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Bailey Avenue - the Search is On
When I was a kid in Plattsburgh, there was no more spectacular sight than watching a night baseball game at Bailey Avenue Ballpark. For the younger crowd, that would be in the vicinity of the current Penfield Park with its Little League field, Lefty Wilson Baseball Field and the football field. With the multitude of bright lights against the dark night sky and the massive grandstand for the fans, the whole scene was just spectacular.
I can remember the first time I ever saw this, and I wasn't even at the park. My Uncle Viv, my grandmother's brother, Vivian Venne, lived on Bailey Avenue. His wife Elizabeth still resides there. Uncle Viv brought my father and me up to the roof of his garage, which overlooked the park. I was about six years old, so that would have been around 1954. The lights, the sky, the grandstand full of people, the murmur of the crowd - I was in awe. That would be my most impressive sight until 1958 when my father brought me to Yankee Stadium. That place was even bigger than Bailey Avenue Park.
Later in my sports career I would have some memorable moments at the Bailey Avenue Park. After watching teams like the Plattsburgh Majors and Plattsburgh Falcons on this diamond I had the opportunity to play my first night baseball game. I was playing first base for Copeland's Oil, a Babe Ruth League team, when tragedy struck. Third baseman Phil Dubuque drifted under an infield popup. Looking into the lights Phil lost track of the ball and it landed smack down on the bridge of his nose. Phil was taken to the hospital with a broken nose and I was left hoping no one would hit an infield popup my way.
Later, in high school ball, I remember watching from the left-handed batter's box while southpaw Alan Beaubriand fired bee-bees at me from the mound. I was trying to hit against him, but never saw the three pitches. I never swung at one of them. When I returned to the bench Coach John Flynn gave me a little grin and quietly said, "You have to swing if you want to hit it." I just shook my head, and said, "Coach, I never saw the pitches."
In the next game I would hit one to deep right field, sending the right fielder to the fence before he could catch it. When I returned to the bench Coach Flynn said, again with a little grin, "Nice one!" I just smiled back, seeing his look of surprise that his skinny 140-pound first baseman (yeah, that's me!) could hit it that far.
In one of my final games at Bailey Avenue Park I pitched against the Plattsburgh High School Hornets. I really wasn't a pitcher. My fastball could be better described as a fatball. And I had this little knuckle-curve ball. Nothing like the curve balls that Jim Baker or Hal West or Johnny Mooney used to fire.
Anyway I took to the mound against the mighty Hornets and gave up two runs in the first inning. But Coach Flynn was sticking with me for the long haul. In the second inning with one out, the Hornets loaded the bases on a walk and a couple of line shots up the middle. Into the batter's box steps Hector Duquette. Oh, sure, Hector's my friend now. But in those days Hector didn't even know who this little Gagnon pitcher was. He showed me no respect! Hey, here I was just starting to shave and there was Hector in his Plattsburgh Sesqui-Centennial beard! This was an obvious mismatch!
I decided to fool the old fellow with my knuckle-curve. Well, it didn't knuckle and it didn't curve. I saw the look of fear on my catcher Dennis Mooney's face. Hector swung and smacked a double off the center field wall, which was about a 450-foot ride in that park. He cleared the bases. So much for Coach Flynn sticking with me for the long haul. I was done in an inning and a third. And Hector smiled at second base.
For years I've tried to find a picture of this Bailey Avenue ballpark, especially one showing the grandstand. I checked the old newspapers at the Press Republican. I asked my cousin Ronald Venne if he had a picture in his large collection of photographs. I have spoken to many "old-timers," but no one seems to have a photograph showing the grandstand area of Bailey Avenue.
So, here's my world-wide plea. Is there anyone who has such a photo? I'd gladly buy someone a few sodas as a reward!
Comments
Dear Foxy:
My class is doing research on the history of Plattsburgh for the podcasts they are making about special sites and people of our area. I told them how you were looking for a picture of the grandstands. One of my students, Kagan, found a photo of the grandstands in "Clinton County: A Pictorial History" by the Bicentennial Celebration Committee. On page 122, there is a picture with the caption: "Clinton County Agricultural Society Fairgrounds were located on Bailey Avenue in Plattsburgh in 1900. Courtesy of the Clinton County Historical Museum."
