Town of Greenville Maine

"IN THE NEWS"

Former Greenville resident enjoys Hall of Fame status By BRIAN BROWN - The Katahdin Times - MILLINOCKET - When he began playing baseball, John Colgan, never thought he would be in the same club as former University of Maine baseball coach John Winkin or former major league pitcher Bill Swift. Earlier this year, John Colgan joined those baseball greats and four hundred other members when he was inducted in the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame.

The former Greenville resident, who now lives in Millinocket, was elected to the Fall of Fame the first time his name was up for vote. Colgan said he "felt pretty good about being elected. It is an honor, but I had completely forgotten about it. After seeing the names of people I played with, I had a pretty good feeling." The important thing about his career, Colgan said, is that he "always stressed playing from the heart."

Colgan began playing baseball when he was only 15 years old. A native of Jackman, Colgan first played with the Skowhegan Indians in the Pine Tree League, a semi-professional organization with teams comprised mostly of local kids playing baseball during the summer. His salary was $18 per week.

Later, with the United States involved in World War II, Colgan joined the Army. During his service time, he continued his baseball career with the Schofield Barrack team in Hawaii where played against a Navy team that included future major league stars Johnny Pesky and Johnny Mize. After the war while working for the United States Border Patrol, Colgan joined the Greenville Lakers of the Tri-County League. It was with the Lakers that Colgan got a shot at the big time.

In 1946, Colgan went to a tryout for the Brooklyn Dodgers and was signed to a minor league contract by Clyde Sukeforth, the same person who brought Jackie Robinson to the major leagues. Colgan was assigned to the Geneva (N.Y.) Robins, a Class C minor league affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

It was with Geneva Robins that Colgan suffered a hand injury, which prevented him from catching. The injury forced him to return to the Tri-County League, but Colgan said that he didn't have any regrets about being forced to leave the Dodgers.

Upon his return to the Tri-County League, Colgan played second base. He won two championships with Greenville in the eight-team league. Colgan said his best memory of playing baseball was when he batted 400 in the Tri-County League. Colgan nearly won a pair of batting titles in the Tri-County League, but both times he was edged out by one point.