Named for Christy Mathewson, the Matty League was a children's baseball league.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, July 2, 1953
Play In Boys League To Start Next Week
Play in the Christy Mathewson Baseball League gets under way at 6:30 o'clock next Monday evening at Municipal Field when Les Scheel's Helen Hill Hurricanes and the Clyde Baker-Timmy Sweet French Hill team will battle for six innings. H. B. Williams is co-manager of the Hurricanes.
There will be a flag raising, the National Anthem will be played and then Mayor Alton B. Anderson will throw the first ball with League Commissioner Larry Doyle catching.
This will not be a league game for the 8 to 12-year-old players. The first official game will be played at Municipal Field next Wednesday evening when the Bloomingdale Junior Firemen, managed by George Clark, and Bud McGrain's team compete. These teams are two of the four in the senior circuit of the "Matty League". The players are from 13 to 16 years old.
There are twelve teams of 15 boys each in the junior circuit and, due to the short season and the number of games to be played, the league sponsors. last night divided them into the American and National sections. This means that Little World Series will be played the end of August.
A total of 225 boys from 8 to 16 already have joined the "Matty League". It had originally been intended to close the entries yesterday, but the sponsors decided last night to extend the deadline for several days.
Earl Drake, president of the League Sponsors, appointed a committee to make up the playing schedules of the various teams. And three planning rules were adopted. EVERY team member will play in EVERY game." Every boy must attend at least 50 per cent of his team's practice sessions. And NO PLAYER WILL BE PERMITED TO WEAR SPIKED SHOES.
Four more contributions have been made to the fund the sponsors are raising to pay for insurance for the young players and to buy safety helmets and other equipment The new contributors are Mrs. Todd M. Meredith, John N. Hayes, Fletcher Mace and the Men and Women of the Moose gave the first $25 of a collection they are taking among their members. The total in Andrew Fortune's League Treasury is now $347.08. A minimum of $600 is needed.
Martin Koop, proprietor of the Temming Art Studio, is making thirty engraved championship belt buckles for the boys on the two teams that win the titles in the junior and the senior leagues.
Several more business men in town have given equipment for the use of the boys. Ed Keating and Snair Cohen donated baseballs. Frank Casier gave ball bats and the Post Office Pharmacy filled the First Aid Kit.
And there is a good baseball glove waiting for the first player who hits a home run in league play. This was presented by Walter DeLorm. It must be a "legitimate” homer and not one scored because of an error or errors.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, June 1, 1955
MATTY LEAGUE PLANS SEASON
Organization of the Christy Mathewson Baseball League teams of 8 to 14-year old boys is well under way and, with the last day of school just four Fridays away, the season is scheduled to open Saturday, June 25. Boys who have not already signed up for the season have just three more days to get into line for the third season of league play. An entry coupon is on to-day's Sports Page, and will be repeated tomorrow, Friday and Saturday.
Already more than 200 boys have joined the league for the 1955 season— 131 of them in Saranac Lake and the others in Bloomingdale, Brighton, Saranac Inn and Lake Clear.
An organization meeting of the Matty League officials was held last night in Harrietstown Town Hall and only two things are delaying (but not preventing) the drawing up of team rosters and the schedule of games.
Reports to league president Timothy J. O'Hara are needed from the managers and aides of the boys from French Hill and Dorsey st. sections of Saranac Lake, and from Bloomingdale. And a little more expense money must be raised by public subscription for the purchase of balls, bats and other needed equipment and to pay for the insurance.
Home games of the Junior teams for boys of 8 to 11 years will be played at Ampersand Field and away games in the neighboring communities. The Senior teams, for boys of 12 to 14, will be played on Municipal Field. The teams already organized, with a few trades and additions still to be made, are:
JUNIORS:
The Petrova Pirates, with Lee Knight managing; the Elks with Don Ross; the Vets Club, Margaret st. boys with Rube Skeels, Bill Kerr and Walt Kelly; the Brighton Junior Blues with Dick Jones managing and Supervisor Arthur Monteau aiding and abetting cheering; Saranac Inn, with Charles Deuel; the St. Bernard st. Little Giants with Jorge Gonzalez and Joe Stephen, and the Helen Hill Hurricanes with Clede LaHart, Dr. Lester Scheel and James Cruickshank.
SENIORS:
The Elks; Margaret st.; The Brighton Junior Blues with George LaMay managing; Lake Clear with John Peria: St. Bernard st. Little Giants with the one and only Larry Doyle and Grove Wilson, and the Helen Hill Hurricanes.
