https://www.flickr.com/photos/122746713@N04/50238938101/
Pictured above is a team photo of the 1894 Selinsgrove town team. This team competed with neighboring towns and went toe to toe with the best of the best from the time period. Even garnering the respect to be recognized as one of the greatest town teams ever created in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. This team really set the ground running for a rich history of baseball in the county. Even if it took a couple decades later for Selinsgrove to fully adopt baseball.
In the early 1900s, the citizens of Selinsgrove and the towns nearby would come out (usually by trolly) to Rolling Green Park to watch some amateur baseball games. Back when the park was full of life, there would be games of all kinds being played on its turf, with baseball taking up a full section of the park. Games that would be played here would include local town teams, school teams, and even charity events of such.
https://www.topozone.com/pennsylvania/snyder-pa/park/rolling-green-amusement-park/
(Map of where old Rolling Green Park was located)
The Selinsgrove area has had some success in its athletes. Jack Keller (pictured above) was awarded a tryout in front of the Saint Louis Cardinals in Bloomsburg. Keller was known in the area as an all-around athlete, succeeding in all sports, and all positions. So, it was no surprise when he got the call that he was invited to this professional league tryout i 1954. And, after having a successful tryout, Jack Keller was offered a contract to attend the Cardinals spring training the following year down in Georgia in the Grapefruit league.
In Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, there weren’t just town teams and school teams. Sometimes the citizens of the town would come together to play a charity baseball game amongst themselves. In 1898, there were two teams formed, the Fatmen vs the Leanmen, to play in this charity match. This would later become an annual tradition, with the teams officially being named the Fats vs the Thins. The tradition lasted for many decades.
The Selinsgrove Area Little League was established in the mid-1900s. Ever since, it has brought joy to the town, and has allowed young children to live out their dreams of playing baseball (and now softball). When the leagues were first founded, local newspapers would heavily promote the games facing off against other towns. Watching some of their own, no matter how young, represent the town brought the citizens a sense of pride.
After completing their miraculous run through the Pennsylvania state championship, the 2019 team was awarded with not only a trophy and lifetime of memories, but a parade to further their accomplishments. The parade for the state champions Seals proved to the neighboring towns that baseball was back in Selinsgrove, and it was there to stay. It was the program’s first ever state winning team, as “The Grove” celebrated another title just a few short years later.
Susquehanna University’s baseball program is one of the most accomplished programs in the Landmark conference, winning four Landmark championships, including one in 2023. The town has always been an advocate supporter for this team, as citizens enjoy watching the teams’ games from the hill behind the right field wall. Susquehanna also has more NCAA tournament victories than the rest of the conference combined, adding to their historic legacy. With the university being a staple in the town’s history, any success that these programs have, represent the support that the town continues to offer.
