The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-02-17
OODOLD DAYS' RECALLED AT
 LOCAL DINNER
Summers, Danaher Tem= pletOn, Clergymen Ad-
 dress Audience of 300

Thorough and complete success from every possible standpoint, not only surrounded the first annual banquet of the Waterbury Chapter, Veteran Baseball Players Association of America last night at the Hotel Elton, but the excellent turnout of nearly 300 men, women and young sters insured the presentation of the affair about a year from now on a bigger and peter than ever" basis. State Labor Commissioner Cor nelius J. Danaher, one-time owner of two Connecticut professional base ball teams at Mer1den and New Ha- ven; Rev. William Fox of New Ca naan, a Waterburian whose baseball playing ability was the pride of the west end" 40 or more years ago; Bill Summers, American League and World Series umpire, who served his time" for ten years in the East ern league; Rev. James A. Brod- erick, pastor of St. Francis Xavier church and national chaplain of the veteran players association and former governor of Connecticut, Charles A. Templeton were called upon by Postmaster Dr. John D.. Freney to speak to keenly inter- ested audience some of whom had not met for more than twenty years. Prior to the major part of the speaking program, national pres- ident George Muligan, Sr., of Water bury was introduced by Police Ser geant Walter Ahearn, chairman of the banquet committee.
 Secretary Ed Curley and Tommy Lawlor, chairman of the ticket com mittee did yoeman work in round- ing up a fine crowd which was unanimous in it's decision that the Waterbury Old Timers did them selves proud in their initial effort to ward & banquet and entertain ment.
 Remember?
 Many of the men who helped make diamond history in Connecti- cut-Art Nichols of Willimantic; Joe Connor, Walter Ahearn, Jack Hoey Frank Fitzpatrick, Joe Cosgrove, Matt Sullivan and Tom Mcleod of Torrington, Tommy LaWlor, Jim Me- Grath, Bill Cleary, Ed Tutle, Frank Bergan, Lou Cronan of HarWinton and were on hand, many of them referred to by the various speakers.
 The remarks of Umpire Bill Sum- mers, and Rev. Broderick were par ticularly humorous while Commis- sioner Danaher and Postmaster Dr. Freney indulged in a little repartee which was followed by the tracing of the early days of Connecticut baseball by MT. Danaher who told of putting together two fine teams with the aid of several Waterbury players, after being stoned out of Rockville more than once when our Meriden team beat the Waterburys. :" One of his remarks drew great hand of applause when he said: 'It has been said that if England wins the war, it will be won by the boys who played cricket at Eton; but tell you that if this war is won, ana it will be won, victory will come be- cause of the boys who played base ball in America" Naugatuck's Tim Murnane, inventor of the sports page in American newspapers, was rated by MT. Danaher as one of the greatest men he ever knew, who was now forgotten. Later, he was re- minded by Umpire Summers that Boston had not forgotten Murnane, for it gives an annual Tim Mur- nane plaque" to the outstanding Boston player, this year voting it to Ted Williams of the Red Sox.
 Champs
 Waterbury's Junior baseball team, state champions G6-18) sponsored by the Veterans organization, was present in a body and introduced individually by the toastmaster. Several speakers lauded the work that the vets were doing with the youngsters. Waterburys Joe Cos grove, among those present, was re. ferred to by Bill Summers as This favorite player"-a man who could really carry the mail" the speaker adding that he could never under stand why Joe Cosgrove was not in the major leagues" Judge Thomas Wall of Ltichfield, mad Ray (Fido) Murphy of New Haven were also introduced.
 Mayor Vincent A. Scully extended the welcome of the city of Water bury to those present and extended best wishes for the continued suc- cess of the veterans organization. Music during dinnr was providd by Mrs. Robert Birt, with vocal enter tainment by Harry Cashin, and his quartette, and Miss Ann Boyle, who sang "Wite Cliffs of Dover" and "The Shrine of St. Cecelia", receiv- ing hearty applause for her excel lent effort.
 Officers of the Waterbury chapter, 2 WA of the Veteran Baseball Play CTS Association of America are: George F. Mulligan, president; Wal ter Ahearn and Walter McGoWan, vice. presidents; Rev. James A. Broderick, chaplain; Edward V. Curley, secretary; and Joseph Con- nor, treasurer Chick Kelley, Will liam O'Donnell and John Cluney handled the publicity for the din- ner; Walter Ahearn, chairman of the banquet committee; Ed Curley, speakers; Captain Joe Kelly, chair man of the dinner committee; and Harry Cashin, entertainment.
 FIGHT RESIIITS