Hope this helps! (PS: You owe Kagan a Coke and me a Pepsi!)
Have a great day -
Mrs. Light, Stafford Middle School, English
(Foxy's note: I will be tracking this down ASAP. I'll be at Stafford Middle School soon and will be glad to provide what you ask! Thanks to you and Kagan!)
Posted by: Marjorie Light | January 25, 2007 2:01 PM
Foxy: Do you have Wick Cadieux's email address? I grew up with him around the F&L grocery store. You bring back some great memories. Bailey ave park was my home during the summer. Played ball, inside during the day and watch games at night from the fence. Trying to steal baseballs that were hit foul over the fence. Thanks for you time. Fred F.
(Foxy's note: Fred, will e-mail you privately tomorrow with Wick's e-mail address.)
Posted by: Fred Forkey | October 16, 2006 8:55 PM
As a high school football player for PHS in the late '60s, there was never a greater thrill than entering Bailey Avenue park for a Friday night or Saturday afternoon game and hearing the thunderous roar of the crowd from that packed grandstand! A memory to cherish for many "wanna be college players" who never had the opportunity to play after they left high school!
Posted by: Woody | October 14, 2006 9:11 AM
I remember my first game in Bailey Ave, as part of the Pee Wee team from Dannemora. Our bus driver Amos Coutre had trouble finding the park in the big city. We brought a crafty left handed pitcher, Rich Daul. In that championship game Rich threw a perfect game. We took home the championship and I kept this vision of the great grandstand and hearing fans actually cheering for us. Later on I had to face Rich when he was pitching for OLVA.
(Foxy's note: Great comment from one of St. John's Academy's all-time most-competitive athletes, Pat Gregory. Yes, that senior year at OLVA (1962-63) Richie Daul teamed up with Carl King and Terry Polhemus to lead the Foxes in football, basketball and baseball.)
Posted by: Pat Gregory | October 7, 2006 8:55 PM
IT WAS GREG DUGUETTE NOT GARY. GREG WENT ON TO PLAY FOR PENN STATE.
Posted by: wick cadieux | October 4, 2006 9:07 AM
I REMEMBER BAILEY BACK IN 1966. I WAS PLAYING FOR PHS AGAINST MAI. GARY DUQUETTE WAS THE
QUARTERBACK. I WAS PLAYING LINEBACKER. HE WAS ON THE ONE YARD LINE AND I CAME IN THE GAME BUT I FORGOT MY HEMLET. WE HAD TO CALL A TIMEOUT SO I COULD GET MY HEMLET. THE PLACE WAS FULL. THEN GARY WENT RIGHT OVER ME FOR THE TD.THAT WAS HARD TO LIVE DOWN FOR A LONG TIME. EVERYBODY IN TOWN JOKED ABOUT IT.
Posted by: wick cadieux | October 3, 2006 10:25 PM
Foxy- After our brief discussion this AM in front of the Post Office, I went home and spent the morning going through old family pictures. I'm afraid that I couldn't find a one of the old Bailey Ave. Park. I do have many great memories of the Park. My Grand father Bill Carr provided The PA equipment for the park from the 1930's through the 70's. I had the pleasure of being the PA announcer from the early 60's until the old grandstand was torn down.
Before that I watched the Plattsburgh Carlings and Falcons and others play ball there. Before TV baseball was a great way to spend a summer evening.
I still have all my Grandfathers PA equipent in my cellar. The horns, the crystal mike and the amplifer, which he made with old vacuum tubes.
Because he furnished the PA for the wrestling matches we had a front row seat, whenever we attended.
I can remember my Dad, who was a quiet reserved educated man, becoming very emotional when a Japanese wrestler was overpowering a French Canadian favorite. It was one of the few times I ever heard my Dad curse.
