The stands came from the old observation cars built by the New Haven Railroad for the Yale-Harvard Regatta in New London. They were green and always looked like they needed repair, but for 10 years West Haven’s Quigley Stadium was home to the Double-A Eastern League. The West Haven Yankees came to town in 1972 after a successful guest appearance the year before. Opening night saw more than 4,000 cram into Quigley. The Yankees left after eight seasons, replaced by the West Haven A’s and then the Whitecaps. But for a time West Haven was the stomping ground of several players who made it to the majors.
The guy above was a Yankees farmhand, and never quite made it into the big show, but he had an aptitude and knowledge of the game that eventually put Buck Showalter into the Yankees’ managerial position. He now is the successful manager of the Baltimore Orioles.