Lewis Rosenthal Stadium

Camp Lewis was not the only location named in honor of Lewis Rosenthal. On April 15, 1951, the Bayonne Little League program began when a handful of local volunteers organized a four-team program. They contacted several merchants who agreed to provide uniforms and equipment for the 90 youngsters. In 1952, with popularity increasing, 12 more teams were added to accommodate the number of boys who wanted to participate.

The increase in participation led to the building of a formal stadium. The league received assistance from William Rosenthal, owner of the Maidenform Brassiere Company, who allowed a stadium to be built on land behind his building on Second Street and Lexington Avenue. That building, the former Babcock and Wilcox Company office building (Babcock and Wilcox manufactured steam boilers for the US Navy during both World Wars I and II), was erected in 1907 and used by Babcock and Wilcox until 1946 at which time it was purchased by the Divera Sportswear Company. Maidenform acquired it in 1948. As a gesture of appreciation, the league named the stadium in honor of William’s son, Lewis Rosenthal.

In 1954, the number of Little League teams increased to 20, and by 1962, the success of the program led to the establishment of 24 major league and 12 minor league teams. Needing a larger stadium and additional parking, in 1965 the league moved to First Street and Kennedy Boulevard where it remains today.

Many Bayonne adults fondly recall that the Rosenthal Stadium was the field where they learned and played their first baseball game.

Some of the Bayonne merchants who sponsored teams were:

Lions Club Bayonne Auto Seat Drug Fair
Rotary Club Kiwanis Club Elks Club
Unico Club Charles Grotsky's Dobb's Service
Jack Kaplan Association M&M Boys Centre Nowicki and Sons
Leon's Photoshop Meyer Israel Mortman's Bakery
Silver Brothers Collins Chevrolet Grasso's Old's
Kramer Motors Twin City Auto Wreckers Royal Arcanum
Hudson Cab Electro Dynamic Bayonne Sport Shop
Fifth Street Deli Strauss Brothers Drugs Conte TV and Radio
Fraternal Order of Eagles Manno Dairy Pope and Daniels
Mercury Builders Prokop Gulf Service Surplus Army and Navy
C J Murphy Fuel Beacon Oil AAA Sport Center
McCarthy's Cleaners Broadway National Bank Pamrapo Bank
Bayonne Plumbing Supply D'Angelo's Pizzeria Feeney & Adie's Bar
Hassett's Pub Cavanaugh’s Bar Parente's Bar
Home Coal and Oil Woodward Lumber Mackenzie Post
Stabile Insurance Agent
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