Vintage Voices 2024

Vintage Voices is an annual program that brings Alton's past to life with historical reenactors telling the stories of Alton's passed citizens. The story of Alton Sportsman’s Park and the years of baseball played there will be told by three people. Archibald Daniels was an umpire who lent his services to games played between “the Fats and the Leans.” A.J. (Doc) Bushong, a catcher for the world champion St. Louis Browns, played a game against an Alton team at Sportsman’s Park in August 1886. The Browns won the World Series two months later. Bill Gatewood was the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the Negro National League. Gatewood pitched for the St. Louis Giants, who played in Sportsman’s Park against the Cuban Stars baseball club of Havana Cuba in 1916.