The Boys of Summer 1953
Photos & Memories of a Championship Year
In August 2003 The Birmingham Public Library commemorated the fiftieth
anniversary of the year the Birmingham all-stars won the Little League World
Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Birmingham won the final game of the
series beating Schenectady, New York, in a narrow 1- 0 pitching contest.
Move your cursor over the photograph to see their names.
Team Roster: Ralph Boyer, Anthony Cherry, Dicky
DeRoberts, Ed Donahoo, Percy Goodwin, Bruce Gordon, Richard Green,
Jim Hicks, Joe Johnson, Ken McCain, Joe Sims, Roy Strickland, Joe
Mack Thaxton, Bradley Wideman Managers: Jack
Kinney, Emmett Goodwin, John Creamer Birmingham Little
League Commissioner: Joe Savage
Photo Gallery - The Boys of Summer 1953
Click a photograph below to launch the gallery.
In August 2003 The Birmingham Public Library commemorated the fiftieth
anniversary of the year the Birmingham all-stars won the Little League
World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Birmingham won the final
game of the series beating Schenectady, New York, in a narrow 1- 0
pitching contest.
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Birmingham, Alabama, 1953
Southside Little League All-Stars after winning the city championship
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Birmingham, Alabama, 1953
Birmingham All-Stars
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Birmingham, Alabama, 1953
City Trophy
Left to right: Bruce Gordon, Bradley Wideman, Joe Sims
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Birmingham, Alabama, 1953
Pitcher, Bruce Gordon & Catcher, Ed Donahoo
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Little League World Series
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 1953
Families and fans
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Little League World Series
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 1953
Percy Goodwin
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Little League World Series
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 1953
In the dugout
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Little League World Series
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 1953
Kenny McCain
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Little League World Series
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 1953
Anthony Cherry scores in a 10-2 victory over Virginia
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Little League World Series
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 1953
Left fielder Kenny McCain, seated
Outfielder Richard Green, coaching
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Little League World Series
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 1953
Bruce Gordon was safe at third on a passed ball in the first
inning of the championship game. Dicky DeRoberts' RBI single
scored Gordon for the 1-0 win. New York's third baseman,
Jim Barbieri, later played for the LA Dodgers.
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Little League World Series
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 1953
World champions celebrate
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Little League World Series
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 1953
Champions
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Birmingham, Alabama, 1953
Team arriving at Terminal Station with the World Series trophy
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Birmingham, Alabama, 1953
Champions celebrating with cake at Terminal Station
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Birmingham, Alabama, 1953
Victory parade on 19th Street at 4th Avenue North
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Birmingham, Alabama, 1953
Victory parade on 5th Avenue North between 21st and 20th Streets
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Birmingham, Alabama, 1953
With the championship trophy
Left to right: Ralph Boyer, Ed Donahoo (behind Mr. Henry Donahoo), Mr. Joe Savage (Southside Little League Commissioner), Jack Kinney and John Creamer (co-managers)
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Birmingham, Alabama, 1953
Team receiving commemorative watches from Epp's Jewelers
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Birmingham, Alabama, 1953
Team receiving commemorative bats
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
Birmingham, Alabama, 1953
TV personality Benny Carle (far right) honoring the team
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon
photographs courtesy of Little League Baseball and Bruce Gordon