Clayton Little League History by Taylor Bell

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CLAYTON COMMUNITY LITTLE LEAGUE

HISTORY 1951 to 1999

In the fall of 1950 a committee of the Clayton Kiwanis Club and the Franklin Township Lions Club met with members of both communities to see if they should join the Little League Baseball Program that had been founded in 1939 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and was now getting to be very popular in the South Jersey Area. As the result of this committee, a Clayton-Franklin Little League was founded. There were several men that were very instrumental in getting this Little League Program in operation within the two Communities. I do not have any minutes of the early meetings. I will try to name as many of the adults that were most responsible for getting the First Little League Charter.

Members of the Clayton Kiwanis Club John D. Reutter, Thelbert "Puggy" Snyder, The Mayor of Clayton, Russell C. Fisler, Ben Geortler and Buck Ferrell. Other men from Clayton, Clarence Edwards, Phil Adams, Jess Alexander, Franklin Alexander, Frank Dennis, Harmon "Pappy" Bell, Tom Howell and Grich Clevenger. I was also a member of the first league as an Umpire living in Elmer at the Time.

The members of the Franklin Lions Club were Joe Minotty, Sheldon Buckingham and Joe Filler.

The league in its first year had 4 teams 3 from Clayton and 1 from Franklin. The teams were named Kiwanis, Lions, Merchants and H-T & S-C (Hungerford & Terry - Silver Chamberlin)

The first 3 years the League played their games in Clayton at the Haupt Memorial Field. The games were played in the South East corner of the Field with the outfield on the Football field. Two games were played each week in Clayton and 2 games were played each week at Franklinville on the Grammar School playground.

In 1954 the Clayton American Legion became a sponsor and the League and built a field in back of the Legion Home on Delsea Drive. All games were played on this field through 1957. The League had their only District Championship Team in 1956 and loss their first game of Area play in Delaware.

At the sign-ups for players in the spring of 1957, Clayton had over 200 players sign up for the 2 teams that Clayton had in the League at that time. I had moved to Clayton from Elmer in August of 1956 and had been ask to take on the Secretary's job for the 1957 season which I did. When I saw the number of players signed in I ask the League to expand and the League said that they could not expand. I could not get any answer why we could not.

The season was about half over when the President of the League resigned and as the Vice President would not take over the Presidents duties, I was ask to take over the Presidents duties.

As soon as the season of 1957 was over I started having meetings and talking that we should have our own Clayton Little League. By October I had the support of the Kiwanis Club, Mayor and Council and about 100 parents to have our own league for the youth of the community.

Clayton Community Little League had its first season in 1958 and continued to play on the Legion field until their new field was ready for use in 1961. I had went to a Boro Council Meeting in 1958 during the season asking if there was any property available that the town owned that the Little League might use for their Little League Baseball program. After several meetings with a committee of Boro Council Mr. Gene Costill and Ben Shinkle, we found a property on Washington Avenue that was 300 feet by 1000 Feet that Council voted to give to the Clayton Community Little League for their playing fields. In 1960 the Clayton Kiwanis agreed to help the Clayton Little League to build their Fields. They produced a Minstrel Show in 1960 and 1961 to raise the money to clear the property and to build the Little League Major Field and a 20 foot 20 foot 2 story Club House. The Little League was to build the Minor League Field in back of the Major Field. Both fields were ready to play on for the start of the 1961 Season with the Field House ready for the 1962 Season. The Boro had deeded the property to the Clayton Community Little League. The Clayton League grew to 5 major league teams in 1973 and returned to the present 4-team league in 1979 with the reduction of players.

H. Taylor Bell was the First President 1n 1958 and was president 4 years. Howard Ward was President for 11 years 1969 through 1979. In 1974 the Clayton Tax Assessor assessed taxes on League’s property of $500.00. Howard Ward called me and ask me to attend a meeting of the League to see what could be done. I agreed to go to the Boro Council to see what we could do with this Tax Bill. I was told by Council to forget the bill and not pay it. After getting advice from Little League Headquarters and meeting with the Clayton Little League I was again ask to go to the Council and tell them that the League would deed the property back to the Boro and the League would ask for a 100 year Lease for a $1.00 a year. This was done with all in agreement 1n 1975.

