Manchester,NH Babe Ruth Leagues,Inc.: History
The Manchester Babe Ruth League has been in existence since 1952. The league is well known for its stability, starting with Louie Basquil, who served as the first League Director from 1952 to 1961....Peter Poirier took over as League Director in 1962 and served in that capacity for fifteen years. While Peter was the Director, Manchester participated in seven Babe Ruth World Series tournaments, hosting it in 1973, and winning it in 1976 in Pueblo, Colorado....Peter retired in 1976 and was succeeded by Butch Joseph. Butch served as Director for twenty years. While Butch was Director, Manchester participated in four World Series, hosting in 1982, and the 1990 team went to the finals in Houma, Louisiana....Bill Ganem succeeded Butch as Director in 1997 and served capably for six years....Manchester sent a 13-year old World Series team to Tallahassee,FL in 1999,and a 14-year old team to Connersville,IN in 2000 during Billy's tenure....The other Board members have served the league faithfully for many years. Mickey Hanagan has coached in the league since 1964, and Min Valavane,prior to his death in February,2002, coached from 1968 to 2001. Dick Taylor was with the league for over 30 years. Colin Burke and Pat O'Neil have over 50 years of service between them, and Gary Ulbin has been with the league for 20 years. The stability, both at the Board level, and at the coaches level, has produced oustanding results. Manchester has won 38 state titles at the 15-year old level in the last 57 years, participated in eleven World Series', hosted two, and were World Champions in 1976....Since the 13-year old Prep League was started in 1976, Manchester has progressed to numerous Regional tournaments, and has participated in three World Series' as the New England Region representative: the first in 1994 in Concord,NH, 1999 in Tallahassee,FL, and in 2007 in Purcellville,VA. The 14-year old all-star team participated in the 2000 World Series in Connersville,IN, which was only the second World Series held for that age group. The Manchester Babe Ruth League has been successful due to the combined efforts of its Board members, coaches, volunteers, sponsors, players, and parents. The Manchester Babe Ruth League celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2002.
