PA American Legion Region 3 comprises leagues from Chester, Greater Norristown, Lower Bucks County, Lower Montgomery County, Main Line, and Philadelphia.
American Legion Baseball is a variety of amateur baseball played by 13-to-19-year-olds in fifty states in the U.S. and Canada. More than 3,500 teams participate each year.
Let’s start with this – Dashiel Albright, Harriton High School Class of 2023, played for Narberth Senior Legion, Harold D. Speakman Post 356, into the third week of June just prior to his departure for the United States Coast Guard Academy.
In New London, Connecticut, approximately 300 young women and men of the incoming Class of 2027 arrived at the Coast Guard Academy, on Monday, June 26, to begin “Day One” of their 200 week Cadet training program.
“Day One” marks the traditional start of “Swab Summer,” an intense seven-week training program designed to transform civilian students into military members ready to accept the challenges which await them in their pursuit to become Coast Guard officers.
During their first day at the Academy, the Swabs (as the new Cadets are called) will cycle through haircuts, uniform issues, drill practice and various administrative in-processing stations.
While Albright, a Narberth native, was acclimating to life as a Swab, his fellow Senior Legion players were working their way through the Main Line League matchups, finishing in the number two spot, and headed to the PA Region 3 State Tournament along with the Upper Darby team.
It is during the regular season that Senior Division players, ages 16 through 19, make their own transformations, from cocky kids to young men of ethical substance.
Prior to game start, the players recite this pledge known as the “American Legion Code of Sportsmanship”:
“I Will Keep The Rules. I Will Keep Faith With My Teammates.
I Will Keep My Temper. I Will Keep Myself Fit.
I Will Keep A Stout Heart In Defeat. I Will Keep My Pride Under In Victory.
I Will Keep A Sound Soul, A Clean Mind, And A Healthy Body.”
In 1925, the American Legion Department of South Dakota established the youth baseball program at Milbank, South Dakota.
The League still stands behind the traditional values upon which it was originally founded — loyalty, patriotism, honor, dignity, and obedience.
American Legion Baseball has taught hundreds of thousands of young Americans the importance of sportsmanship, good health, and active citizenship.
The program is also a promoter of equality, striving to make teammates out of young athletes regardless of their income levels or social standings.
The first American Legion Baseball World Series was held in Philadelphia in 1926. Yonkers, New York, Post 321 beat a team from Pocatello, Idaho, capping off what appeared to be a successful first season.
The American Legion is the largest veterans’ organization in the country with 2.6 million members around the world. The American Legion was chartered by the U.S. Congress in March of 1919.
The Narberth Post 356 received its charter October 16, 1919, and has had a continuous presence in Narberth since its formal inception.
The Post has been meeting in the Legion wing of the Narberth Community Building since June of 1926.
The Post was founded by the Narberth veterans of World War I, and named in honor of Harold D. Speakman.
Harold Davis Speakman was born in Philadelphia on September 6, 1895, educated at the Philadelphia Manual Training School and West Philadelphia High School.
Speakman moved to Narberth shortly before the outbreak of World War I, residing at 511 Essex Avenue.
Speakman enlisted and was assigned to Company “H;” 112th Infantry Regiment, 56th Infantry Brigade, 28th Division.
Excelling from the rank of Sergeant, Speakman received a battlefield commission as a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry in France.
He was killed in action at Forêt de Fère near the town of Beuvardes during the second Battle of the Marne July 25th 1918, six weeks before his 23rd birthday.
Speakman’s remains are buried at the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery Plot A Row 18 Grave 12, Fère-en-Tardenois, in northern France.
Every mention of Speakman’s name pays homage to his character and the sacrifice of his life.
One of the Narberth Harold D. Speakman Post’s notable achievements was the building of the original War Memorial area at the corner of N. Wynnewood and Windsor Avenues, which was dedicated on Memorial Day of 1937.
The construction of this area was done entirely by the Post with funds donated by the community and Post members.
The Narberth Post continues to be active in community affairs, and in remembering those who have paid the supreme sacrifice for our country.
The Post conducts remembrances on Memorial Day, Flag Day, the 4th of July and Veterans Day.
Narberth’s longtime resident and Post Commander is John Nardi who richly plans and orchestrates the annual commemorations.
Appreciating this storied history as both a player and 25 years-plus coach, is Jim Brown, inducted into the Pennsylvania American Legion Hall of Fame in 2014.
Brown, current President of the Main Line American Legion Senior Division League, comments, “Narberth Baseball provides for young men unsurpassed opportunities to develop loyalty to one’s teammates and community, in addition to excellent coaching and baseball at a highly-competitive level.”
All told, this is why American Legion Baseball offers values which money can’t buy.
Dear Ruben Amaro, as you pitch travel ball and prompt financial support for young players, don’t forget American Legion Baseball and the affordable and subsidized opportunities available, on this upcoming Memorial Day Weekend.
Mary Brown, Main Line Media News weekly columnist, is a Board Member of Narberth Athletic Association and a professor of Latin at Saint Joseph’s University.
