A small collection of newspaper articles from the West Schuylkill Herald, Tower City, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, announcing and describing Donkey Ball events in the greater Lykens Valley area. For all other blog posts on this topic, see: Donkey Ball.
The above advertisement from the West Schuylkill Herald, 21 August 1959:
WEST END FIRE COMPANY
SHERIDAN
FRIDAY AUGUST 21
THE MISSILE TONES
Donkey Base Ball
at West End Fire Company, at 8:30 p.m….
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From the West Schuylkill Herald, 23 August 1935:
‘BIG KICK’ FOR FANS AND PLAYERS EXPECTED IN DONKEY BASEBALL
Donkeys, strolling everywhere except where they are supposed to go, will be seen at Tower City, Wednesday, September 4, when Chap Schylaske‘s club will oppose the Sheridan Fire Company team in the first donkey base ball game of the season.
This sport, played on a miniature diamond, will have its hilarity magnified by quips and puns furnished by an announcer over the public address system.
Fourteen trained burros make up an important role in the contest. Seven of them are ridden (?) by the defensive team, all being required to be astride a donkey except the pitcher and catcher. The other balky animals are taken into custody by the batting team.
The umpire who knows all the donkeys and their antics, calls decisions only on the bases, for no strike-outs or walks are permitted.
The game will be called at 5:30 o’clock, Wednesday, September 4, at Firemen’s Park.
More harmless than their names imply, “Dynamite” and “Lightning” will add excitement to the game. “Dynamite,” a trained burro that stages his own show without prompting, delights in sprinting to the shadows of the outfield instead of to first base after he has been mounted by the batter. “Lightning” is not the traveler his aggravating mate is, but he has his own irritating tactics. It is a common practice for him to stop one step from first or second base and remain there while the fielding team rides frantically for the ball. No amount of coaxing can induce “Lightning” to move on.
The Orwin Bean Soup Band will furnish the music. Come and see the fun. Admission: adults, 25 cents; children, 10 cents.
The lineup for the Schylaske team of Muir will be: Hutch Reiner, 1st base; Bull Wert, catcher; Jack Schylaske, center field; Mutz Weaver, 3rd base; Mep Carl, pitcher; Farmer Eisenacher, 2nd base; Dick Reiner, left field; Joseph Hand. Substitutes: Negler Lauver; Shagem Bailey; Fat Eisenacher; Chap Chylaske, manager; Flick Michaels; Foo Romberger; Noah Kohr; Snow Ball Troutman; One-Night Fetterhoff; and Tax Turner.
The Sheridan Fire Company will have the following men on the field: Ken Houtz, pitcher; Joe Houtz, shortstop; Bill Houtz, 3rd base; Charles Bendigo, 2nd base; Charles Zimmerman, center field; Tom Lenker, left field; Charles Nolen, catcher; Pete Raho, 1st base; Yerger, right field. Substitutes will be on hand.
Rules
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- The game will be 7 innings, using 60 ft. base line and 17 inch soft ball.
- To be safe on base, donkey must have one foot in circle.
- To be put out between bases, player must be touched with ball. Touching the donkey does not count.
- Outfielders only can throw the ball when dismounted.
- No player can go out of reach of donkey to field the ball.
- The pitcher and catcher are not mounted.
- There are no strike-outs or walks. Ball must be hit.
- Pitcher and catcher cannot leave boxes to field ball.
- Infielders must be mounted to make put-outs.
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From the West Schuylkill Herald, 9 June 1950:
SPONSORS DONKEY SOFTBALL GAME
June 12 is donkey ball day in Tower City. These unpredictable animals will hold the center of attention at the Veterans Memorial Park as they do their darndest to show the most prominent citizens of the community just how bases ball shouldn’t be played.
Each and every donkey in the game has been thoroughly trained at the Orange J. Ranch in the same manner as a polo pony and training is the humane equivalent of drilling a hole in the top of their skulls and stuffing in Spalding’s latest book of rules.
Those in attendance are urged to take particular notice to Dynamite, the leader of the donkeys. Dynamite has been called more names than the Japs at a Chinese picnic but he is the leader of the herd and unless he is on the field kicking up his usual rumpus, the other donkeys do not seem to take the same interest in the game. Dynamite kicks and bucks and, like a true showman looks to the crowd and laughs heartily as only burros can, whenever he dislodges a ruler.
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From the West Schuylkill Herald, 16 June 1950:
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Miller and son Bobby Miller; Mrs Hilbert Reiner and children Lamar Reiner, Wayne Reiner, Dianna Reiner, and Phyllis Reiner; Miss Patty Klinger and Miss Violet Klinger enjoyed Monday evening at the donkey base ball game.
From the West Schuylkill Herald, 1 August 1958:
DONKEY BALL GAME A GREAT SUCCESS
Despite threatening clouds, lightning, and an uncooperative generator to provide necessary light to play, the Donkey Ball Game, sponsored by the Porter–Tower Lions Club, turned out to be a compete success. Failure of the Buckeye Donkey Ball Company’s generator almost cancelled the game, but after almost an hour’s delay, the game started. Through the cooperation of various civic-minded people in the audience, light was improvised, using power from the high school.
Held for the sole purpose of raising funds for the youngsters participating in the Midget Baseball League, a check for $205.72 was turned over to Mr. Ray Brown, president of the league, by Roy Bush, president of the Lions and Charles Masterson, committee chairman, Thursday evening.
The youngsters of the Midget Baseball League are to be congratulated for the fine job they performed selling the advance tickets. Master Lester Shutt of Sheridan sold the most tickets. A check for $10.00 will be presented to him.
It is the intention of the Lions Club that this money be used to defray expenses incurred through the purchase of the equipment, past and present.
The Lions wish to thank the people of the community for their fine cooperation in putting this project over and also the cooperation and good sportsmanship shown by the Tower–Porter Rotary Club.
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From the West Schuylkill Herald, 25 July 1958:
LIONS CLUB TO SPONSOR DONKEY BASE BALL GAME
It will be an evening of fun at the Porter–Tower Joint School System, Reinerton, Pennsylvania, on July 28, when the Porter–Tower Lions Club will sponsor something entirely different in the world of sport, a Donkey Ball game. This game, that is sweeping the nation, packs thrills, chills and spills. It is fun to the ‘nth degree. It will amuse the adults as well as the kiddies. If you have ever ridden a donkey you know what the players expect. You will want to be among those present when the whistle blows on 8:30 p.m., July 28.
The Lions will oppose the local Rotarians in the Donkey Ball Game for the purpose of raising funds for the the youngsters participating in the Midget Baseball League in this area. As this promises to be an evening of fun, DON’T MISS IT.
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From the West Schuylkill Herald, 21 August 1959:
DONKEY BASE BALL AT SHERIDAN FIRE GROUNDS
A donkey base ball game will be played at the base ball field adjacent to the Sheridan Fire Company building tonight, August 24, at 8:30 o’clock. The West End Fire Company will have as their opponents the Porter-Tower Lions Club. Proceeds of the game will go to the West End Fire Company Truck Fund Club. Admission is 75 cents for adults and 35 cents for students.
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Articles from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.