I'll continue to look for photos of the old ballpark, surely some must reside in the Press Republican archives.
(Foxy's note: Ed, thanks for the try ... and for sharing some memories!)
Posted by: Ed Lavigne | October 2, 2006 1:58 PM
That old Bailey Avenue grandstand was built, I believe, for the county fair - Bailey Avenue field was the old county fairgrounds. The baseball field back then was the block bounded by Oak, Bailey, Lynde and Riley. Home plate was where my Dad lives @ the corner of Oak & Bailey. My grandfather played ball there when he played for PHS, class of 1911.
Posted by: Miney Rowlson | October 2, 2006 8:01 AM
I was in the middle of my lengthy explanation when my left finger slipped the post column.
The swamp in back of BP was replete with snakes, bull frogs and plenty of mosquitoes it was a very interesting place. Across Boynton Ave is vestigial structure from at least the 19th cen.
The model for downtown Plattsburgh was urban despite the population and places that you mentioned like the Witherill, Union, Cumberland and Monopole (PB Finnan's - because Tommy Finnan II owned it and managed the Cumberland Hotel with the Bamboo Room and yes that's where the Greyhound used to stop.
Later, got lots, Gary Snow, Beverly Hills
Posted by: gary snow | October 1, 2006 5:13 PM
Like the Old Timer, I too remember the Old Green Grandstand with many fond memories. I too sold soda, peanuts and popcorn during the wrestling matches and got to meet the wrestlers who used the locker rooms under the grandstand. The Mighty Atlas, (I believe his son went to MAI). There were many Japanese wrestlers and the midget wrestlers were a lot of fun to watch and talk to. They even had a couple of Ladies wrestling cards for the fans delight.
The semi-pro baseball was the best, The Majors, the Carlings and the Falcons. I wonder if the Old Timer remembers when the "Old Gas House Gang" came to town. That was baseball. Talk about a packed house. Like the Old Timer, I too had the opportunity to play a few games with the Falcons back in 1958. While the coaches at the time, Barry Branon and Bob Garrow were waiting for some of the key players to get home from college, like Peter Cronin and Warren "Lefty" Tessier, they had some of the local high school players fill in, it was quite exciting.
High school footbgall games that I played in and broadcast from that place hold many memories. Like many in this area Friday night and Saturday afternoon at Bailey Avenue in the fall was the place to be.
(Foxy's note: Well said, Mike! Is it just a coincidence that the grandstand was green, the color of the St. John's Irish? I remember Rod Dame and I were going to try to sneak over the fence one night and paint a section maroon and gold!)
Posted by: Mike Mannix | September 29, 2006 9:24 AM
Oh the young Foxman always tweaking the inner depths of memories. Bailey Ave. Ballpark. Started going there in the late 30's with my father to see baseball. Later became a peanut and soda vendor for the wrestling matches and the ball games. At the time the steps to top of the stands seemed to go on for ever, especially with my short legs. I think that the gentleman that ran the concession stand at the time was Carl Mayette. He also was the owner of the Cozy Corner on the corner of Montcalm and Elm Sts. He was the father of Plattsburgh's own "Little Leprechaun", Dave Mayette. Later on I played high school football under the lights there. In pursuant times I played outfield for the Plattsburgh Falcons with many very good ballplayers, some local and some imported. The crowds in those stands were as impressive as the stands themselves. Many local teams also played there over the years but this may come up in future blogs. Alas I do not have any photos of the famed stands. You mention being related to Ron Venne. If anyone might have pictures of the area, it would be Ron. I considered him an absolute genius. I felt by his death the community lost one of the great recorders of local history. I met him only a couple of times but was fortunate enough to see many of his programs on Home Town Cable. Beside his photograph collection which was huge, his model collection of buildings, vehicles and the like were a story of our area that should be preserved forever in a local museum. Hopefully you will find pictures of the stands and the area. Your best bet may be in the works and collections of Ron if you can get access to them. Let us know if they are being preserved for all of us to utilize and view in the future.
Posted by: The OLD TIMER | September 29, 2006 6:34 AM