THE SUMMITS
- Program
- Subject
- Location
- Lat/Long
- Grant Recipient
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NYS Historic
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People, Site
- 3570 Canal Rd, Bouckville, NY 13310, USA
- 42.892592, -75.548117
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Route 20 Association of New York State
THE SUMMITS
Inscription
THE SUMMITSBOUCKVILLE BASEBALL TEAM
CA. 1866-1935. PLAYED ON CIDER
MILL FIELD. L. "SNAKE" WILTSE
AND G. "HOOKS" WILTSE LATER
JOINED MAJOR LEAGUES.
WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION 2023
Located on scenic Route 20 and known for its ties to the Mott’s Cider Mill and antique festival, Bouckville also has a longstanding history with America’s favorite pastime.
The Summits, a local team heralding from Bouckville, first made their appearance in a local newspaper in 1866, and they remained a staple of the community for nearly seventy years. The team was closely linked to the nearby cider mill, playing on the “Cider Field” during much of its existence. These fields were located behind the main processing plants, where large open fields provided the perfect spot to play a game of baseball.
Competing often against several local rivals, the Summits quickly earned a reputation as a top-tier baseball team. Part of the reason for that success was the Wiltse family, to which several of the Summits key players belonged. The two Wiltse brothers who reached the highest acclaim were George “Hooks” Wiltse and Lew “Snake” Wiltse, both lefties who took their trade to the Major Leagues as pitchers.
