The Legend of Cyclone Young

Centennial Day weekend, 1876. Celebrations are jamming local railroad service leaving the mighty Pittsburgh Alleghenies baseball team stranded in Newcomerstown, Ohio. To stay 'practiced up,' the Alleghenies have challenged local village ballplayers to a friendly game. But, this will be no ordinary ‘friendly game.’ From up and downriver, hay wagons drawn by horses at breakneck speed flood onto Hansen’s playing field – 3,000 anxious souls ready to watch farmers and store clerks take on the 'biggest game' of their lives.

At first, the local river valley team shows no signs of life until, suddenly – below threatening rain clouds – the 'Valleys' eke out a precarious late-inning lead. But the lead has been purchased at a crippling price. The Valley's great pitcher lies injured in the mud.

While the captains argue, a young phantom steps from the shadows with ball in hand ready to hold the line. Is this a joke? “He is but a boy!”

But it was no joke, and as long as baseball is played in this river valley, no one will ever forget what happened next.