In May 1960, the Saturday Evening Post published this photo:
It shows the Marauders — “a hustling club” — at the Gault Little League Field on Imperial Avenue. In the background — across the river — was Bedford Junior High School (now Saugatuck El). A short distance away — on the left — is the original Staples High School. It was torn down 7 years later.
The magazine identified the Marauders as (from left) Johnny Bissell, Bruce Corrigan, Geoff Hodgkinson, manager Bill Hodgkinson, Don Carroll, Art Hunter, Larry Hilliard, Brian Hitt, Carl Swanson and Tommy McCarthy.
Bill Hodgkinson died last month. He was 97.
bill Hodgkinson
A freelance graphic designer and 30-year Westport resident, he created labels, logos, packaging, ads and pamphlets for Sinclair Oil, GE, Union Carbide, Pepperidge Farm, Arnold Bakery and RC Bigelow. His Seagram’s VO whiskey label is still used today.
Just as importantly — to him, and many others — Bill managed the Marauders from 1955 to 1970. He was known as a fair, hard-working coach. He also served actively in many positions on the Westport Little League board.
What makes this “06880”-worthy — besides remembering a very talented and civic-minded Westporter — is that for the past few years, his grandson John Videler has carried on the family tradition of coaching the Marauders.
And Bill’s great-grandson, Case Videler, is on the team.
The next time someone says that, with all these newcomers and changes, Westport is no longer the small town it once was — well, just take ’em out to Bill’s old ballgame.
