Category: Regional Baseball Matches and Leagues

Tuam Galway Cadet Baseball 1970

Report

A U.S. County Court Judge, Arthur O’Dea, whose grandparents were from Woodford, Co. Galway, arranged the first ever exhibition match of Baseball in Galway in August 1970. The match took place at Parkmore, Tuam, and involved teenagers from the locality, some of whom picked up the game fairly quickly. The Judge had hoped to have set up a League by the time he travelled back to Berger County, New Jersey, where he was from.

He left a set of Baseball bats with the Christian Brothers in Tuam and by September the boys in the Youth Club were playing regularly. He had also hoped to organise a match in New Jersey the following year between Irish and American teams, and had promised the boys if they were championship standard he would bring them to the United States in 1971 for the match.

References:

Sources:

[1] Anon. (1970) “The Judge socks it to them!” Evening Herald. Tuesday, August 18, 1970. pg. 18

[2] Anon. (1970) “U.S. judge brings Baseball to Galway”. Tuam Herald. Saturday, August 15, 1970. pg. 1.

[3] Anon. (1970) “Tuam Youth Club”. Tuam Herald. Saturday, September 19, 1970. pg. 6.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the Glenamaddy Tully’s.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 31 May 2021

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2021

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.

Baseball Amateur World Series (1903) Re-enactment 2003

Result

DateHome TeamAway Team
World Series 1903
1903Lennons (Illinois)18Whytes (Indiana)1
Re-enactment 2003
06.2003Lennons3Whytes12
Baseball Ireland World Series (1903) Re-enactment 2003 [Ref: 1]

Report

South Roscommon witnessed its first ever game of Baseball in June 2003, on the 100th Anniversary of the World Series of 1903 between the Lennons of Joliet, Illinois and the Whytes of Indiana. The Amateur World Series was won by the Lennons by a score of 18-1, a feat which was acknowledged by the baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York in 1963.

The re-enactment was played behind the Heritage Centre in Drum, Co. Roscommon, featuring family members of the original Whytes and Lennons teams, and didn’t go according to script, with the Whytes regaining some family pride with a 12-3 victory.

Tony Whyte was manager of both teams, and the large attendance were not put out by the Final score, enjoying the game and occasion, despite the Irish contingent not knowing the finer points of the rules like their American counterparts, who were large in numbers.

The Lennons were 1-0 up after the first innings, but the tactically superior Whytes were 9-1 up going into the fourth, but the Lennons were still hopeful of victory, and introduced two substitutesfrom the USA: Jonathan Burke from Boston and Brian Lennon from California. However, Mark Lennon’s impressive Home Run in the fourth was not enough as they were 12-3 down going into the closing stages, and failed to score in their final innings. [Ref: 1]

Baseball World Series (1903) Reenactment 2003 – Whytes and Lennons Line Up for Match [Ref: 1] Picture: P. Devanny

Teams

LennonsWhytes
Adrian Hughes LennonAdrian Millen
James LennonTom Seerey
Eamon LennonMark Whyte
Adrian LennonDarra Egan
Brian LennonOwen McManus
David LennonTony Whyte
Mark LennonEdward Egan
Alan Hughes LennonSeamus McManus
Pascal LennonScott Kahler
Cathal LennonRomy Currid
Robert Lennon
Sub: Jonathan Burke
Sub: Brian Lennon
Baseball Ireland World Series (1903) Re-enactment 2003 teams [Ref: 1]

Officials

Chief UmpireEd Burke (USA)
CommentatorHarold Lynan Webber
Presenter of MedalsFr. Ray Milton
Baseball World Series (1903) Re-enactment 2003 Officials [Ref: 1]

References

Newspapers

[1] Coyne, Declan (2003) “Historic Baseball Game didn’t go according to script as the Whyte’s out-run the Lennons!” Roscommon Champion. Friday, June 27, 2003. pg. 29

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Frank Kingston.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 24 April 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.