Hagerstown in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Willow Lane Park

Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2011

1. Willow Lane Park Marker

Inscription. The school campus was the location of Willow Lane Park in the early 20th Century. It was here that a stadium was constructed to serve as a home to Hagerstown's "Class D" minor league baseball teams. The teams were part of the "Blue Ridge League," which was headquartered in Hagerstown and included teams from Hagerstown, Chambersburg, Frederick, Hanover, Martinsburg, Waynesboro and Gettysburg. The Hagerstown team changed names several times:
1915 - Hagerstown Blues
1916 - 1918 - Hagerstown Terriers
1920 - 1921 - Hagerstown Champs
1922 -1923 - Hagerstown Terriers
1924 - 1930 - Hagerstown Hubs

Two Blue Ridge League players who ultimately went into careers in the Major Leagues and achieve Hall of Fame induction were Robert "Lefty" Grove and Lewis R. "Hack" Wilson. Both played for the Martinsburg teams.

South Patomac Junior High School was built on this site in 1930, and later became Bester Elementary School. Municipal Stadium was constructed in 1930 and the Hubs moved to the new stadium, but the league disbanded the following year due to heavy financial losses brought about by the "Great Depression."

Erected by Maryland Heritage Area.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.

Location.

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39° 37.937′ N, 77° 43.376′ W. Marker is in Hagerstown, Maryland, in Washington County. Marker is on South Potomac Street (Maryland Route 65) near Memorial Blvd West. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hagerstown MD 21740, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jonathan Hager (within shouting distance of this marker); William Thomas Hamilton (within shouting distance of this marker); Jesse Duncan Elliott (within shouting distance of this marker); Ammon H. Kreider & Lewis E. Reisner (within shouting distance of this marker); Before 1770 (within shouting distance of this marker); Maurice Edward Frock (within shouting distance of this marker); Edward Mayberry Mobley (within shouting distance of this marker); Anna Spencer Brugh Singer (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hagerstown.

Also see . . . Remembering the Class D, Blue Ridge League 1915-18, 1920-30. "They had nicknames like "Lefty", "Babe", "Hack", "Chick", "Bugs", "Rube", "Snooks", "Dutch" and "Shorty". They played for the love of the game..." (Submitted on August 13, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Middle Picture image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Willow Lane Park Marker -, `

2. Middle Picture

Jack Hurley (1890-1972) (Mark Zeigler, Boys of the Blue Ridge)

Upper Right Picture image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Willow Lane Park Marker, `

3. Upper Right Picture

William Lane Ballpark, photographed from an airplane in the late 1920s. Rose Hill Cemetery and South Potomac Street are in the background. (Western Maryland Room, Washington County Free Library)

Lower Right Picture image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Willow Lane Park Marker, `

4. Lower Right Picture

The Hagerstown Terriers were the 1917 champions of the Blue Ridge League. Photo from 1916. (Mark Zeigler, Boys of the Blue Ridge)

Willow Lane Park Marker and Bester Elementary School today image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, July 17, 2011

5. Willow Lane Park Marker and Bester Elementary School today

Willow Lane Park Marker with todays view of were the ball field once stood image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, July 17, 2011

6. Willow Lane Park Marker with todays view of were the ball field once stood

across South Potomac Street (MD Route 65)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 911 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 12, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.