“GRAND SLAM: 50th Anniversary of the Santa Paula Little League”

GRAND SLAM: 50th Anniversary of the Santa Paula Little League” is the newest presentation by the Santa Paula Historical Society at the City of Santa Paula’s California Oil Museum. The exhibit runs from February 12 through March 19 in the Gallery Room of the Museum, home to the Museum’s arts and history presentations. There will be an exhibit reception on Sunday, February 26, 2006, from 1 - 3 PM, and a speaker program at 1:30 PM. Veteran coaches and players like Richard Reese, Ray Frutos, and Tony Vasquez, Sr., will speak about their experiences in the dugout and on the field. The public is invited and refreshments will be served. The California Oil Museum is operated by the City of Santa Paula’s Community Services Department (1001 E. Main St., Santa Paula, 805-933-0076, Adults $4, Seniors $3, Children $1; www.oilmuseum.net). This exhibit takes visitors on a sentimental journey through fifty years of Little League play in Santa Paula. The league began in 1956 on the playground of Barbara Webster School in Santa Paula and moved a year later to its present location at George Harding Park. The park property was formerly the grounds for the annual Santa Paula Rodeo, which began in 1939 and ended in the early 1950’s. Santa Paula civic leader George L. Harding and the Santa Paula Junior Chamber of Commerce made the arrangements for the Little League to find a permanent home at Harding Park in 1957.The exhibit features vintage uniforms, gear, banners, memorabilia, newspaper clippings, and many photographs. The authentic look of a ballpark sponsor wall shows the many local businesses that have supported baseball teams over the past half-century. “You will probably find yourself in one of these photos, or a loved one!” said Joe Jauregui, who served as a guest curator for the exhibit, with Museum Curator Jeanne Orcutt.The exhibition is a presentation of the Santa Paula Historical Society. The Society presents new exhibits about the history of Santa Paula throughout the year at the Museum. Historic local materials are preserved in the Society archives.