Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium

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Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium, Paterson, New Jersey, page- The stadium was built largely in 1931-32, with seating and amenities added 1932-34.

Hinchliffe Stadium is a 10,000 seat horseshoe-shaped arena, poised dramatically within the Great Falls National Historical Park at the corner of Maple and Liberty streets in Paterson's Totowa section. It was slightly modified again in 1963-64 when ownership passed from the City to the Paterson Schools, and "upgraded" 20 years later under Mayor Frank Graves, adding Astroturf and fiberglass seating.

10/30/2026

Hinchliffe Stadium Profile: Leon Day

Happy Birthday to Leon Day, who was born on this date in 1916. Day spent 11 seasons in professional baseball from 1934-1943, 1946. From 1944-45, Day served in the Army during World War II.

During his career he was considered one of the best strikeout pitchers in the Negro Leagues. He has the strikeout record in the following categories: Negro National League, Puerto Rican League, and the East-West All-Star Game.

When he wasn't pitching, Day was inserted in the lineup due to his speed, his fielding abilities at second base and the outfield, and his sold hitting, finishing his career with a .306 lifetime batting average.

When he returned from World War II in 1946, he was the Opening Day starter for the Newark Eagles and pitched a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Stars. He finished the season 13-4 helping Newark win the Negro Leagues World Series against the Kansas City Monarchs. Day started two games on the mound for the Eagles in the Series and made a game saving catch as an outfielder as well.

In a game at Hinchliffe Stadium, Day led the Newark to an 8-0 shutout over the New York Cubans. Day certainly had a day, as he went the full nine innings only giving up four hits in the opening game of the second half of the Negro National League season.

For his contributions to the game, Day was inducted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 1995.

10/29/2026

October 29, 1950 - On this date, the Paterson Panthers defeated the Richmond Rebels by a score of 24-16 at Hinchliffe Stadium. Paterson had a tough go of it for three quarters. At the end of the third, the Panthers were trailing 16-7.

In the fourth quarter, Paterson quarterback Paul Campbell, who played college ball at Texas and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, took charge of the Panthers comeback.

In seven plays encompassing 74 yards, Campbell managed to get Paterson a touchdown to narrow the score to 16-14. Later in the fourth, Panthers left guard Ken Sinofsky, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams, blocked a Richmond punt giving Paterson the ball at the Rebels 10-yard-line. Then from the one-yard-line, Campbell sneaked across for the touchdown, which would end up being the winning score.

Images: Fred "Cannonball" Cooper scores the first touchdown of the day for the Richmond Rebels, Paul Campbell with the Texas Football Longhorns.

10/28/2026

October 28, 1945 - On this date, Red Redmond won the 20-lap feature midget car race in the final event of the 1945 season at Hinchliffe Stadium. Redmond took the lead in the sixth lap when two cars crashed. Redmond was driving one of Pappy Hough's blue V-8's on this victorious day! Redmond's time was 6:41.

Bronco Bill Schindler came in second place having lost first place to Redmond by 25 yards.

Image: Red Redmond

10/27/2026

October 27, 1935 - On this date, Paterson's professional football team, the Paterson Panthers defeated the Shenandoah Presidents by a score of 12-0 at Hinchliffe Stadium.

Paterson's defense was on display with George Palmers playing a major role for the Panthers. In the second quarter, Palmers intercepted a pass at the Shenandoah 18-yard line, and on the ensuing drive, Dick Baltzell hit pay dirt to put Paterson on the board.

In the fourth quarter, Palmers, a former New York University star, tackled Shenandoah's Chris Doose so hard that the ball flew out of his hands and into the arms of Panthers defenseman Al Kanya.

Kanya's ran the interception for 12 yards and Paterson's second touchdown to seal the victory for the Panthers.

Note: Palmers also went buy the name of George Chalmers. Whichever last name he used, George also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National Football League in 1933.

NYU Athletics

10/24/2026

October 24, 1934 - On this date, after parading through the streets of Paterson, New Jersey, over 7,500 people packed Hinchliffe Stadium in support of the dyers strike.

At the rally, one of the speakers proclaimed that this was "one of the greatest demonstrations of solidarity in labor history." The demands of the strikers were as follows: A 30-hour work week and a 100% union shop. The wages at that time were $23 for a 40-hour work week. The union was asking for $1.00 an hour for a 30-hour work week.

The strike last over a month and ended on November 30, 1934.

AFL-CIO American Labor Museum / Botto House National Landmark Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park The Paterson Museum The Paterson Museum Foundation

10/23/2026

Hinchliffe Stadium Profile: Barney Brown

Happy Birthday to Barney Brown, who was born on this date in 1907. One of the best left-handed pitchers during his era, Brown had excellent control and a screw ball that just confounded hitters.

His career in professional baseball spanned 16 seasons, having spent five of those seasons with the New York Black Yankees. Although he was an excellent pitcher, his teams never really gave him the run support that he needed.

Brown was also an excellent hitter with a good eye as evidence of his base on balls ratio. When Brown was not pitching he would be inserted into the lineup as an outfielder not only for his bat, but for his good range and strong arm.

In a game at Hinchliffe Stadium, Brown was given the mound assignment for the New York Black Yankees. Although the Newark Eagles won this game by a score of 7-6 in 11 innings, it was Brown's efforts that caught the attention of those in attendance at Hinchliffe Stadium.

