League turns 75
Little League: It's bigger than a game
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Putnam’s Little League celebrated its 75th year April 18. Christine (Martin) Florence, league president, said “75 years after its founding, “we gather on these same fields connected by something bigger than the game. Generations before us stood right where we stand today. Kids with big dreams, families in the stands, volunteers giving their time simply because they care.”
No organization lives without caring volunteers. The season was dedicated to the late Steve Farner and Bill Rahall. “Their legacy will live on,” she said, “in every player who steps onto this field, every game played and every memory made here.”
The Albee family was honored as well as “the dugouts, the scoreboard and the improvements that brought this place to life” didn’t happen by accident. The family secures donated materials and then “rolled up their sleeves.”
And now, she added, the league has a T-Ball field, Albee Field.
Will Shekleton of Killingly Fence threw out the ceremonial first pitch and the ceremonial first pitch for softball was thrown by Michelle Rahall, daughter of the late Bill Rahall.
Florence said “It’s generations of people showing up, giving back and making things better for the next group of kids.” 
Shekleton said later that he and Parks and Rec Director James Callaghan talked about redoing the fencing at the baseball dugouts and doing the backstop at the softball field. Fencing will be added around the softball dugouts (which were built last year after fund-raising). 
One goal for fund-raising this year, according to Florence, is to redo the baseball field. The baselines need to be recut, the field needs to be sodded and more. The quote for this project is upwards of $14,000/$15,000. They’re also looking at quotes for a new softball scoreboard, probably solar. 
Florence said over the years, “more than 17,000 players have worn a Putnam uniform. That’s 17,000 stories, 17,000 childhoods shaped by summer nights, dusty fields, tough losses and moments that stayed with him long after the game ended. Because what was built here goes far beyond baseball and softball.”
Florence: “Little League has always been more. It’s about life lessons, not just learning the game.” It’s not just competing, but growing, not just playing but becoming.

One 10-year-old who put on the uniform in year one, 1951, was Ronald P. Coderre. He described the team setups and the parade that started around Union Square, along Elm or Main Street (pre-flood – there was no Kennedy Dr.), up Providence Street and to the fields next to the Putnam High School then, now the new Municipal Complex property. He said people lined the parade route “two or three deep” the whole way. Some 600 plus (some say 1,000-plus) watched those first exhibition games.
“The memories are still very vivid. Nice sunny day. I was a pipsqueak and I did get to play one inning I pitched.” He was on the Yankees team. But the uniform said Yanks because Yankees didn’t fit on the uniform.
Seventy five years ago, just like today, none of it happened without dedicated, hard-working volunteers. Coderre said organizations and businesses helped make the league —, the first one in northeastern Connecticut — happen. The Putnam Rotary Club helped. He said Belding Heminway let many of their employees leave early so they could prepare the field for games and more. “Movers and shakers”, from mill workers to dentists, “brought the league to fruition,” he said.
“What impressed me more all these men who put got together shoulder to shoulder and put together Little League for the kids,” They inspired the 10-year-old. He continued their legacy later when he was president of the league, a coach and an umpire. 
“They influenced me. I wanted to pitch in the big league. I said to myself ‘When I get older I want to give back”.” He feels he achieved that service to the Putnam Little League. The experience “made me want to give back in any way I could.” Inspired by Little League.

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The Putnam Little League celebrated its 75th year. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page. More photos on page 6. Linda Lemmon photo.

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The ceremony started with the singing of the National Anthem. 

Christine Florence

1952. Photo courtesy of Ronald P. Coderre

Every player signed the 75th banner.

Mayor Barney Seney, left, and Parks and Rec Director James Callaghan