Published: June 26, 2008 09:33 pm      

Man who led effort to bring baseball to Princeton honored

PRINCETON — The man who was instrumental in bringing professional baseball to Princeton got the honor of throwing the ceremonial first pitch Thursday night at Hunnicutt Field.

Harry Finkelman’s first pitch in 69 years landed short of the plate, but no one seemed to mind.

“I’m going to miss this field,” Finkelman said after the ceremony, as the Princeton Rays and Burlington Indians prepared to start their Appalachian League game. Finkelman and his wife Estelle, longtime Princeton residents, are scheduled to move to Columbus, Ohio, on July 8.

The Rays’ general manager, Jim Holland, looked up from field level and told the crowd, “It’s because of Mr. Finkelman, in large part, that every one of you are sitting here tonight.” Holland said that Finkelman led a delegation to Dallas, Texas, in December 1987, and convinced minor league baseball to put a franchise in Princeton.

Holland called for a standing ovation, and presented him with an aerial photo of the ball park.

Now in his 80s, Finkelman said, “I’m so happy I was instrumental in bringing entertainment to town — something to do.”

On Concord University Night at the ball park, its president Jerry Beasley presented a bouquet of flowers to Estelle Finkelman, “who we all love, and we have always loved.” He gave the couple an aerial photo of the campus where Harry Finkelman taught full-time for 32 years, starting in 1948.Princeton Mayor Dewey Russell, a former student of Finkelman’s, introduced each presenter. He also thanked John Frazier, another ex-pupil of the professor, for arranging Thursday’s ceremony.

Kevin Garrett, assistant athletic director at CU, revealed a plaque with Finkelman’s portrait that will be mounted in the football press box in Athens where Finkelman was the public address announcer for 50 years.

The president of the board of directors at Princeton Community Hospital, Tom Lilly, said “this community is very indebted to Harry.” Lilly said he was a charter member of the board that launched the hospital, in 1965, and served many years on its board of directors.

Finkelman said, “Nine of us formed Princeton Community Hospital. We had no money, no plans, no land, no building.”

The Finkelmans continue to give their time to the hospital. For almost 21 years the couple has served as volunteers.

Estelle Finkelman said, “It was something to do that was worthwhile. We didn’t want to just retire to our rocking chairs. … We started together, and we’ll end together.”

She said of their work together, “It’s very gratifying to be of service to so many people. And you get to meet so many people, especially at the hospital.”

Harry Finkelman took the microphone, as he has done at hundreds of Mercer County sporting events, and thanked the crowd and the presenters. “I’m overwhelmed,” he said, “because I never thought I was anything special.”

Estelle, interviewed after the delegation left the field, likewise said the occasion was “a little overwhelming. I’m not used to that kind of attention.” She added with a warm smile, “But I was glad for Harry.”

— Contact Tom Bone at tbone@bdtonline.com