League
Officers | League Champions | Photo Gallery The AlbanyTwilight League was founded in 1930
by the "Father of Twilight Baseball", George Elwell.
The first league Commission consisted of James Ronin, William
Louden and two former major league players; Matty Fitzgerald Sr.
and Ed Phelps Sr. In 1931, Claude Tibbitts became President and
the Twilight League officially began its first competitive season
with a roster of 10 teams. The Legendary Schuylers under the direction
of Charlie Callahan became the first league champions. In 1932,
Joe Tholl, who had been the league Secretary, took over as President
and guided the Twilight League for 16 seasons . Two years later,
another major event occurred with the completion of the Bleecker
Stadium Bowl, and its first and longest resident, the
During the 1940's, the Twilight League did a masterful job of continuing competitive baseball on the most advanced amateur level in spite of the loss of hundreds of young men to the Armed Forces, some of whom were killed in action.
In 1947, a Navy veteran and former league Secretary, Joe Thomas came on board as Twilight League President and guided the league into the decade of the 1950's.
With the new President and the new decade, came a new force in Twilight League play. Gone were the Graves and Rodgers, The New York Central's and the McEnaney Oilers; now the fans cheered to the exploits of the Roxy Cleaner's and their guiding force, Chuck Yanni. Within the span of nine years, this baseball dynamo would win five league crowns.
During this period of Roxy domination, the league witnessed two new league presidents. First, Lloyd Maranville, was elected in 1953 and served until 1958. Lloyd was succeeded by Andy Schnert, who presided over the Twilight League in the 1960's.
Probably President Schnert's
most significant and lasting accomplishment was his convincing
Mayor Corning to install lights for baseball at Bleecker Stadium.
The Twilight League was immediately given a new lease on life.
The crowds improved tremendously. No longer were players and fan
required to go without supper so they could be at the ballpark
by
The 1960's also witness the domination of the Twilight League by two senior sponsors; Mike's Submarines and Finkle's Jeweler's. Together they combined to win 6 pennants in seven years. In 1966, Andy Schnert retired. The league appointed George Clemens his successor. After a brief tenure, George passed away and John Brousseau succeeded to the Presidency, serving until 1970.
The beginning of the 1970's,
the era of the college ball player arrived. Team ranks became
swollen with players from all local institutes of higher learning.
With the election of a new president, Bill Leorchick, in 1971,
two teams began a series of victories which dominated the Twilight
League into the 80's. The
Coinciding with the Oppenheim
win streak, the Twilight League chose a new President, Jack Joyce.
President Joyce has been an avid baseball fan since boyhood and
was formerly a Major League Scout for the
In the 1980's the Sons of Italy and the Oppenheim Post VFW continued
their winning ways by capturing eight more league titles, totaling
a unbelievable 15 since 1973.
Ed Delehanty took over for Jack Joyce in 1981 and served throughout
the 1980's as league President. Ed oversaw the Twilight League's
re-entry into the American Amateur Baseball Congress. Highlighting
the re-entry Apex Printing won the North Atlantic Regional title
and finished in 3rd place during the 1989 Stan Musial World Series.
The 1990's witnessed a multitude of new sponsor, Apex Printing
managed by Ken and Norm Hayner won three league titles and four
Upper NYS Championships in the first half of the decade..
In 1996 Bill Miles, Jr. succeeded Ed Delehanty as league President
and presided over a period of four different Twilight League Champions
to close out the decade.
Beginning in the year 2000 the Twilight League switched to the
use of wooden bats which substantially speeded up the game and
improved overall play.
All Stars Academy managed by Dave Perry captured the decades first
two league titles, follow by Davies AC winning the league championship
in the 2002 and 2003.
Last year the Albany Senators won their first Twilight League
championship and had captured the Upper NYS title.
In 2005 the Albany Twilight League will celebrate its 75th Anniversary.
The new addition of the South Troy Dodgers will result in a league
of eight teams playing in two divisions.
Enthusiastic crowds, close
pennant races, local, state and national tournaments, past and
future professional players, all are a part of our proud history
and tradition. Relive with us now a few of those outstanding moments
as the