The Pelham Firemen Baseball Team in 1926

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For many years in the early 20th century, firemen in the Village of North Pelham had a baseball team known as the Pelham Firemen (aka the "Smokeaters").  The team was a "semi-pro" team that had a storied history and became a Pelham athletic institution,  Indeed, the team placed a number of ball players including Paddy Smith and Bob Cremins in the Major League and others such as Ed Lohman in what we would call today the Minors. I have written before about the team and some of its members.  See:

Thu., Feb. 15, 2018:  Baseball Battles Between Pelham Firemen and the Ossining All-Stars in 1926.

Mon., Jan. 29, 2018:  Famed Pelham Athlete Bob Cremins Made the Boston Red Sox Team in 1927.

Wed., Jan. 11, 2017:  Baseball Star Paddy Smith of Pelham.

In 1926 and 1927, the Pelham Firemen repeatedly battled a team known as the Ossining All-Stars for bragging rights within Westchester County. The baseball battles between the two teams were known as "old time feuds" and typically involved thrilling, and surprisingly good, baseball entertainment for very large crowds of spectators. The local newspaper, The Pelham Sun, carried lengthy and breathless accounts of the games.

In 1926, the Manager of the team was Abe Zernoski.  The coach was Sergt. J. Taylor.  The team had a "mascot" (a young boy who likely served as a batboy) named Bernard Marvel.  Bob Cremins pitched and played outfield.  Other members of the team included W. "Basche" Smith, Ed Lohman, Robert "Bob" Reilly, W. Cassin, O. Smith, E. Lyon, H. Aurisy, R. Aurisy, A. Halliday, and W. Reilly.  

Near the end of the 1926 season, The Pelham Sun published a summary of the team's performance and a wonderful photograph of the team.  As of mid-August of that season, Bob Cremins was the batting leader with an incredible average of .467.  Bache Smith was hitting .333.  The team's record was 9 wins and 7 losses.  It should come as no surprise that the article also made much of the rivalry between the Pelham club and the Ossining All Stars.  The two teams battled each other for primacy throughout much of the late 1920s.

Both the team photograph and the description of the 1926 season make for interesting reading for students of Pelham history.  Both are included below.

"Back row left to right:  --  A. Zernoski (Mgr.), W. Smith, R. Cremins, R. Reilly,

W. Cassin, E. Lohman, O. Smith, E. Lyon, Sergt. J. Taylor (Coach).  Front

Row:  --  H. Aurisy, H. Smith, R. Aurisy, B. Marvel (Mascot), A. Halliday, W.

Reilly (Captain), J. Flanagan."  Source:  PELHAM FIREMEN'S BASEBALL

TEAM, The Pelham Sun, Aug. 13, 1926, Vol. 17, No. 24, p. 1, cols. 3-5.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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"Starting the season with what appeared to be just a regular small town team, the Pelham Fire Department nine has worked its way up until now it ranks with the best in Westchester and is regarded as one of the biggest drawing cards in the County.  Wherever they have played, their services have always been in demand for a return game because their style of play is clean.  So far this season, they have won nine and lost seven games.  Three of these losses have gone into extra innings, said games being dropped to the Mt. Kisco Indians, the Ossining All Stars whom they later defeated, and the Yonkers K. of C.

Up to date, the boys have been batting at a .277 clip, which coupled with the good pitching of the hurling staff accounts largely for their success.  Bob Cremins, pitcher and outfielder is leading the sluggers with a percentage of .467.  He has been to bat 30 times and has hit fourteen times.  W. 'Basche' Smith is the second leading batter.  His average to date is .333.  He has been to bat 24 times and has hit 8 times.

Ed Lohman who has undertaken most of the assignments on the mound for the 'smoke-eaters' has proven his worth on all occasions.  Cremins, W. Reilly, and J. Rheinhardt have also distinguished themselves on the mound for the locals.

Arrangements are being made for a three-game series between the Firemen and Ossining All Stars for the semi-pro championship of Westchester.  It took Ossining twelve innings to turn the trick in the first game when they won 4-3.  In the second appearance of the 'smoke-eaters,' they returned with the bacon, beating the All-Stars 2-0.  Pelham has dropped a contest to the Tuckahoe A. C., the same team being defeated by the Ossining aggregation.  Pelham will have a chance to avenge their defeat at the hands of the Tuckahoe nine in two weeks, and this will give the fans a chance for a closer comparison of the two teams.  Fans are eagerly looking forward to this series with the Ossining team as they are certain the locals now have the number of the All Star outfit, and will take them over in the majority of the games."

Source:  PELHAM FIREMEN'S BASEBALL TEAM, The Pelham Sun, Aug. 13, 1926, Vol. 17, No. 24, p. 1, cols. 3-5.

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