enough excitement to keep their hands warm. The Wolverines won the game 15 to 13.

The same newspaper reported on April 15 that Buck Starr, the vice president of the local athletic association and other local officials were encouraged that Cleveland, Providence (R.I. Grays) and several other clubs were considering staging games here in the summer of 1932.

The first game of baseball was played in Parkersburg in 1865. Ever since, though for periods of time seemingly repressed, Parkersburg has always been a baseball town.

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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.