I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Athol-Orange Chuck Stone Baseball and Softball Little League as they enter their 75th year. In addition, I would like to thank all of the individuals whose efforts thru the years have made this milestone possible.
These men and women held a variety of positions to include: officers, board of directors, managers, coaches, umpires, concession personnel, fundraisers, groundskeepers, maintenance workers, scorekeepers, advertisers and more. We thank you for your dedication and commitment to Little League.
It should not surprise us that most of the original volunteers were members of the greatest generation. Athol started their Little League Program in 1951 and played their games at Fish Park during that inaugural season. Orange established their program not too long afterward. I came across two different dates for their opening season, one was 1957 and the other 1959. I will let someone, who has been involved with the Orange Little League program, resolve that issue.
Along with other motivated volunteers, Barney Cummings of Petersham and John O’Lari of Orange were most instrumental in organizing the Orange Little League. The two leagues united around 2020, I believe. Members of the Athol Area Y.M.C.A. staff offered guidance to the new league in their rebuilding efforts. The “Y” eventually assumed overall supervision of the Athol- Orange Little League.
Having resided in the Athol-Orange area for 55 plus years, I am truly impressed that the two towns were able to come together and develop a solution which enables kids from both towns to continue to play ball. There is one error I would like to correct. My father Charles “Chuck” Stone was not the founder of the Athol Little League. He was the league’s first president but not the founder. Other officers included Secretary Pete Kimball, Leo Flavin, V.P. and Treasurer George Henrich. The remaining members of the board of directors
included. Stan Peterson, Dr. Harold Smith, Edward Cetto, James Hodge, Edward Markofsky and Edgar Mallet. Some of the other early contributors to the Athol Little League were financial advisor James Salevan, groundskeepers Edgar “Bones” Mallet and Kenny Fish and longtime President Willie Sinclair.
I apologize to the many devoted volunteers I failed to recognize due to space constraints.
The Athol-Orange Chuck Stone Baseball and Softball League will open its 75th year on May 2. The festivities will begin with a parade starting at the Athol Y.M.C.A., proceeding down Main Street, turning right on to Exchange Street and then proceeding to Salevan Field located in back of the Legion Home. A banquet will be held that evening at the Ellinwood Country Club, the social hour begins at 5 p.m. Let’s play ball.
Charles “Rocky” Stone Jr. lives in Orange.