The Faculty-Student Baseball Game

Student at Faculty-Student Baseball Game

Alongside the springtime fun of Track Day, Simmons students and faculty gathered in late May or early June for the Faculty-Student Baseball Game. This tradition appears to have begun in 1922. The event was held to raise money to send members of the Simmons College YWCA to the annual national YWCA meeting at Camp Maqua. In later years, the proceeds went to individual student clubs, often funding events or being donated to various charities. For example, it is believed that the 1949 proceeds were given to participating organizations which decided to donate the money to the National Student Association for assistance with the education of persons displaced by World War II.

The Faculty-Student Baseball Game was held behind the Main College Building. Hot dogs and ice cream were the traditional fare, and the entertainment of the game was supplemented by the hurdy-gurdy man accompanied by a monkey. The seriousness of the game itself is in question, as the “faculty, true Simmons sports, were gowned as women,” with clothing donated by the students. The Simmons News made much of the faculty’s attire, publishing descriptions of those faculty members who had the best costumes.

Order was kept by a “police force” made up of students and faculty. These policemen/umpires appear to have been busy, with rules frequently manipulated by players, as reported by The Simmons News: “Mr. Sutcliffe made a spectacular run across the field to escape [the] second baseman and the policeman who was doing his best to keep the game orderly caught him.”

Student at bat during Faculty-Student Baseball Game in 1944

The participants from the faculty appear to have come primarily from the departments of Physics, History, and Economics, although other members of the faculty and administration did participate. President Beatley was a noted participant in 1936.

Around the same time, the faculty’s attire was changed from women’s clothing to a somewhat more distinguished assortment of old and rustic garments. Professors often would appear at the games dressed in top hats and coats with tails or other equally out-of-date garments.

In 1947, several other events were added, creating a hybrid tradition that combined Track Day contests and games with the traditional baseball game. Among the amusements added was a song contest, which was always conducted as part of the Track Day celebration, as well as several new events such as a puppet show and a pin-up boy contest.