Photo By Max Lonzanida | Coach Zach Rivera, a US Navy Veteran and Adam Anglin, a member of the Virginia Army...... read more read more
Situated at the corner of tree lined Pocahontas Street and Farragut Avenue aboard Naval Station Norfolk is McClure Field. Visitors crossing through the archway into the grandstands are met with a manicured field, and cement grandstands that echo cheers from spectators during games. Outside are interpretive panels that showcase the history of the field; and on any given afternoon many walk past them.
However, for one team from Norfolk’s Ocean View Little League; a rare visit to the field allowed the opportunity to connect with baseball’s history and enjoy a lighthearted team session.
The league’s Tigers coach pitch team consists of players aged six through eight; and a vast majority have parents currently serving in the US Navy. Coaches Zach Rivera, a US Navy Veteran and Adam Anglin, currently serving in Virginia Army National Guard facilitated the visit to allow its players to connect with the sport. Eager little leaguers were corralled by Assistant Coach Angie Vaccaro, a US Navy spouse, into the grandstands. The visit was coordinated through the base Cultural Resources Manager; and on Thursday, May 16th, ten excited little leaguers commenced a memorable visit which was a first for the Norfolk’s oldest little league.
An engaging historical presentation was provided while the team watched an ongoing intramural softball game. The field is the second oldest brick baseball stadium in the nation, second only to Bosse Field built in June 1915 in Evansville, Indiana. Construction commenced in 1917 and completed in 1918 at what was then Naval Operating Base Norfolk under the direction of Project Manager Lincoln Rogers. It was referred to simply as the Athletic Stadium and didn’t take on a name until 1944 when it was renamed in honor of Captain Henry McClure.
Captain McClure commanded then Naval Training Station (NTS) Norfolk from 1941-1944; and he saw baseball as a means to boost morale. The stadium hosted packed grandstands as servicemembers clamored to see major leaguers such as Bob Feller, Dom DiMaggio, and Mickey Cochrane play in mixed teams of professionals and sailors. Feller, played for the Cleveland Indians, and enlisted in the US Navy just after the attacks on Pearl Harbor. He was given the title of Chief Athletic Specialist and played in exhibition games for the NTS Blue Jackets; he later served as a 40mm Gun Captain aboard the USS Alabama (BB-60). Subsequent games during WWII pitted base teams with a mix of professionals and service members in matches that would eventually generate some four million dollars in war bond and ticket sales. Cochrane managed the Blue Jackets and would later be inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000 after he played for the Detroit Tigers.
A scheduling conflict prevented the little league Tigers from practicing on the field itself, but allowed them to excitedly watch an intramural softball game. Coaches Rivera and Anglin pointed out strategies to steal bases, batting stances, ready stances, and the roles of team members on the field. All was not lost; as the team did enjoy some batting practice in the form of a pinata that endured repeated hits and burst open, spilling its contents of novelty goodies, candy and lottery tickets for surprised parents. The team ended their visit with a group photo and memories of connecting with the sports history to brag about, after a rare visit to a stadium that is over a hundred years old.
| Date Taken: | 05.20.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 05.20.2019 11:55 |
| Story ID: | 323093 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VA, US |
| Hometown: | NORFOLK, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 124 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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