x
  1. Home
  2.  News
  3.  Sports

Before they were generals, they were ball players

| 08 Apr 2013 | 09:23
    The future five-star general Douglas MacArthur, pictured in the front row to the right, was a member of the 1901 Military Academy's baseball team.
    The future five-star general Douglas MacArthur, pictured in the front row to the right, was a member of the 1901 Military Academy's baseball team.
    The future five-star general Omar Bradley is the second player in baseball uniform( or fourth) from the right.
    The future five-star general Omar Bradley is the second player in baseball uniform( or fourth) from the right.
    The Thayer Hotel at West Point added Army Baseball Room to its room dedication program as part of the celebration of 150 years of baseball at West Point. Baseball at West Point has helped produce three five-star generals: General Douglas MacArthur, General Omar Bradley and General Dwight D. Eisenhower.
    The Thayer Hotel at West Point added Army Baseball Room to its room dedication program as part of the celebration of 150 years of baseball at West Point. Baseball at West Point has helped produce three five-star generals: General Douglas MacArthur, General Omar Bradley and General Dwight D. Eisenhower.
    Col (Ret.) Barret Haight, right, (USMA 59þÄô grad and former Army baseball shortstop) accepts gift from Peter McCall, member of the Army Baseball Room Committee, at a ceremony at the Historic Thayer Hotel at West Point, March 30. The new Army Baseball Room is filled with Army baseball memorabilia and is one of many dedication rooms in the hotelþÄôs inventory which recognizes distinguished West Point graduates.
    Col (Ret.) Barret Haight, right, (USMA 59þÄô grad and former Army baseball shortstop) accepts gift from Peter McCall, member of the Army Baseball Room Committee, at a ceremony at the Historic Thayer Hotel at West Point, March 30. The new Army Baseball Room is filled with Army baseball memorabilia and is one of many dedication rooms in the hotelþÄôs inventory which recognizes distinguished West Point graduates.
    Former Army Baseball Coach Bill Permakoff looks at baseball items on display in the newly dedicated Army Baseball Room at the Historic Thayer Hotel at West Point.
    Former Army Baseball Coach Bill Permakoff looks at baseball items on display in the newly dedicated Army Baseball Room at the Historic Thayer Hotel at West Point.

WEST POINT — The Thayer Hotel at West Point has added the Army Baseball Room to its room dedication program.

The room was dedicated March 30 in a ceremony with former members of the United States Military Academy baseball team. The event took after the Army baseball team played the New York Yankees in a pre-season Yankees exhibition game at Doubleday Field at West Point.

MacArthur, Bradley, Eisenhower
“Baseball at West Point has helped produce three five-star generals - General Douglas MacArthur, General Omar Bradley and General Dwight D. Eisenhower - along with many other great leaders in the military and in civilian life,” said Barrett “Chip” Haight, USMA’ 59 graduate, former Army baseball shortstop and chair of the committee that organized the room dedication .

Haight said this year is particularly important to Army baseball as it is the sport’s sesquicentennial or 150th year at West Point. He says the milestone dates back to the spring of 1863 when some cadets requested equipment to “play a game of baseball.”

The Thayer Hotel’s room dedication program is part of the hotel’s recent multi-million dollar renovation. The program has turned the hotel into a living museum, transforming guest rooms into learning centers and hallways into history lessons. Each new guest room in the program is dedicated to a distinguished graduate or an accumulation of inspirational alums associated with the Academy. Each dedication room’s décor reflects the accomplishments of those individuals who have made significant contributions to the nation and the world.

Haight says the committee chose photos that represent a cross section of roughly 150 years of Army baseball. Some memorabilia include pictures from Army’s first baseball team in 1890, the first team to play Army’s much rivaled United States Naval Academy, pictures of memorable teams over the years, as well as collages of all coaches and Army players who played against major league teams at West Point.

“The Army Baseball Room is important because it commemorates the unique history of Army baseball at West Point, including notable individuals, teams, opponents and former players who gave their life in combat,” Haight said in the Thayer Hotel’s press release announcing the program.

Essential information
Open in 1926, the Thayer Hotel is a national historic landmark. The hotel consists of 151 guest rooms with 23 recently renovated executive suites and 10 venues for meetings, weddings and special events. For more information on the hotel, visit www.thethayerhotel.com or call 845-446-4731.