FACTORYVILLE — For years, the community of Factoryville has hosted an annual event in honor of baseball legend Christy Mathewson, aka “Big Six” and “The Christian Gentleman.” The 20th anniversary of Christy Mathewson Day will be marked on Saturday, Sept. 26, and the celebration will be filled with events new and old.
“We enjoy celebrating the legendary Christy Mathewson,” said Sadie Rozenburg, grant writer and board member of Factoryville Borough.
The day will kick off with a 1 Mile Fun Run. Runners will run back and forth on College Avenue starting on the corner of Regina Way. A longer race called The Big 6K Run/Walk will follow.
Breakfast will be served for the Big 6K participants at Keystone College’s student restaurant in the Hibbard Campus Center where an awards presentation will also take place. Awards will be given to first, second, and third-place runners. The Christian Trophy will be given to first-place male and first-place female finishers in various age categories.
Registration for both the Fun Run and the Big 6 will be held at 7:30 a.m. on the third floor of the Hibbard Campus Center.
The Keystone Giants, Keystone College’s baseball team, will serve as tour guides for designated campus buildings, which will display the Christy Mathewson Collection featuring photos, letters and baseball memorabilia depicting Mathewson’s baseball career and life in Factoryville.
“This day provides an opportunity for the Keystone community and the Factoryville community to come together and honor someone who depicts the values and character we all admire,” said Fran Calpin, senior director of college relations.
The tour will start at the Hibbard Atrium. Other buildings included on the tour are Ward Hall, Capwell Hall, Harris Hall, Brooks Hall and the art center.
The Baseball History Symposium at Evans Hall will offer presentations about baseball. Dr. Brad Congelio, associate professor of sport, will give a presentation called “The American Way: Baseball at the 1936 Nazi Olympics” about two American teams that introduced baseball to Germany and competed in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Dr. Larry Gerlach, professor of the University of Utah, will make a presentation called “Baseball: The National Pastime?” Both professors will lead a panel discussion with local attorney and Northeast Baseball Inc. founder John McGee after the presentations.
The Dalton Police Company and the Factoryville Fire Company will take charge of the parade. The parade lineup includes Dr. David Coppola, president of Keystone College; Keystone College cheerleaders, Factoryville council members and other local organizations. There will also be trophies for best float as well as most creative and most baseball-themed. The parade will start on the college’s main parking lot and end at the Joint Municipal Park where activities will continue.
Food vendors, such as Newsies Pizza and Manning’s Mobile Ice Cream Shoppe, will set up in the park. The Trail Rotary Club will sell baked goods and Lackawanna Trail’s soccer team will run the concession stand. Wash Your Mouth Out Soap Company from York will also have a booth. Christy Mathewson Little League Baseball will donate a bounce house, The Factoryville Women’s Civic League will have gift card raffles and the Lackawanna Trail PTO will have raffle baskets.
New this year will be a talent show called Factoryville’s Got Talent where participants may perform any kind of talent. Trophies will be given for first, second, and third places. There will also be a children’s pet show, in which participants can either dress up their pets and/or let them perform tricks. Medals, donated by Superior Trophy & Engraving Col in Scranton, will be awarded to the pets.
“We’re excited to see what can happen at this park because there’s a lot more space to be able to do bigger events in the future,” said Rozenburg.
Christy Mathewson Day will conclude with a fireworks display sponsored by Factoryville Borough and Clinton Township.
“We’re excited to continue this tradition at our new developing park,” said Factoryville Borough manager Mary Ellen Buckbee.
Anyone wishing to be involved in Christy Mathewson Day may contact Rozenburg at grants@factoryville.org.
