Cliff Kachline Chapter unveils historical baseball exhibit in Gloversville, New York
NOVEMBER 29, 2022 — SABR’s Cliff Kachline Chapter, the recipient of a SABR Local Grant in 2022, has completed the creation of a historical exhibit commemorating baseball in upstate New York.
The new display in Gloversville, which also received funding from the Fulton County Baseball and Sports Hall of Fame along with private donations, is on the site of a former minor-league ballpark that served as a home to professional baseball dating back to 1895.
The exhibit tells the story of the Gloversville Glovers, who played in the Class C Canadian-American League from 1937-1951. The display is in the front lobby of the House of Pizza restaurant, which is located on the southwest corner of the former Glovers Park site.
Notable players featured in the exhibit are Chuck Harmon and Jack McKeon. Harmon, a member of the Glovers in 1947 and 1949, would go on to become the first African-American player for the Cincinnati Reds in 1954. McKeon, a 1950 Glover, became a respected manager in both the minor leagues and major leagues, leading the Florida Marlins to a World Series championship in 2003.
The display was built by local carpenter Jeffrey Melucci, who donated his skills and time to the project. The restaurant is located at 219 5th Avenue Extension, corner of Route 30A North, in Gloversville, New York.
For more information on the SABR Local Grants program, visit SABR.org/local-grants.
Originally published: November 29, 2022. Last Updated: November 29, 2022.