Cooperstown’s Doubleday Field has been known through the decades to draw crowds of 10,000 or so to exciting ball games.
But in the spring of 1940, a crowd of this size came for a different reason.
As the Otsego Farmer of May 10 reported, “Saturday, June 1st will be one of the great days for adults at the Camporee and Circus of Otschodela Council, Boy Scouts of America, at Cooperstown.
“Feature events of the three-day encampment on historic Doubleday Field — the mammoth parade, band concert and circus will come that afternoon. If you love a parade — and who does not — if you enjoy band music and the amazing feats of the circus ring, you will go with the Scouts of your community to the Otsego County seat where you are assured of one of the greatest thrills of your life.
“Captain Daniel E. Fox of Troop C, State Police, general chairman of the event, reports that practically every Scout Troop in Otsego, Schoharie and Delaware counties will be camped on the ground made famous as the birthplace of baseball a hundred and one years ago, now surrounded by a giant stadium with seats for thousands of people.” That stadium was still brand new, having been completed in early 1939.
“The committee announced last week that (Jimmy) Braddock, Cinderellaman of boxing and of American youth, will attend the entire program. A personal friend of Captain Daniel E. Fox…Braddock has long been interested in American youth, and, the committee pointed out, is one of the foremost Scouters from standpoint of activity and ability.” Braddock was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1935 to 1937.
Organizers and campers had to be pleased, as the Farmer of June 7 reported, “With an estimated attendance of over 10,000, including over 1,200 Boy Scouts and their leaders, the biennial camporee…proved one of the most successful events in the history of that organization and opened with a smashing hit what promises to be another great summer season in this historic village, which is celebrating the Sesquicentennial of its illustrious son, James Fenimore Cooper.
“Attendance figures include a crowd of some 8,000 at the circus on Doubleday Field, Saturday afternoon, a large attendance at the Council fire and public Court of Honor at the Otsego Lake Front Park Saturday night and well over 2,000 at the convocation at Doubleday Field Sunday morning.
“Scouts commenced arriving at Doubleday Field on Friday morning when the battalion from Walton with a row of uniform tents and complete camping equipment was pitched on the historic field. Intermittently throughout the day new contingents came in until the entire outfield of base ball’s cradle had been transformed into a tented colony and the playground of the Cooperstown Academy, which adjoins the field on the east had also been completely filled.”
Groundskeepers no doubt had a task ahead of them after the camporee, turning around the field into playable condition, as the Farmer of June 7 also told readers, “The major leagues, cooperating with the Cooperstown Baseball committee offer Central New York fans a base ball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs, Thursday, June 13.
“Strange to say this is the first completely major league contest ever played on Doubleday Field. Last year the Yankees met the Newark Bears of the minors and the Philadelphia Athletics play the Penn Athletic Club. Many other big time players were here last summer and played ball, but they played as stars; not as clubs.”
Interestingly, the Scouting circus event outdid the ball game for attendance, as over 4,000 saw the rain-shortened game, with a final of Cubs 10, Red Sox 9.
“Through trains on the New York Central made stops at Fort Plain Thursday morning to drop off the players for their day’s appearance in Cooperstown. A committee of Cooperstown citizens drove their own cars to Fort Plain and brought the players here over the Otsquaga and Leatherstocking Trails.
“When the umpire shouted the welcome ‘Play Ball’ the big leaguers went to work on a diamond that was in perfect condition, which was a testimonial to the excellent care provided by the village Doubleday Field committee and the wonderful work performed by ‘Len’ Rayner last spring when it was being constructed under his direction.
On Wednesday, visitors of a wide variety converged on the region in June 1955.