Over at the Pasadena Star News, Jim McConnell has a great column regarding this historic baseball tournament of many years in Pomona. I knew nothing about it until I read this column. Here's an excerpt:
"It all began in the spring of 1933, when Pomona High baseball coach Stan Acres was able to sell members of the Pomona 20-30 Club on the idea. The event started with an eight-team field, but quickly grew. At its height, the tourney boasted a 48-team field, attracting most of the top high school baseball teams in Southern California.
By the time the Pomona Elks Lodge took over sponsorship, in 1962, the tourney was a staple of the Southland sports scene.
How big was it? Well, by 1935 it was big enough to attract Will Rogers as the keynote speaker at its pre-tourney banquet, and California Governor Frank Merriam to throw out the first ball."
Truly a great thing for the history of the Pomona Valley. Sad that it is now gone.
"Among current major leaguers, Jason Giambi (South Hills) and Mark Kotsay (Santa Fe) are proud "graduates" of the Pomona Tournament. Unfortunately, they are the last of the breed. "
Read the whole column by Clicking Here.
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"What happened?" That question always pops into my head when I think of Pomona. Hopefully, I'll move to "What a change!", very soon.
ReplyDeleteAnother player Acres coached was Bill Singer, who later was a Dodger pitcher, and holds the distinction of recording the first official "save" in MLB when he relieved Sandy Koufax for the win against Cincinnati. He also had a no-hitter, in 1970, I believe.
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