Former Little Leaguers Document Colton's "Road to Williamsport"

Sixty-three years after the start of Little League baseball in Colton, there's now a historical account about it. "This is Colton Little League history," said Ted Housley, who authored the 306-page book completed this year after over two years in the making, his hands carefully opening the transparent spiral-bound cover to reveal the title page: "The Road to Williamsport: My Scrapbook of Memories." In 1956 Housley was one of 15 Colton Little Leaguers who traveled to Williamsport, Pa. that year to play in the Little League World Series. His late brother, Norm, traveled to Williamsport two years before and helped the 1954 All Stars team earn its second place distinction in American Little League baseball. Focusing largely on Colton Little League’s formative years between 1952 and 1956, the book is a tribute not only to its deep roots in the city, but also to the players, coaches, managers and the community who gave their time and supported the program. "About 25 or 30 years ago, people wrote books on Colton history, but there was no mention of Little League baseball in Colton," said Danny Carrasco, a 1954 Colton Little League All Star player who helped Housley conduct research and interviews for the book. "I was very happy to hear that Ted was bringing this up and talking about Little League as it related to Colton history." Dedicated to his parents, Housley’s inspiration to write the book came from the realization of Little League’s historic impact on the community, as well as the love his parents put in to memorialize the experience for him and Norm. Through five chapters, the book covers the beginning of Little League in America with its founding in 1939 by Carl Stotz in Williamsport, through its start in Colton after being formed by the Colton Lion's Club in 1952, and details Little League's impact on life in Colton through 1956, during which time two separate Colton All Star teams competed in the Little League World Series between 1954 and 1956. Some of the biggest impacts at that time were the relationships it solidified. "One of the salient facts was that players met other kids they wouldn't have met if it hadn't been for Colton Little League," said Carrasco. "Our entertainment was Little League. It brought a lot of us together and we all became really good buddies," added Housley. The final chapter includes 20 narrative comments from former Little Leaguers , the first from Max Lofy, a prominent Colton resident who helped bring several beneficial community programs to Colton youth, while another narration is given by Keith Hubbs on behalf of Ken Hubbs, a 1954 All Star team player who went on to play second base with the Chicago Cubs from 1961 to 1963. Ken Hubbs and his friend Dennis Doyle were killed in a plane crash near Provo, Utah in February 1964. Carrasco said his hope was that young players read these narratives and draw inspiration from them, as he did from major ball players like Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax and Bobby Avila when he was a kid. In 2012, the 1954 team was inducted into Colton's Sports Hall of Fame, followed by the 1956 team in 2013. During the 75th anniversary of Little League baseball, members of both teams were invited to throw the first pitch of the Ken Hubbs Little League season opener in 2014 and the teams were also honored as Grand Marshals in the 2014 Colton Christmas Parade. "I'm very proud of the finished product and I kind of miss going back. I enjoyed that era so much as a kid and there's so much history," said Housley. The book is available for purchase on CD on April 11 at the Ken Hubbs Memorial Little League opening ceremonies, where Housley and Carrasco will be selling copies for $10 each from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 350 East E. Street in Colton. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Ken Hubbs Memorial Little League. Those who cannot make the ceremonies but would like to purchase copies of the CD may email Housley at theobh@aol.com or tedhousley@reagan.com.