Coca-Cola Agrees To Sponsor Middleboro's Junior Legion Baseball Team

...........Junior Legion baseball will start soon and Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 Commander John Rockwell has sent out request letters for season sponsorship of the team. One such letter was sent to Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Cape Cod in Sagamore requesting a donation of $150 to sponsor the team.

........Commander Rockwell’s letter of June 22 was directed to Musch G. Kayajan, President of the company, who is a former resident of Middleboro. Mr. Kayajan had previously partnered with his brothers Samuel and Ardavast in the operation of the Nemasket Spring Water Company on Plymouth Street, which had been started by their father Garabed.

.......The Nemasket Spring Water Company was authorized by Coca-Cola to bottle that drink in the early 1900’s at the Plymouth Street location. The Sagamore Bottling plant became operational around 1939.

.......In his letter, Commander Rockwell mentioned the costs of fielding the Legion team. “To run our team is a very expensive proposition these days. Baseballs alone, at the cheapest price, cost nearly $30.00 a dozen and we’ll use at least 4 dozen this season. Bats, Caps, Umpires, Transportation and many other incidentals add up quickly.”

.......“We are arranging a little program card, which we will pass out at our home games. We will put in a large ad on the back,” wrote Commander Rockwell. “Also we could put a sleeve insignia of Coca-Cola on the players uniform.”

.......In a reply letter, Mr. Kayajan agreed to sponsor the baseball team. “In accordance with my recent letter, I enclose herewith a check to the sum of $150 towards sponsoring the American Legion baseball team in Middleboro.”

........He continued, “I am certainly happy to take part in sponsoring this team and hope Ihave the opportunity to get up and see a game some time.”

........Members of the Middleboro Post 64 Junior Legion baseball team are Robert Anderson, Bernard Cabral, Francis Cabral, David Caswell, Frederick Correira, Ronald Correira, Andrew Corsini, Roger Davis, Robert Dunham, Ralph Levesque, Carlin Lynch, John McCann, Charles McDermott, David Monteiro, Collin Richardson and David Vickery.
Coaching the team is Harold Reed with Paul Harrison serving as manager. John Scanlon handled affairs for Post 64 as Athletic Officer. (Posted By Historian Bob Lessard 2016)