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Posted: Apr 01, 2020 7:33 AMUpdated: Apr 01, 2020 8:33 AM

Today in Oklahoma Sports History - 4/1

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Today in Oklahoma Sport’s History… It was on this day in 1938 that the National Baseball Hall of Fame construction began in Cooperstown, New York.

The Hall of Fame was started by Stephen Carlton Clark, who was the heir to the Singer Sewing Machine fortune.

Clark was hoping to bring tourists to the city, as Cooperstown was hurt by both the Great Depression and prohibition. Hops were a major industry in Cooperstown.

The first five baseball players put in the Hall were Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson – they were chosen in 1936 - 20 more were selected before the entire group was inducted at the Hall's 1939 opening ceremony. P

layers are voted into the Hall of Fame from the Baseball Writers Association of America or via the Veterans Committee.

There are at least four well-known Sooner State baseball players enshrined in Cooperstown.

Bullet Joe Rogan was a pitcher in the Negro Leagues in the 1920s, playing mostly for the Kansas City Monarchs. Rogan was Born in 1889 in Oklahoma City.

Willie Stargell was born in 1940 in Earlsboro. He lived out of state by the time he was a teenager.

Jonny Bench was born in Oklahoma City in1947 but was raised in Binger.  He was named the NL MVP in 1970 and 1972. He was also the 1976 World Series MVP. Bench is widely considered as one of the best catchers of all time.

Mickey Mantle might be the best known Oklahoma baseball player. Mantle was born in Spavinaw in 1931 but spent most of his young life in Commerce.

He played professionally in the minor leagues in Southeast Kansas in the late 1940s. This brought him to Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium in 1949 while playing against the Bartlesville Oilers when Mantle was a member of the Independence Yankees, a Class D affiliate for New York.

 


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