The first Alabamian inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame will be honored in his hometown of Tuscumbia with a vintage-style baseball game this month.
On May 17, at Heinie Manush Field at Deshler High School, baseball fans will step back in time during the annual Heinie Manush Day celebration with an afternoon of vintage baseball featuring the Franklin Farriers and the Cumberland Club of Nashville.
The vintage game will recreate the look, feel and rules of baseball as it was played in the late 1800s. Players compete using period-style bats and balls, and gloves are not used — meaning catches are made barehanded just as they were generations ago.
Organizers say the event offers a unique opportunity for spectators to experience the charm, sportsmanship and excitement of baseball’s early days while celebrating one of Tuscumbia’s most famous athletes.
Judge Chad Smith, co-chair of the event, said of the event, “My kids absolutely love coming to the game, and they look forward to it every single year. It’s become such a special tradition for our family and for so many families in our community. This year, we invite each and every rec team and travel team to attend and witness the historical beginnings of the game that they love.”
Henry Emmett "Heinie" Manush played for the Detroit Tigers 1923-1927, St Louis Browns 1928-1930, Washington Senators 1930-1935, Boston Red Sox 1936, Brooklyn Dodgers 1937-1938, and Pittsburgh Pirates 1938-1939. From 1923 until 1939, he batted over .300 11 times, nine with averages of .333 or better. He finished with a lifetime batting average of .330 with 110 home runs. In nine of his seasons, he finished in the top 10 in batting.
Heinie Manush Day has been celebrated in Tuscumbia with a vintage baseball game since 2019. Manush was one of Major League Baseball’s standout hitters during the 1920s and 1930s and remains one of Tuscumbia’s most celebrated sports figures. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964.
Admission is free and open to the public. Gates open at 1 p.m., and the game begins at 2 p.m. Concessions will be available for purchase throughout the afternoon.
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