Brown stole the spotlight with his individual brilliance, receiving a standing ovation from the fans toward the of the game. Brown struck out 10 Newark batters and allowed nine hits, but where he really excelled was in the batter’s box. At the plate, Brown was 4 for 5 with a bases loaded walk to tie the game in the ninth inning.

10/22/2026

In the days following Cleveland's victory in the 1948 World Series, Larry Doby was routinely honored in, and around, the Paterson area. He was honored at Hinchliffe Stadium during a Paterson Panthers game, at the Alexander Hamilton Hotel, and at the Paterson Armory prior to a boxing match!

The adulation that may have meant the most might have been from Effa Manley. "I knew he would do it," said an elated Manley following the 1948 World Series.

"Yes, we around here are quite excited about Doby and the job he did in the World Series because Larry went from us (the Newark Eagles) to the Indians."

Effa Manley recognized how Paterson molded a future Hall of Famer when she stated:

"Doby was a great high school athlete in Paterson, New Jersey," said Effa Manley. "All-State baseball, football. basketball, track and what not, an amazing runner, wonderful competitor." Manley continued: "He developed fast with us, and I knew if he ever got his chance in the majors, he would not miss."

Want to learn more about Effa Manley's role in Larry Doby's career? Check out this amazing theatrical performance produced by our friends at Premiere Stages at Kean University. These are the last days of the production of: "Effa Loves Baseball."

For tickets to the remaining performances, log on to:

https://kean.vbotickets.com/event/Effa_Loves_Baseball/193780?_gl=1%2Ar3p67y%2A_ga%2AODU4ODQ3NTg0LjE3OTIxNDI1MTY.%2A_ga_87WWZKJY3L%2AczE3OTIzMTcwMDkkbzIkZzAkdDE3OTIzMTcwMDkkajYwJGwwJGgw%2A_ga_NNZV6VPMYC%2AczE3OTIzMTcwMTEkbzIkZzAkdDE3OTIzMTcwMTEkajYwJGwwJGgw&fbclid=IwY2xjawVGS6dleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMVZ4Z3czNzV2VHhEc2pLMndzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe13CONU8RpWz1iqGMziDHFtz3gTd3gDDoTsMseMr75CeiRBKLR-POYe1ftEk_aem_dUnjbZjFc2jY5SyWRefi4A

10/21/2026

October 21, 1934 - On this date, the Paterson Panthers defeated the Clifton Wessingtons by a score of 27-7 at Hinchliffe Stadium. After both teams didn't score in the first quarter, Paterson made their strides toward a demonstrative victory.

On the first drive of the second quarter, Panthers quarterback Jack McBride made the most of Paterson's possession. He threw for first downs, ran the ball on his own to gain ground, then he finally found George Cronin for the Panthers first score of the game. McBride played 10 seasons in the National Football League (1925-1934), primarily with the New York Giants.

Later in the third, McBride and the Panthers fought their way to the goal line when McBride handed the ball to Hap Moran who ran it in to make it 13-0, which would end up being the game winning touchdown. Moran was a teammate of McBride's with the New York Giants. Moran played eight seasons in the NFL (1926-1933).

As for the rest of the game, Paterson scored two more times in the fourth quarter to make it 27-0. Clifton scored their only touchdown late in the fourth quarter to avoid the shutout.

Images: Jack McBride (left), Hap Moran (right)

10/20/2026

Hinchliffe Stadium Profile: Horacio "Rabbit" Martinez

Happy Birthday to "Rabbit" Martinez, who was born on this date in 1915. Martinez was considered one of the best defensive short stops during his 10 seasons in the Negro Leagues. A student of the game, Martinez possessed excellent range, fielding mechanics, and a strong arm.

His impact on the game was felt beyond his playing days. Martinez played for the New York Cubans, and team owner Alex Pompez took a liking to Rabbit. Soon after Major League Baseball was integrated, Pompez landed a job with the New York Giants as a scout and hired Martinez. Martinez would later become the lead scout in Latin America. Martinez is credited for discovering Baseball Hall of Famer Juan Marichal, as well as the Alou brothers - Felipe Alou was first, followed by Matty and Jesus.

In a game at Hinchliffe Stadium, Martinez went 2 for 3 with a walk, that led to a run scored, in an 8-2 victory for the Cubans over the Bacharach Giants.

10/19/2026

October 19, 1941 - On this date, the Paterson Panthers defeated the Newark Bears by a score of 28-12 at Hinchliffe Stadium. Paterson's Bob Trocolor was the star of this game scoring two touchdowns and throwing for another as quarterback.

After his one season in Paterson, Trocolor played three seasons in the National Football League with the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Tigers.

After his playing career, Trocolor became the head coach of Saint Mary High School (Rutherford, NJ), followed by being the head coach of the Paterson Panthers. In 1974, he became the first full-time head coach for William Paterson College.

As for the game, with Trocolor under center in the second quarter, he lofted a perfect pass to Dale Burnett to give Paterson a 14-0 lead. Prior to playing for the Panthers, Burnett played for the New York Giants from 1930-1939.

The third quarter ended with the ball being placed on the Newark half yard line. The first play of the fourth quarter saw Trocolor barrel through into the cinder covered endzone for a touchdown making it 21-6 in favor of the Panthers. For good measure, Trocolor added another tally running the ball in from the 15-yard-line.

Image: Bob Trocolor gaining ground on Hinchliffe Stadium's gridiron

William Paterson University of New Jersey William Paterson University Intercollegiate Athletics

Address

Great Falls National Historical Park
Paterson, NJ
07522

Website

http://www.hinchliffestadium.com/

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