William “Bill” Long

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William “Bill” Long, a member of the Old Forge and Lackawanna County School Board, is a graduate of Old Forge High School. While a student at Old Forge, Bill played on two Championship teams. Upon graduation, Bill continued to play baseball, first as an amateur and then as a professional. His professional baseball career started in 1939 with Hazleton of the Inter-State League where he hit 326, and was named as the All-Star Third baseman. In 1940, the Hazleton Franchise was taken to Lancaster, Penna., where Bill played until July of 1942 when Uncle Sam called. While in the service he played with many Big League players in the States and in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged from the Army in December, 1945. The next four years were spent at Stroudsburg, Penna., and Peekskill, New York of the North Atlantic League. Bill was the most popular player to ever wear a Stroudsburg uniform. Then in 1951, he took to playing and managing profession-ally. First, at Bangor, Penna. of the North Atlantic League, and then at Tarboro, North Carolina of the Coastal Plains League. That being his last year playing and managing professionally. From 1951 to 1953, he played and managed many local amateur ball teams to pennants. In 1963, Bill took over as manager of the Old Forge American Legion Post 513, and compiled an outstanding record. From 1963 to 1967 his teams in league competition won 60 and lost 13 games. With playoff games, his Legion Clubs’ overall record stands at 81 wins and 21 losses. In 1963 and 1964, his Old Forge Legion team was eliminated in the State Finals. His 1963 ball club set two records in the State Playoffs at Allentown. It was the only club to ever play 8 games and the only club to ever play two tie games. This last year (1967) again he had an outstanding team. This ball club won 21 straight games before being eliminated in the State Playoffs at Allentown. Bill is married to the former Jennie Dattilo, and they have one child, Jo Ann, who is a student in the Old Forge High School. We, the townspeople of Old Forge congratulate you “Bill” upon your recent induction into the American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame, and are indeed very proud of you and wish you continued success in the future.