re: #106 HappyWarrior

A few years back, I stayed in a NY hamlet known as Fleischmanns. The town’s claim to fame was that after the turn of the century, baseball players used to come there regularly to practice/play before the season. Honus Wagner was the most famous of those players. I stayed in a vacation home across from where he played.

Fleischmanns Park, which dominated the north side of Wagner Avenue, was a gift to the village in May 1914 from Julius Fleischmann, son of Charles. Among the many interests of the Fleischmann family was major league baseball. The park, formerly known as the Mountain Athletic Club, was where their players came to get in shape before the start of the regular season. One player in particular stood out—Honus Wagner. Wagner was known to his fans as the Flying Dutchman and was admitted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. Stipulations of Julius’ gift were and still remain: that it always be used as a park and athletic grounds, that it always be kept in good condition, that it never be sold or sublet and always be of free access to the public. However, in 1934 the village obtained from the heirs a release from the word “free” so that for certain events a fee could be charged.

Added footnote - there’s a synagogue in town that was established in 1918 adjacent to the ballfield.