Augusta Little League Baseball

History History of Augusta Little League Baseball in the city of Augusta has a long and storied history. Back in the old days when the Augusta Millionaires fielded future Red Sox stars, teams representing and sponsored by the area mills in town leagues, Cony High School and its success, and of course the local Babe Ruth Teams and Little League teams with its championships. All of it has to start somewhere however, and the launch pad for most has always been at the Little League level. Little League in Augusta Maine has not had its history meticulously recorded over time. Some information is known facts, and some is hearsay and perhaps even legend. It is believed that we gained our charter for Little League in 1959. However, there is evidence of Little League existing in the city of Augusta as far back as 1951. This evidence is from player certificates dated as such. Also, the HOMETOWN PICTORIAL, from The Boston Sunday Advertiser dated July 27, 1952, features a double page article with pictures of all the Little League teams, Umpires, Board of Directors, and Volunteers. Within that article are teams sponsored by Fort Western Motors, Merrill’s Esso, Wadleigh Fuel, Harco Sporting Goods, Patterson Greenhouses, D.W. Adams, Lathe Fuel, and Purington Bros. The article states that there were two leagues with each team playing 18 games. The top team from the two leagues won the “Ben Houser” trophy and held onto it for a year. The commissioner of both the leagues in 1952, was Joe Gambino Sr. Other founders of the league included Ben Houser, former Bowdoin baseball coach and a Braves scout, Don Brenn who played for the Giants, Fred C. Kenney, and Sylvio “Turk” Gilbert associated with the Red Sox for over 20 years. Little League back then however was not chartered under the umbrella of Little League International. It was more or less considered a “boys league”. All games were played at the Williams School complex. In the year 1959, under President Jack Maasen, Augusta East, South, and North all received their official Little League Charters. The legal work for the charters was done by Stanley Sproul. It is this year that Augusta East began play at what is now known as the Capitol Area Recreation Association, CARA, complex. In 1959 Augusta East had one field, which would later become the Farm League field with the addition of a new field in 1964. The Farm League field stood where the State offices are now found at the complex, within the parking lot area. The 1960’s brought quite a bit of change and growth. 1964 saw the completion of what is now known as Rivelli Field. The field itself was dedicated to Ray Rivelli in May. Ray passed away unexpectedly ten days before opening day. In fact, Ray had no sons of his own. He was simply a man who loved the game of baseball and would set up a batting tee on Mayflower Street and teach the neighborhood boys the art of hitting. It was here that a young Donald Sproul was promised by Ray that he would someday play for Ray