Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-04-12

The golden days of baseball in Brattle-
boro were in the years 1SS9-92. The
island grounds were opened in 1883 and
in that year the town was represented
by a strong local team with professional
catcher, Ignatius Sullivan of Holyoke
who was elected mayor of Hartford three
years ago, through the efforts OF the
labor unions in which he was a state
leader. In 1889 the team was made up
largely of imported players and in the
three following years it was on straight
professional basis although subterfuge
was employed to a certain extent so
that some of the famous collegians might
retain their amateur status. In the four
years Brattleboro held the state cham
pionship and in the last three years the
championship of the Connecticut river
valley, having unquestionably the strong
est Independent team in New England.
The series of games were won from
Northampton, Burlington, Bellows Falls
Claremont and other teams, all or when
were strong in those days and turned out
many young players who were atterward
shining lights in the big leagues. The
Brattleboro teams were recruited large
" from the colleges, and included the
stars of Yale, Harvard, Brown, Dart
mouth, University of Vermont, Amherst,
Williams, Holy Cross and other insti-
tutions. Several of the men on the Brat
tlebOro team found their way into the
few years and few are still in the game
today. BrattlebOro's chief rival in this
period was Northampton, and one OF the
cracks of the Meadow City club was capt
Tenney of the present Boston National
team.
Tom Dowd, who was a Brattleboro
favorite two seasons, is still connected
with baseball as manager of the Hoyoke
team in the Connecticut league. He IS
one of the most widely known profession
ais in the country and his baseball career
has included membership with the teams
Of Brown University, Boston Gamer
icans), St Louis (Browns) Washington
and several other cities. Dowd was
Holyoke's utility man last season and
ranked high as a batsman and fielder.
COllopy, who came here from Holyoke
with Dowd is also a manager. He Is at
the head of the Oil City club in the Inter
state pennsylvania and New York;
league, Last year he managed the Kane
team in the same league. Collopy never
made the major leagues, but he was In
Omaha as third baseman when the
Western league ranked but little below
The American. Collopy has been all over
The country, in Pacific coast, Southern
New York state, New England and other
leagues. He was in Binghamton, N, "
several years
Tommy Leahy, who was the receiving
end Of Brattleboro's battery in 1890 Is
catcher for the Kansas City club of the
Western league He has played WITH
Washington, ST. Louis and Pittsburg, ano
two or three years was on the PACING
coast
Lew Cross who pitched for Brattle-
horo in 1890 is another timer VINO
wears well. As a top-notcher he was the
nanstay of the Cincinnati club In the
box, but for several years he has beer
content I'm the New England league, and
the past two or three seasons has done
good work regularly as a twirler for Man
chester, n. H., his home city.
NJ. f. Hickey, a Springfield Mass, DO!
who was with Brattleboro three or fou
wears, finds it difficult TO break ava!
from baseball and this year he will man
age and play with a club representing
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