Hoverter-Reed Challenge Cup

Bud Marshall, Business Manager of the Harrisburg Giants, announced today that there would be some sort of championship challenge at the end of the 2005-II Harrisburg Giant season. It would take the form of a three day, round robin tournament featuring the Giants and the two teams – one from the majors and one from the Negro Leagues, thatperformedd best against the Giants during the season. The prize will be a Challenge Cup named in honor of Harrisburg’s two multi-term “Baseball Mayors”. The first, from the twenties is Mayor George Hoverter. Hizzoner played baseball as an amateur and a professional in Harrisburg at the end of 19th19th century. He was Mayor during the 1920s and always threw out the first ball at Harrisburg Giant and Harrisburg Senator games. The second is present Mayor Stephen R. Reed who brought baseball back to Harrisburg – after a 35 year absence – in 1987 with his luring the Harrisburg Giants to the capitol city. Later, he had the city purchase the team in order to maintain its presence here. He also has been a prime force in the movement to honor the Negro Leagues in Harrisburg. The trophy – a 26” gold loving cup – will be known as the Hoverter-Reed Challenge Cup.

The Cup will be awarded to the winner of a year ending three game series to be played at West End Grounds in 2005-II. Hosting the series every year will be the Harrisburg Giants. The venue will rotate annually among the Giants four home parks. Invited to compete for the Hoverter-Reed Cup will be both the Negro League team and the Major League team that performs best against the Giants during the regular season. Opponents will be ranked by W-L with cumulative margin being the tiebreaker.

To date, in 2005-II, the 1930 St. Louis Stars and the 1937 New York Yankees hold the leads in the respective races to make it to the finale. The series will be a round robin with the two opponents playing each other in the opener and each playing the Giants in single games the following two days. An opponent needs to sweep to capture the trophy; the Giants merely need to split to retain it. More details forthcoming.