Leppo Blue Sox

In 1933, the Leppo family, relations and some friends of the family started a baseball team.  The team played in a field back of the Claude Leppo farm in Pleasant Hill, PA and was called the Pleasant Hill Blue Sox.  The team moved to Bill Brehm's meadow about 1/4 mile off the Manchester Road on Snydersburg Road.  The team played there in 1934, 1935, 1936, and 1937.  The last year the team played was in 1938 in Bixler's meadow on Littlestown Road, next to Finch Services, where the pond is now.

When the team moved to Brehm's meadow in 1934, they took the name "Leppo Blue Sox."  They played about 30 games a year.  They played other teams from Carroll County and Pennsylvania as well as a AA team from Baltimore, MD.

Woody Leppo wrote a note about the team:

"We won more than we lost every year and played a lot of different teams."

All-Time Roster (and known positions):
  • Mel Sullivan (Pitcher, Outfield) - Clark's brother
  • Clark "Lefty" Sullivan (1st Base) - Mel's brother
  • Jim Dutterer (Centerfield) - Known as a great bunter, brother in law to Woody, Earl, and Bill
  • Clarence "Cap" Leppo (Manager, 1st Base, Utility) - Harry's brother
  • Harry Leppo (2nd Base) - Cap's brother
  • Ralph Leppo (Pitcher, Outfield) - Cousin to Woody, Earl, and Bill
  • Earl Leppo (Outfield, Catcher)
  • Elwood "Spikes" Leppo (Shortstop) - Cap's son
  • Robert "Bob" Yingling (3rd Base) - Cousin to all the Leppo's
  • Ray Neudecker (Catcher) - Mother was a Leppo
  • Bill Leppo (Pitcher, Outfield)
  • Joe O'Farrell (Pitcher, 2nd Base) - Related to the family
  • Woody Leppo (Scorekeeper, Secretary/Treasurer, Part-time Player) - Brother of Earl and Bill Leppo
  • Paul Neudecker
  • Tom Folbot
  • Bosh Myers
  • Louie Myers
  • Mark Long
  • John Long
  • Charlie Koontz
  • Reese Starner Leppo
Known Teams They Played:
  • Manchester, MD
  • Hampstead, MD
  • Union Bridge Frederick County League
  • Union Bridge (All-Black Players)
  • Bill Freeman's Westminster Tigers
  • Company H, Maryland National Guard
  • Westminster Herr Farm
  • Frizzelburg, MD
  • Midway, PA
  • Bonneauville, PA
  • Brushtown, PA
  • Hanover, PA
  • Belhelhem Mines, PA
All this information was compiled by grandfather, Robert Leppo, who sought out the original Leppo Blue Sox players for information on the team.  He wanted to show his grandson that baseball runs in the blood of this family, and he did so very convincingly.  Most of the information I have provided so far came from a note written by the scorekeeper and treasurer of the team, Woody Leppo.

Through sources of the family, we were able to track down the last Leppo Blue Sox uniform, and it was presented to me and my brother as a family gift to be treasured and passed down generations.

I will be posting more about the uniform soon and will have a team picture of the 1937 team posted soon.
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