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2-07-2007 By JIM AUSTIN Editor Ray Burr, of Middlefield, was a member of the first class that sold concessions. It was the 1946 game between the New York Giants and the Detroit Tigers played after a two-year hiatus because of a rain out in 1944 and a war restrictions cancellation in 1945. The Giants, who beat the Tigers 9-5, weren't the only winners that day. The seniors raised $1,800 after being warned by their class advisor that "they would lose their shirts." "We said let's go ahead and try it and we ended up with $1,800," Burr said this week. There were 13 students and three fathers who took part in the fundraiser that first year. Burr said the girls sold programs on Main Street and the boys sold hot dogs and soda. Although time has dimmed his memory of the event, he believes hot dogs sold for 25 cents. After the game, the students went swimming at Kingfisher Tower. "We put the $1,800 in a tin box under the front seat and never worried about it," he said. The money helped to finance a class trip to Washington D.C. where the Senate was arguing "just like today," Burr recalled. Now 78, Burr said there are not too many members of the class left. "We're getting to be like Civil War veterans," he said, adding that "those were the good old days." More than 60 years later, the senior class will sell concessions for one last Hall of Fame Game. It's still the same hot dogs and soda, but the students now earn $9,000 to $11,000, according to CCS Superintendent Mary Jo McPhail. There are years when they realize more and then there have been years with a rain out when they had had to endure a loss. McPhail said the school and the Hall of Fame will discuss other fundraising opportunities for the students at existing or new events. The loss of the game will certainly impact the amount of money the students can earn. "It may mean our seniors don't have as many events or trips. It may mean parents will have to pick up more of the costs," McPhail said. "It's been a wonderful experience for our students." "We've been very fortunate our students have had the opportunity," said high school Principal Gary Kuch. The concession sales have, he said, kept down the number of fundraisers students do in the community. They now have a year to look at other options for fundraising. One added event this year will be the 125th Anniversary Game for the International League, which will be played at Doubleday Field May 18, Kuch said. "We're going to be doing that, but it's a one year deal for us," he said. |
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