In 1978 the Borough Council gave the league permission to enlarge their Little League Complex and they applied to the State of New Jersey for a $ 40,000 Green Acres Grant The stipulation by the Borough was that all of the work would be done by volunteer labor. The current Softball, Senior and Minor Fields were added at this time. Also the picnic area and old playground were installed. All of this work took approximately 3 to 4 years to complete by the volunteers.

After several years of the 13-14-15 year old Clayton boys played with Woodstown, Alloway and Elmer in an independent Baseball League in 1978 Elmer went to the Senior League by their self and Woodstown and Clayton went together in a Senior Baseball League.

The area given to the league was all Woods and needed to be cleared; a group of about 15 individuals gave up every free minute of time for over 3 years to construct the Park. When completed there would be 13 and 1 half acres of cleared land.

In between the 1979 the Start of the 1980 Season several thousand dollars of damage was committed on both of the Little League Fields. Edward Bell was the First Little League Graduate to become League President of the Clayton Community Little League in 1980. The first duty that Ed as president had to do was to get their two fields in shape for the 1980 season. Two new Dugouts had to be built on the minor league field to replace the damaged ones. Also there had to be new Chain Link fence to replace the stolen missing fence. The backstop and some damaged fence had to be repaired on the major league field.

In 1981 the new infield was placed on the major Little League Field and the Fences were moved from their 180 Foot and replaced with new fences 6 foot high to 200 foot with the new side line fences also 6 foot high. The new Senior Field was completed and would be ready for play in 1982. Also the league started the Little League Softball Program with four teams. It was decided to build a new Minor League Baseball field and make the old field the Major Little League Softball field.

The sprinkler system was installed on the Little League Baseball infield in the fall of 1983. The lights were installed in time for the 1984 season. On the opening of the 1984 season the Clayton Little League Dedicated their Little League Baseball field as the “Taylor Bell Field” “The Home of The Clayton Little League." In the fall of 1986 the sprinkler system was installed in the Out-Field of the "Taylor Bell Field".

The Clayton Little League was selected to Host the 1987 New Jersey State Little League Baseball Tournament. Donald Cunningham was the League President for the 1986 and 87 Seasons. The new Electric Score Board was installed for the start of the 87 Season. Don Cunningham was elected President for the 1988 Season.

The Concession Stand was constructed in 1985 through a grant that supplied the materials and volunteers constructed the Building along with the help of local builder Carmen Falisi. The parking lot was paved in 1989 through a grant that supplied the materials and the Public Works Department installed the Asphalt.

The Club House addition was completed in 1991 with all the materials and Labor being donated. Local builder James Falisi donated his work crew to construct the frame of the building with League volunteers completing the interior. The bathrooms, Senior Field Dugouts and Senior Field storage building were added in 1992 through funds from the Park and Recreation Trust Fund. William Fahy was president in 1989 and 1990.

In the fall of 1992 the Senior Field Infield was made a grass infield and a sprinkler system was installed in the infield. Batting cages were installed at the "Taylor Bell Field" in 1994 along side of each dugout on first and third bases.

The one on first was to be used for softball and third base would be used for baseball. They were to also to be used as the pitchers Bull Pens to warm up new pitchers. A very generous supporter of the Clayton Little League donated the sprinkler systems for the Major and Senior Fields over the years.

Philip J. Donohue was the President for 1991 and Greg Koss was the 1992 President. William Fahy was president again in 1993 and 1994. Jeff Walding was the president for the next three years 1995 - 1996 - 1997.

The Softball grass infield was added in 1995 with funds raised by the league and the sprinkler system was added to the infield at the same time. The new dugouts and the new lights were added for the 1996 season.

In 1996 the Clayton Little League hosted the 9 - 10 Baseball New Jersey State Tournament with the four Section Champions completing. In the fall of 1997 Michael Rucci was Elected President for the 1998 Season, and elected for the next 2 seasons 1999 and 2000. The Senior League Baseball Field Fences were moved in the outfield in the outfield to their present positions in 1998.

In 1999 the new water well was put in service for the Little League Parks Sprinkler systems and a New Backstop will be placed on the Senior Baseball Field for the 2000 Season. The league also started building a large "Pavilion" next to the refreshment stand the cement floor was poured in the fall of 1999 and will hold several picnic tables it will be completed for the 2000 season.

The League takes great pride in this Facility. Many people over the years have contributed time and money to make this facility one of the best in Little League Programs. We hope that you will also take pride in this Park as a Resident of Clayton.
Records of Clayton Community Little League from the Records of
H. Taylor Bell 1957 - 1999