Long ago on independence square (Hannibal, Clinton: fowler, Christian, butler)

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Wasn't it SAM's PARKING that was directly behind the left field fence? Those were the high price parking spots. Never parked there, but the cost might have been $5.

At one point, under Charley Finley, a relief pitcher was brought out from center field in a Green and Gold Chevrolet hardtop with "A's" painted on the gold (actually yellow) top. The car stuck to the outfield warning, headed to the right field line and turned towards home hugging the right field line until the car got to first base or so and then let the relief pitcher out.

Harry Truman was brought in that way one time but I forget what the occasion was--maybe to throw the first pitch of the season.

Yes, it was SAM's over the left fence. Lincoln parallel to third base. Over first base I guess you were looking down at the intersection (the site pictured in the photo a few pages back) Over the right field wall was an adjacent street and also 2-3 story houses where people would sometimes watch from afar.

I also remember the car, Harvey the Rabbit delivering the new baseballs to the home plate umpire, and the open doors directly in the centerfield fence where you could walk to you car (along the warning track) after the game.

I saw a Youtube of Larsen's perfect WS game and the Yankee fans exited via the same route, which reminded that Municipal had the same setup.

[MRG Dallas]

[quote=CaseyMO;34452139]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

I was in Boy Scouts with Russ Morman's father. Russ is now a manager for a AA team in Virginia.

I've seen a Morman barber shop listed in the Main/Lexington part of Polk's before . . . I think on the Milgram's side. Any relation?

[CrownVic95]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

That is the old Lincoln High School with the smokestack on the left.

As I recall you could go to the top row of the upper deck, third base line, and peer over onto the school across the street

I heard a story years ago when I lived there that Frank White went to that school and watched some of the games from it's top floor....dreaming of one day playing in the big leagues.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by CrownVic95

I heard a story years ago when I lived there that Frank White went to that school and watched some of the games from it's top floor....dreaming of one day playing in the big leagues.

Yes, Frank White is a graduate of Lincoln. Talk about a dream most of us had as kids coming true! As you probably know, he was discovered thru Ewing K's "Academy" not thru draft or traditional free agency.

[CaseyMO]

[quote=MRG Dallas;34456324]

Originally Posted by CaseyMO

I've seen a Morman barber shop listed in the Main/Lexington part of Polk's before . . . I think on the Milgram's side. Any relation?

That I do not know. Interestingly, on the west side of Main in one of the first buildings south of Lexington was Norfleet's Barber Shop. I was also in Boy Scouts with his son. I will ask Mr. Morman if his dad owned a barber shop on Main or Lexington.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Some discussion please.

Just how did the City of Independence get its name??


"the name was given in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence" according to a 1937 University of Missouri thesis. I guess I had not heard this before. I guess I had not thought about it much but I thought I learned a few years ago that the town was named due to the Independent nature of Andrew Jackson, after whom the county was named.

The Examiner ran a story in 2011 quoting from the WL Webb book (maybe 1927) about the history of Independence saying that soldiers from Fort Osage were under siege in 1816 from Indians for a two week period and thought their situation was hopeless. Finally, they abandoned the fort at a run. While being chased, they made a number of camps, including one on the future site of Independence Square.

While camped there, it was learned the Indians had given up the chase and had disappeared across the Missouri River prompting the wife of the General leading the troops to proclaim that they had won their Independence. Whereupon the commander said the place would be named Independence Camp. A few years later the town was laid out on that site.

Color me skeptical. I thought I had heard before that the fort did not have any troubles with Indians. Additionally, I would question why a general officer would be at the post.

And now another alleged answer, courtesy of Ted Stillwell's column today. Jackson County was named in honor of General Andrew Jackson. Independence was also, in honor of his "character of independence."

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

And now another alleged answer, courtesy of Ted Stillwell's column today. Jackson County was named in honor of General Andrew Jackson. Independence was also, in honor of his "character of independence."

I wonder where he got the information.


All the information on Jackson seems to say that he was an S.O.B. with ice water in his veins and made enemies of everyone except the American people.


If I recall correctly, Andrew Jackson forced the removal of the Cherokee tribe in Georgia to present day Oklahoma even though they did not want to go.


The Cherokee tribe took the issue to the Supreme Court and won their case.


However, Jackson said something similar to “John Marshall has made his decision now let him enforce it.”


Jackson then uprooted the Cherokee and forced them at military gunpoint to move creating a Trail of Tears along the way.


Back then, apparently, no one, even lawyers, wanted to buck the authority of the President even if the Supreme Court ruled against his decisions.


It is a little more complicated than that since Congress passed an Indian Removal Act in 1830, but nevertheless the Cherokee did not want to go but had to because of Jackson.

Independence was named before this time, though, and Jackson did not become President until 1829.

[WCHS'59]

Okay all you baseball aficionados out there.

In the old days, let us say at Municipal Stadium and maybe at Chrysler Stadium, the batter waiting in the on deck circle used to limber up his swing by placing one or more weighted "doughnut" rings on his bat and then practiced swinging away.

Tonight in a Colorado/San Francisco game, I noticed the on deck batter was using what looked like a weighted "collar" or "grommet" ring five or so inches long.

When did they change? And how come?

[WCHS'59]

Frank White is currently the first base coach for the Kansas City (Kansas) T-Bones baseball team.

[MRG Dallas]

Got my JC Historical Society newsletter and couldn't help but be impressed by the monthly line up of upcoming one hour topics @ "The Historic Truman Courthouse" Saturdays 1-2 pm

Tomorrow April 26: Winding the Clock on Independence Square: JC's Historic Truman Courthouse

May 31 Deaths on Pleasant Street: The Ghastly Engiman of Col. Swope and Dr Hyde

June 21 On Slavery's Border: Missouri's Small Slaveholding Households, 1815-1865

July 12 Gangland Wire: KC Mafia and River Quay

August 16 Postcards as the Original Social Media

Sept 6 Merchants of Independence: International Trade on the SF Trail

Oct. 11 150th Ann. of The Battle of Little Blue; 2nd Battle of Independence, and Battle of Westport

Nov. 8 Christmastime in KC

Would love to attend each of these, even the ones during college football season !