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The PSU "PittNic" Celebration
September 8, 2003

To commemorate the Centennial of Pittsburg State University (the State Manual Training Normal School Auxiliary opened in Pittsburg on September 8, 1903) PSU organized a celebration called a "PittNic". Organizations from the community and the university collaborated to commemorate important historical events occurring between 1903 and 2003 by constructing tents organized around these themes.

Axe Library was glad to participate with a tent commemorating the 1903 World Series, the first world series in the history of baseball. Staff members on the committee included Jo Anne Beezley, Betty Geier, Cynthia Pfannenstiel, Randy Roberts, Shari Scribner, Jane Victor and Stephanie Willis. The Committee did extensive research on the event and compiled photographic displays, drawings, a replica of a baseball field and period costumes. The committee also made it's own costumes. To portray the fans and players, additional staff members were recruited as re-enactors. Besides the committee members, these included Leon Divel, Robert Lindsey, William Pfannenstiel, Richard Samford and Bob Walter.

The tents were judged and Axe Library came in second in the top four.

- by, Jane Victor

Left to right: William Pfannenstiel, Leon Divel, Richard Samford, Randy Roberts, Betty Geier, Jane Victor, Jo Anne Beezley, Cynthia Pfannenstiel, Shari Scribner, Bob Walter and Robert Lindsey, portraying baseball fans, ball players and a peanut vendor.

More Photographs (click on image to see a larger version):

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For more information relating to the "PittNic", see:

• PittNic schedule and general information
• PSU Fact Sheet
• "PittNic / A Day for Families" InsightPSU, October 14, 2003, p. 6&7
• Pittsburg State University Centennial Events
• "Happy B-day, PSU: 'Pittnickers' celebrate university's centennial" PSU Collegio, September 11, 2003
• "Happy Birthday, PSU", by Olive Sullivan - Morning Sun, September 9, 2003

For more information on the 1903 World Series, see:

• "Quick Facts about the 1903 World Series", Compiled by Shari Scribner (pdf)
• The Baseball Almanac
• "The First World Series", by Northeastern University, site of the former Huntington Avenue Grounds
• "Four Hall of Famers Return to Cooperstown for World Series Centennial Celebration, Oct. 11-12", from the National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, NY
• "History of the World Series - 1903", from the Sporting News.com