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Profile
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| | Year: | 2019
| | First: | Bill
| | Last: | Larson
| | Home: | Lyons
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In the early decades of the 20th century, Bill was one of the original promoters of the game of baseball. It's possible that the most prominent baseball promoter, if not all time, Bill Veeck, 40's and 50'smay have picked up a few tips from him! A barber by trade, Bill purchased land next to the city park in Lyons and developed a well-groomed diamond with a scoreboard, underground dugouts and a grandstand. Bill not only played a competent first base, he was also the team manager, the publicity agent, the groundskeeper and the ticket taker. Bill realized that winners produced crowds and crowds generated income, so he scouted the region as far as Omaha and hired key players for money to play for Lyons. Our own Hall of Famer, Roy Pounds, benefited from this. Larson was right...Lyons won, crowds came and he took in some serious cash. Northeast Nebraska towns loved baseball, loved to compete and followed suit. For many years, some of the best baseball in the state was played in that area, mostly due to Larson and his 'hired gun' policies. Facilities in the area were also improved to try to match that showplace ballpark in Lyons. Distinguished service? Bill Larson was guilty in the first degree! Welcome, Bill! |
