Saranac Lake Red Sox, 1936.
Historic Saranac Lake Collection, 2023.3.57.
Saranac Lake Red Sox, c. 1940. James C. McClanahan, far right. The Saranac Lake Red Sox was the local semi-pro baseball team in the 1930s. They played in the Northern League, that included teams from northern New York and Vermont. Saranac Lake's Municipal Field (Ken Wilson Field), had a large wooden grandstand behind home plate and bleachers on both baselines. The Saranac Lake team played for good sized crowds, who would come to the ballpark early to get a good seat; others watched from blankets beyond the bleacher sections. Families would have picnics at the ballfield while watching a game.
From Howard Riley's column, Adirondack Daily Enterprise, September 15, 2018
Flashback
Following is a great baseball story by Walter "Bud" Duffy.
James C. McClanahan was born in Hartsville, Tennessee in 1917. Then known as Cliff, he pitched for the Oglethorpe College in Atlanta but in 1940 he pitched for the Saranac Lake Red Sox. He was subsequently on the U.S. National Team that went to Cuba for the World Tournament. Bill Hafer was the manager. Cliff was paid $130 per month and his way to Saranac Lake was paid for him. Bill Hafer was later Principal of the Saranac Lake High School following WWII. Cliff's children remember him telling a story of watching a baseball game with Babe Ruth in 1939 or '40.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, June 18, 1940; reprinted June 26, 2021
By Howard Riley
Speaking on behalf of 73 members of the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs and baseball fans, who gathered at a dinner in the Elks Club last night, County Judge Cornelius J. Carey, Jr., extended to the members of the 1940 Saranac Lake Red Sox the welcome of the community.
Dr. Anthony Gedroiz presided as chairman and introduced Dr. D. N. Brumfiel, who acted as master of ceremonies. Also seated at the speaker's table were Harry R. Corbin, President of the Saranac Lake Athletic Association; Anthony Delehant, a member of the baseball committee, and Eugene Christian, former chairman of the committee who was forced to resign recently because of business matters.
Judge Carey urged the players to become well acquainted in the community and declared that everybody wished them to have a good time during their stay in Saranac Lake.
Dr. Brumfiel then introduced Manager Bill Hafer who thanked the fans for their attendance at the dinner and introduced the players saying, "It is a real fighting team." He said that he believes and it has been said that the combination of Bill Steppon at second and Warren "Husty" Huston at shortstop will prove the best double play combination in the Northern Baseball League.
Huston, term Captain was introduced first followed by Russ Miller, Ted Mazur, Jim Castiglia, Steppon, Eddie Klimzcak, Ray "Puffy" Pulaski, Warren Kuhn, Bill Sweel, Cliff McClanahan, Jim McGrory, Lyle Bond, Mathias Check, John Carroll, John Wukovets and Jim Kiernan.
This afternoon at 6:15 the Red Sox open the home season on Municipal Filed in a game with the Plattsburgh Majors.
Mayor Thomas P. Ward will throw out the first ball.
Tomorrow the team will play Massena, the following day at Tupper Lake, and Friday night the Red Sox will host the Massena Alcos who will be playing their first game on Municipal Field.
Plattsburgh Press, June 24, 1939
33,000 Fans Saw Northern League Games First Week
More than 33,000 persons witnessed games in the Northern League from June 11-June 18--the opening week--according to figures released yesterday by league secretary William McMillan. Last year's pennant-winning Burlington Cardinals played to 6,289 in their first three games-714 than the number to witness the first three games of the Plattsburgh Majors, whose opening week attendance of 5,575 ranked second. Close behind the Majors were the Rutland Royals, who played to 5,548 in their initial appearance. The Royals' total was 1,487 greater than that of the Montpelier Senators, who drew 4,061. St. Albans' Giants attracted 3,597 to Coote Field in three days while the Saranac Lake Red Sox played before 3,429 over a similar period. Malone's rejuvenated Stars, now playing under the name Maroons, drew 2,974 to the fairgrounds, while the Tupper Lake Rangers, under the guidance of Waldo "Rusty" Larnall, Lowell Textile Institute mentor, attracted 1,747 to two games.
The Majors to date have drawn the largest single game crowd-3,729 at their June 11 opener with the Saranac Lake Red Sox.
