Harry Rogers grew up on Nashville sandlots and became an outstanding player and successful manager. He earned the nickname “War Horse” from his brash attitude and for always charging ahead. His teams won pennants in 1913-1914, 1921-1923, 1926-1927, and 1935, and captured Nashville city championships in 1921 and 1923.
In 1938, he took an idea to Nashville Tennessean sportswriter Raymond Johnson, to publicize a “Hot Stove” event where players and fans could talk baseball during winter. A gathering was announced for December 1, 1938, at Shacklett’s Restaurant, and it became the inaugural meeting of the Nashville Old Timers Baseball Association.
The 82 attendees elected Rogers president of the new association, a position he held until his death.
Early banquets were strictly social gatherings. However, at the sixth banquet, Rogers asked Old Timers members to endorse a baseball league for boys ages 14-17, and the Old Timers Junior League became a reality. On May 17, 1944, the season began with 120 boys playing on eight teams.
Old Timers banquets drew local major leaguers Johnny Gooch, Red Lucas, Clydell Castleman, Tommy Bridges, Jim Turner, and Johnny Beazley, among others. Rogers knew them all and organized veteran players into an advisory group to instruct local coaches on teaching a better baseball brand.
Veteran players were willing to help in any way they could, and many offered their services.
In 1947, Rogers directed proceeds from the Old Timers League’s third annual All-Star game to the Nashville Federation of Settlements. Nearly 8,000 fans attended the game at Sulphur Dell, and over 100 underprivileged children could attend summer camp from the proceeds.
At the January 15, 1951, banquet held at The Spot Restaurant, Rogers welcomed over 100 guests including former Nashville players Tommy Tatum, Pete Mallory, and Dutch McCall.
But two months later, he succumbed to a heart attack. He had not missed a Nashville Vols opening day in 50 years at his death – since the team’s first season in 1901.
Raymond Johnson became president of Old Timers and began the practice of having a well-known baseball figure as a guest speaker at each banquet. Nashville manager Hugh Poland and former major leaguer Hub Perdue were the first.
Since then, 68 speakers from various areas of baseball have been banquet guests. George Steinbrenner, Ferguson Jenkins, Bob Feller, Harmon Killebrew, Tim Corbin, Sonny Gray, Tommy Lasorda, and Buck O’Neil are among them.
In 1990, the organization took over maintenance of Shelby Park diamond #1, and now the Old Timers baseball complex is a destination for teams from around the world.
In 1999, Old Timers presented scholarships of $2,000 each to four deserving high school senior baseball players. Since then, over $700,000 has been awarded, and more than $200,000 has been provided for local amateur programs since 2014 from banquet profits and donations.
In 1984, board member Farrell Owens submitted an Old Timers creed, which reads: “To enjoy fellowship with baseball enthusiasts and to honor and support the great game of baseball at all levels.”
Of course, they have been doing this since Harry Rogers first proposed the Old Timers in 1938.
For more information about Old Timers visit their website here.
© 2024 by Skip Nipper. All Rights Reserved.
