WILKES-BARRE — Every year when the Little League Baseball World Series rolls around, I get an itch to put on my old flannel uniform and head to Wadham Street for a game.
The itch is probably from those uniforms that were really itchy during the summer of 1963.
I was a big kid for my age in 1963 — 6-feet tall — and I could hit the ball a long way. And I could throw that speedball right by you almost every time.
The attached picture — apologies for the blurriness — shows our field of dreams.
1963 was my final season of playing Little League Baseball in the league co-founded by my dad in 1950.
We played on that gem of a ball field along Wadham Street — where the grass was as green and as well-trimmed as Yankee Stadium. And the wooden fence that stretched around the field — with each panel hand-painted with the names of the town’s businesses and organizations that supported the league for years.
The press box behind home plate cast a shadow over the field around game time: 5:15 p.m. for the first game and 6:30 p.m. for the second start.
And as each player would stroll to the plate, my dad would announce their name, number and position in a voice that rivaled Bob Shepherd of Yankee Stadium fame.
The dugouts along each baseline were filled with flannel uniform-wearing ballplayers, all with a dream of making it to the big leagues.
And behind the first base dugout, the refreshment stand would emit the sweet smells of hot dogs and pizza.
A set of bleachers was down the right field line and they were always filled with parents, siblings and friends cheering for the kids on the field.
The Little League field was adjacent to Huber Field, where Plymouth’s Shawnee Indians battled on the gridiron. The field house stretched from right field to center and the football field’s press box rose high above the dividing wall.
The National Anthem was played before each game and the Little League Pledge was recited.
This was hometown community pride at its very best.
In the photo of the field, Mr. Joe Shutlock is seen umpiring the bases. Mr. Shutlock always had a smile and a style all his own. The other league umpires listed in the league booklet were Charles Brown, Anthony “Stush” Gayson, Andrew Klimchak, Joseph Kosloski, Eugene McKeown, Joseph Ryncavage and John Stone.
There were six team sponsors in the league: American Legion, VFW, F.O.E. Eagles, Kiwanis, UGI and Bird Mining.
It won’t be a surprise to you that I was on the Birds.
The season of 1963 opened on May 27 and ended on Aug. 9, culminating in a picnic at a local park — usually Melody Park in Back Mountain.
In the league’s official booklet of schedules and rosters, there is a narrative that speaks to the way it was back then:
“It is better to build boys, than to mend men.
“With this thought in mind, Plymouth Little League was organized in 1950.
“By instilling in the youth of our community the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty and courage, it is our fervent hope that they will become stronger and happier boys and help them to be good, clean and healthy adults.
“We urge the citizens of this community to encourage and support our youth, for a display of confidence and faith in the youth of today will make better citizens and leaders of tomorrow.”
That really says it all. And those words exemplify the way my dad lived his life and what he instilled in me and so many other kids.
Like all towns back then, we were fortunate to have so many community oriented leaders involved in Little League. They all set an example of how we should live our lives.
We didn’t realize it at the time, but we would later discover how lucky we all were to be a part of such a great organization.
Like the Little League Pledge tells us: “Win or lose, we will always do our best.”
A simple message from far more simple times — the very best of times.
So as the 2025 Little League Champion is crowned — either Summerlin South Little League from Las Vegas, Nevada, or Tung-Yuan Little League from Chinese Taipei — we salute all the players, coaches, volunteers, parents and officers for keeping so many dreams alive and for continuing to build character through the game of baseball.
And let’s not forget to congratulate the Wyoming Valley Challenger Little League team that was chosen to play in this year’s Little League Challenger Division Exhibition Game against the Challenger team from Woburn, Massachusetts.
The team represented our region and we all should be proud of the players’ accomplishments.
And best of all, nobody had to wear those flannel uniforms of 1963.