PLAY BALL: Our tiny item about Bradford’s minor league ball
teams drew some quick response:

Bill Bedell of Jacksonville, Fla., writes, “Ahhh, the ‘Ball
Yard’ Home of the Bradford Blue Wings and later the Bradford
Phillies. The Blue Wings had the ‘Knot Hole Gang.’ We were out in
right field and chased a lot of foul balls out that way.”

“Rusty Hetrick was the bat boy and, on occasion, I got to be the
visiting team batboy. Danny Carnevalle was one manager and played
second base or shortstop, I think.

“Lew Krause Sr. was a manager for several years and later went
on to manage the Kansas City Royals and his son Lew Jr. pitched in
the bigs for a number of years. Also think that Jimmy Owens pitched
for Bradford while in the Phillies organization before going on to
the parent company.

“The field was in Foster Brook right beside the Erie Railroad
Track. Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey circus came to town and
set up in the parking lot at the Ball Park. Parked the Circus Train
right beside the field.

“Got a ride to the park on more than one occasion with the
Krauses when thumbing a ride on Jackson Avenue.

“Those were great times in great little city! If you got in
trouble anywhere, chances were your parents knew about it before
you got home.

“I enjoy reading RTS every day and have been an avid fan since
the ’50s.”

Lola C. Scneider of Deltona, Fla., writes.: “I remember the ball
club in Bradford and my family were faithful attendants. It was
located where Speers is on Bolivar Drive and Seaward Avenue.
Everyone knew when my mother attended as she had a cowbell on a
handle her brother had made and it rang out frequently.”

Jean Kan Hall of Sun Lakes, Ariz., writes: “Regarding the minor
league baseball team in Bradford, my father, Steve Kan, had what
might be called a refreshment stand. The ballpark was located in
Bolivar Run. I cannot recall the name of the other street on which
it cornered.”

FIRST FILM: We all know the Zippo lighter has been in many, many
movies. A curious readers asks, what was the very first movie in
which a Zippo was used? Despite our many “Zippo sightings” over the
years, we don’t know the answer to this question.