Porterdale Mill on the Yellow River NAMED for

Dadgummit, I must find time to write about my memory of Porterdale. I just read about Hodges memory. He wrote about Sid Hodges. I remember playing "setback" or "kickback" football out in the street (when it was still dirt) with ol' Sid. MAN he could kick the football what seemed like a "hunnert" yards. Oh well, MEMORIES..............

There were a lot of great athletes in Porterdale, in the early years, of course the ones we remember are the Lassiter brothers playing football, Billy Shaw, and the great Billy Dean Rutledge, playing basketball, I, don't remember them all, but I, do know that Sid Hodges and Blunt Patterson, were the best pictures in softball. I, was so hoping there were some team pic.'s that would had shown up by now, The Porterdale Softball team won so many tournaments for the Bibb, that in their files, or maybe a Porter family members might have some of the team pic.'s made, stored somewhere. Have the local papers been checked for sports history? Anyway Sid should be noted. It may seem melodramatic these days, but in his time he gave this town everything he could, like so many others did in their own way. Thank you Jerry Mills, and please give Ollis your story, ok. Ralph Hodges

Yes!, Sports was a huge deal in Porterdale, especially during and after the war. It was the No. one entertainment for the town people, of Porterdale, and all towns and communities, Remember "A League of Their On", is very true, That's how Women's softball was able to establish itself, and also the "Little League", these sports brought more people and families closer together, then anything, It, was great in Porterdale, the streets would be lined up from the first red light to the second red light on both sides, The bleachers had wooden seats then, and was surrounded by tall live oak trees, there was a concession stand, and the old school was located where the fire dept. is today, and it was always left open for the public to use it's facilities, during the game, . Softball was the biggest in the earlier days, and little league took over later, and down by the yellow river and below the Osprey mill was a beautiful, old major league baseball park, games being played on Fri., Sat. and Sun., every Fri. night and Sat. the black teams would play, and they had some great games and players, usually on those nights the the softball or little league baseball would being playing , and the adult baseball, would play on Sun. sometimes Fri. nights. I, was surprised to know that Porterdale had a tennis court at one time. What happened to it? So wish we could find some sports pic.'s especially of the softball teams. Ralph Hodges

I enjoyed the Porterdale all-star softball games at night during the summer. Someone mentioned Sid Hatfield. I remember that he played first base and could catch the softball and make it pop the leather like a gunshot. And who remembers "Freck" Newnan, how he could wind up and pitch that softball. And what about the umpire, I can't remember his name but he could call a strike like none other that I have heard in my lifetime. If a good fast strike came across the plate, he would let out a "STEEEEEEEEEERIKE!!!!!" that could be heard clear across Porterdale. Well, almost! I betcha Billy Crowell remembers his name. Then there was the baseball games. There were no lights so they were always played on Sunday afternoon after church. Chasing the foul balls was one of our favorite things to do. One day a foul ball went all the way to the river out behind the grandstand. I stripped off all, (all) my clothes and jumped in. I was a pretty good swimmer. The ball was wet and no good so the team gave it to me. Jerry Mills

The very exciting Softball teams that played for Porterdale. Billy Payne

Do you know the name of any of the "Superstar" (They all were superstars!!) Porterdale Softball Teams ? Here's what can provided for starters:

Pitchers: "Freck" Newman, ------- Geno, Sidney Hodge, "Hank" Struble (hired). Some pirtchers may have played outfield when not pitching.

Catcher: Avis Coady - older than the rest of the team.

1B: Sidney Hatfield - went on to greater things in college baseball

3B or SS: Cedric "Monk" Moody

Outfield: Gibson Holifield - also refereed HS basketball

Other names of people involved in sports. Some may have been on team. Might trigger a memory. Hubert Shropshire; Grady Barnes (played men's basketball)

James Mills, played at one time, but he wasn't there in the glory days.

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