This is the good old summer time and I know that the baseball diamond in Maple Hill City Park is busy with games just about every evening. This has been going on a long time in Maple Hill.

When I was young, I remember going into the Maple Hill Hardware Store operated by George Lee Raine and his son Donald Raine. In the glass case where they wrote up tickets, was a photograph of the Maple Hill Men’s Baseball Team. I used to admire it and “G. L.” as he was known, would regale me with stories. He and Don were both too old to play baseball at the time, but they sure had lots of good memories.

Today, so many of my first, second and third cousins are involved in sports in the Maple Hill/Topeka/St. Marys area. I hope they know that the nut doesn’t fall far from the tree. Their ancestors all enjoyed sports and participated if they had the opportunity.

My grandfather, James Peter “Jim Pete” Clark, was for many years the manager/coach of the Maple Hill Men’s Baseball Team. Of course, he “trained” his son (my father) John “Tim” Clark to follow in his footsteps. My dad participated in all sports as he grew up in Maple Hill, but was particularly interested in softball and baseball. He spent many years as team pitcher and when he was in his 50s, decided his pitching career was over and then began to umpire games.

I was an exception and fell a long ways from the tree!! I was always chubby and was never good at any of the sports I tried to play—and “tried” was the operative word. Thank Heavens my three brothers, Gary, Stan and Steve were all good participants and enjoyed playing football, basketball and baseball. My mom and dad spent many, many hours and drove hundreds of miles to watch them play in sports events.

I mentioned the photograph in the hardware/lumber yard. G. L. Raine’s grandson (Don and Betty (Beseau) Raine’s son, Kent Raine, now has the photo. He mentioned it to my brother Gary Clark, who borrowed it and scanned the photo. Unfortunately it does not have a date. From the ages of those involved, I would hazzard a guess that the photo was taken sometime in the mid-1920s.

Standing L-R: James Peter “Jim Pete” Clark – Coach/Manager
Lester “Shorty” Raine, Catcher; George Lee “G.L.” Raine, First Base; James Simon “Jim Dandy” Oliver, Second Base; Fred “Fritz” Laverty, Third Base; Bill (I’ll supply the last name later), Pitcher.
Sitting L-R: Francis “Ike” Raine, Outfield; Glen Laverty, Outfield, Bernard Turnbull, Center Field, Walter Brennan, Outfield.

In the Maple Hill News Items for 1887 (the year the town was founded) I found the following article: “July 27 The following were in Alma to watch the Alma-Maple Hill [baseball] ballgame. Mrs. Morrison, Mrs. Elliot, prominent stockman William Warren, and Mr. W. B. Jersey Small and wife. The game was easily won by Maple Hill, with the following team: J. Adams, Catcher; J. J. Taylor, Pitcher; J. Paluca, First Base; A. Goddard, Second Base, W. Paluca, Third Base, E. Adams, R. F.; W. Boyd, C. F.; A Morrison, L. F.; and W. A Pierce, S. S. The score was 17-0 in favor of Maple Hill.”

Wow! DId Alma even show up??? I know who most of these folks were but I’m going to have to do some research to find out about the Paluca family. That’s one I hadn’t heard about.

Iff anyone can provide more information about the team or year, please leave a comment. Hope you’re having a good day!!