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From the Gowanda PennySaver News "Reflections" series compiled by Mary Pankow. issue date - August 29, 2004

c. 1957

Boys of Summer, 1957 - Before Little League or Junior League baseball came to Gowanda, the Buffalo Evening News sponsored a summer league for boys. Gowanda’s team was created from participants in the village’s recreation program. George Dispenza and Allan Stuhlmiller organized midget and junior teams. This was the 1957 Gowanda Juniors squad. They played teams from Collins Center, Eden, Morton’s Corners, North Collins and Orchard Park, among others. The Western New York championship game was played at Offermann Stadium in Buffalo. Shown here, front row from left, are: Larry Scura, Art Titus, Dave Saffer, Jim Layhew, Doug Chapman, Bill Fedor, Ed Grudzien, Dave Vogtli, Norm Staffin, Bill Palumbo and Paul North. Back row: George Dispenza, Tom Stout, Don Holcomb, Art Palumbo, John Edwards, Roland Moschner, Dick Kewley, Lou Dispenza, Dave Malek and Jim Smith.    (Photo from the Gowanda Area Historical Society, courtesy of Janice Wells and Jessie Saffer.)