Blackstone Valley League

The Blackstone Valley League was a semi-pro summer circuit that operated in Massachusetts in the mid- to late 1920s and again in the late 1940s/early 1950s. It operated hand-in-hand with the textile mills that were a big part of the local economy in those bygone days. The Blackstone Valley, which also extends into Rhode Island, had other industrial leagues too.

In 1988, future Boston Red Sox manager Joe Morgan recalled, "It was a pretty good league, with a lot of guys who went on to Triple-A and some who played in the majors. I know I struggled to hit .270. The league folded after 1952 because of economics."

Morgan, then a shortstop, played with the Hopedale team from 1949 through 1951.

Other alumni of the league include:

Major leaguers

• Josh Billings
• Jim Brideweser
• Hank Camelli
• Walt Dropo
• Gus Dugas
• Wes Ferrell
• Hank Greenberg
• Lefty Grove
• Bump Hadley
• Dick Hall
• Gabby Hartnett
• Tim McNamara
• Lennie Merullo
• Bots Nekola
• Chet Nichols
• Mike Roarke
• Dave Sisler
• Rufus Smith

Minor leaguers

• Tom Casagrande
• Victor Comolli (brother of Hank Camelli)
• Louis Marchegiano (brother of heavyweight boxing champion Rocky Marciano)
• Mo Mozzali
• Eddie McHugh

Among the scouts covering the league was Jeff Jones of the Boston Braves, the team's chief New England scout, who signed Morgan, Roarke, and McHugh.

Bill Summers got his start as an umpire in the Blackstone Valley League.

Related Sites

• Hardball Paternalism, Hardball Politics by Doug Reynolds
• Baseball: Blackstone Valley League short in existence, but long on memories, by Bill Ballou