Anchorage Baseball Memories

Did you know that even before William F Mulcahy came to Anchorage, the Alaska Railroad Commission knew that baseball was important to the railroad?

Baseball game in tent city, July 4, 1915

In the picture above, tent city townsfolk enjoy a 4th of July baseball game played on a roughed out field on Ship Creek.

The Alaska Railroad Commission saw how much the workers, merchants and families enjoyed watching the game. Later, as workers were hired to work on the railroad, they were often asked, “what position do you play in baseball?”

Photo above by Sydney Laurence, July 4, 1915

The picture above is a look at one of the teams playing on the roughed out baseball diamond in tent city.

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Play Ball – 1916

The Alaska Railroad Bridge Engineers built a regulation baseball diamond in 1916. It was located in what was known as Recreation Park in the railroad yards north of Ship Creek.

Photo above is the Anchorage Baseball Park, May 1917

William F. Mulcahy

The New York, New Heaven and Hartford Railway said goodbye to William F Mulcahy as he headed north for the position of Station Auditor Assistant at the Alaska Railroad facility at Ship Creek in September 1922.

Starved for entertainment, baseball had become very popular in tent city. People would go to watch ball games after supper and on weekends, with some riding hand pumped rail cars to get to the game from distant locations down the tracks from Ship Creek.

They Gave Him Time

Yes, the Alaska Railroad thought the baseball games were important for the community, so they gave William Mulcahy time off from his regular railroad duties to put together baseball games.

It wasn’t easy in early Anchorage. Just getting baseball equipment, including balls, took three weeks.

The 1923 Honor

Mulcahy’s love for the game of baseball and his passion for putting together the ball games in what was now the town of Anchorage, William F Mulcahy became the President of the Baseball League. His duties included everything from being the groundskeeper to taking tickets.

Mr. Commissioner

In 1947, Mulcahy was named Alaska’s first National Baseball Congress Commissioner of Baseball.

Photo Above by Ward Wells

Around 1950, William F Mulcahy introduced Little League in Anchorage.

The team seen above is from Nunaka Valley in 1961.

Named in His Honor

Anchorage Baseball Park, located at 7th and C street was named Mulcahy Park in 1951.

Photo above by Ward Wells, aerial view of Mulcahy Stadium, August 28, 1967

William F Mulcahy became known as “Mr. Baseball” and the “Grand Old Man of Baseball”.

BONUS

Do you want to know more about William F Mulcahy?

Take a look at Mr. Baseball Comes to Town and enjoy.

What Are Your Memories?

Growing up and living in Anchorage, you probably have memories of going to Mulcahy Stadium for a baseball or football game.

Photo above courtesy of Helen Peterson Burkes

In the picture above, Peggy Peterson and Ada Craig enjoy the day in 1945 when Mulcahy Stadium became an ice skating rink in the winter.

Mulcahy Stadium – A Very Special Meaning

For Mary and Mike of Anchorage Memories, pictured above, Mulcahy Stadium holds a special place in their hearts.

In 1967, Mike was drinking some hot chocolate while watching an East High football game at Mulcahy Stadium, when a beautiful young lady walked by. Her name was Mary and three years later, they were married.

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Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

Anchorage Memories.com