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| KeyMan
Collectibles |
NEWSLETTER |
December 2022 |
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Knot Hole
Gang History And Memorabilia |
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Steven KeyMan |
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By Steven KeyMan |
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Founder of
Keymancollectibles.com,
and a long time
collector, Steven
KeyMan has more than 30
years of experience in
researching, and
cataloging information
on Baseball
Memorabilia.
Researching his own personal
collection, and helping others find
information on their
collectibles, the
website grew into the
largest online resource
for baseball
memorabilia |
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Ask
Steven: Direct your questions or feedback,
about Baseball Memorabilia to Steven KeyMan
Steve@keymancollectibles.com You can also Send
KeyMan pictures of your personal Memorabilia Display,
and get your own Free
Collectors Showcase Room featured on the website.. |
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Knothole gangs came about
around the late 1880s, when
professional ballparks were
first being built with wooden
fences. Kids that didn't have
the money for a ticket would
gather around knots that popped
out to watch the game for free.
New Orleans Pelicans owner
Abner Powell promoted the first
knot hole gang when he allowed
kids to watch free if they
showed good behavior. In time
other clubs developed the idea
of offering kids with good
school grades free admission if
they signed up.
The knot hole gang idea,
conceived in 1917 by James C.
Jones blossomed into an
organization known as the "Knot
Hole Gang." Boys were enrolled
through qualified agencies such
as the Boy Scouts, Parochial
schools, Y.M.C.A., public and
Sunday schools.
Each year from about 1921 to at least into the 1940s, the
Y.M.C.A gave a
pin like this, to boys that
signed-up for a membership in
the knot hole gang.
The back of the inch and a half diameter Celluloid pinback button features
an inserted paper 1928 schedule
to the Minneapolis Millers
games.
The
June 3, 1920, copy of Life
magazine features cover art by
Victor C. Anderson titled: "The
Passing Of The Knot Hole,"
shows a caretaker replacing
boards on a fence to block knot
holes in which boys had been
watching a baseball game. The 5
boys look on in grief.
One of the boards still to ne
replaced reads; "Entrance To
Ballgrounds On Other Side."
Anderson's works were featured
in Life and other magazines of
the early 20th century.
Beginning in 1929 the
Joe Engle Knot Hole Gang
had 2,044 members in 1930. By
1954 there were 6,595. Boys
qualifying were given passes to
Chattanooga Lookout games, issued during
the last week of school.
Qualifications for membership were (1) 98% annual school attendance
record; (2) regular religious
school attendance, and (3)
clean speech, clean sports, and
clean habits. Sponsored by the
Y.M.C.A., cards were issued to
Rookie, and veteran members
giving admission to Chattanooga
Lookout games played at Engel
Stadium for the entire season.
During the later end of the
Great Depression around 1935-1939
and to about 1941, Wheaties
offered free admission to
Pacific Coast and Western
International League games for
boys and girls up to 16 years
of age.
Teams included; the San Francisco Seals, Portland Beavers Los Angeles
Angels, Oakland Oaks, Tacoma
Tigers, and Wenatchee Chiefs.
In general teams had different
ways of getting you a
Wheaties
Membership Button,
which cost you
two Wheaties box tops to see
the game.
 In 1919 Branch Rickey, President and General Manger of the St. Louis
Cardinals, endorsed and
developed the idea of a Knot
Hole Gang, then took it
with him, to Brooklyn in 1943.
Happy Felton's Brooklyn Dodgers
Knot Hole Gang was a TV
show that aired on WOR-TV
Channel 9, in the New York
area.
The show preceded every Brooklyn Dodger home game from 1950 to 1957, the
last season before the Dodgers
moved to Los Angeles in 1958.
Felton gave a group of 3
sandlot players, of the same
age, same position and from 3
different Baseball programs a
chance to work out with a
Dodger player. They would go
through "tryouts," perform
drills like the pro's. Then,
the Dodger running the drills,
would pick one of the kids who
did the best.
From 1916 to 1963 Norman
Rockwell illustrated 322 covers
for The Saturday Evening Post.
