The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-27
(BY THE OUT EASTER)

When James R. LaWlor, the lawyer, died the other day, we were reminded of the days of long ago when Sunday ball games were played in the SimonVille dis trict, on ball grounds that were formerly known among the fans as Riverside park or name like that This was in and around forty years ago, horse and buggy days, yes, and also trolley car days, when the only Sunday amusement of the time was the amateur games played at this well-known spot. There were teams from Brooklyn, from Out East, from the Abrigador and from the North End, or Burnt Hill. Sunday theaters were not allowed to operate, and of course there were no Sunday movies. Lakewood park, then known as Forest park was in it's bloom; so was Boulder Grove, down in the South end, to, owned by the trolley company, to which one was carried for one fare of five cents, and then had to climb hill at the east side of Platts Mills to reach the top of the so- called amusement place The American band always gave Sunday concert, while parents sat about on benches, while the chill dren ipnocently romped the ter ritory, now and then buying a dish of Kellys or Meigs and Trotts ice cream at nickel plate Our factory hands or em- ployes got some amusement and fun out of the ball games, for the players were all of that class. and the games played were for blood" and certainly there were many arguments, and occasionally good free for all fight on the part of the partisan fans. But after all, there were no real disastrous re- suits, and when everything was over good nature and good fel- loWship prevailed.
 One Sunday, however, there was a sensation; the locality was out side the city limits, but within the Town of Waterbury. The police could not interfere but the deputy sheriffs and town constable could. Some Sunday blue noses thought ball playing on the Sabbath was degrading, and desired the game stopped. So they obtained war rants from the prosecuting attor- neys, and the following Sunday, down went a few sheriffs and constables to stop the games. But the crowd was large, and un- sympathetic to any move to inter- fere with the game. And when little Billy Rigney stepped forth, as the leading deputy sheriff of the city and town, swinging le- gal paper of some kind, and commanding the game to be halt ed, there was trouble. The crowd surrounded him and while there were other deputies and con- stables there to aid him, they demurred upon noticing the atti- tude of the people. No arrests con- Sequently were made, but one or two of the ringleaders were event. ually brought ill, and fined. But the newspapers came to the aid of the players, and the comment of the editors seemed to change the entire atmosphere, because they held that ball playing on Sunday was not really a sin, and certainly it was far from being a crime. Churches, some of them denounced the game from the pulpit, while more of them re- fused, and were really in sym pathy with the players, although they did not say so openly. Any way, the opposition to Sunday ball was waved down, and the crowds and players continued with the sport for that season and from that time on until Sun day ball was formally legalized in the state of Connecticut. And even before that Harry Durant's team played Sunday professional ball at the Rockville grounds, while other teams in the state were denied this privilege, and were even afraid to attempt it.
 Jim LaWlor was an amateur ball player in those days; he pitched for the St. Thomas Cadets of the Brooklyn district, not on Sunday, as the team was not all lowed to play under that name on the sabbath, but occasionally he was corraled by other teams, and now and then figured in a Sunday game. Jim LaWlor was a pitcher; he was big for his age, had strong arm, and his curves and last ball puzzled many. His great strength, too. added much to his ability as a hitter, and he could always be deperded upon to bring home the bacon If he happened to be the batter at a crucial part of the game. Oh. yes, we Of Out East played against Jim He had us buffaloed upon many occasions, and especially if he was in the box. But if he were es.fs, ..iu.,t..~ azlI ..~ I.aA