Rockwell captured the American
way of life through his artwork
and illustrations. Each telling
a story that cannot be told
with words. It was only fitting
that a number of covers
featured the National pastime,
baseball.
The August 30, 1958 issue of the Saturday Evening Post cover features a
Norman Rockwell work titled
"Knothole Baseball." A view of
a baseball game, Rockwell
“carved” his signature into the
fence.
THE COVER:
"Oh, to be a boy again-or for
that matter a girl-and relive
the joy of going to a ball game
through a knothole. Most
knotholes are gradually made by
Mother Nature in her unhurried
way, but if she is too slow, a
boy can help her along removing
a the knot with his trusty
jackknife or giving it a good
swat with a stone.
As you no doubt recall, this should be done secretly, preferably at night;
otherwise the caretaker of the
ball grounds may chase the boy
with a stick and then a nail a
piece of tin over the new hole,
a darned mean thing to do.
Sometimes a knothole is made
with a brush; there is a photo
on page 80 of Norman Rockwell
making this one. Viewers of
this game will note that they
get a clear picture as they do
on their TV sets. In Color
too."
Sponsored by WSNS TV Channel
44, in 1973, the Chicago White
Sox started up a Knot Hole Gang
program. When you joined for
only $5.00, boys and girls 17
years of age or under received
this
Knot Hole Gang ring or
charm bracelet.
Kids that signed up also received for free: a Knot Hole Gang membership
card, colorful Knot Hole Gang
T-Shirt, Knot Hole Gang poster
with full color photographs and
autographs of White Sox players
and Soxettes, decals, bumper
stickers, Knot hole gang binder
for collecting special player
decals, and a free subscription
to knot Hole Gang monthly
publication.
Chicago
White Sox Knot Hole Gang
tickets offered free
admission to 5 weekend White
Sox games, half price admission
to 10 additional White Sox
games when accompanied by an
adult, 10% discount for members
and their families on any White
Sox fan tours. A chance to be
on TV, interviewing your
favorite player, getting tips
on how to pitch, bat, and play
your favorite position on one
of the more than 200 special
Knot Hole Gang TV shows on
Channel 44.
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The general admission price
for Knot Hole Gang members was
.50˘ when accompanied by an
adult paying full admission
price. The membership card was
also good for $1.25 off the
regular price on a box or
reserve seat when accompanied
by an adult paying the full
regular price for the same type
of ticket.
During the mid-to-late 1980s,
SuperAmerica a chain of
gasoline stations and
convenience stores, sponsored
the Minnesota Twins Knothole
Gang. SuperAmerica was the
"Official Outlet for Knothole
Gang tickets."
As advertised on the cover of the 1987 Official Minnesota Twins
Program/Scorecard; "Helping To
Fuel Those Dreams... SuperAmerica sponsored 10 games
when young people 14 years and
under get in free when
accompanies by an adult.
Stop into your near SA store
and purchase 1 general
admission ticket for $3.00 and
receive up to 4 free youth
tickets. No waiting in lines,
just walk right in on the date
you picked and enjoy the game.
More than one-quarter of a
million youngsters have been
admitted free to the Pittsburgh
Pirates games since the
Pittsburgh Pirates Knot Hole
Gang was formed in 1952.
In 1988 the Pirates knot
Hole Gang was sponsored by Hills Department
store, which purchased 30,000
tickets. Youngsters 14 and
under who registered at one of
33 participating stores after
February 29, received three
pairs of tickets to games, and
a Knot Hole Gang pin.
In
1997 Leaf issued Knot Hole
Gang baseball cards picturing
12 hitters viewed through a
wood picket fence. The cards
are die-cut along the top of
the fence and printed on a wood
stock. Production was limited
to 5,000 numbered sets. A
"Sample" marked promo card
exists for each.
The set of 12 includes Chuck
Knoblauck, Ken Griffey Jr.,
Frank Thomas, Tony Gwynn, Mike
Piazza, Jeff Bagwell, Rusty
Greer, Cal Ripken Jr., Chpper
Jones, Ryan Kesko, Barry
Larkin, and Paul Monitor. |
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