Q. What Chattanooga historical figure was celebrating a milestone anniversary 70 years ago this month?
A. July 23, 1954, was Joe Engel Day in Chattanooga and Hamilton County in celebration of Engel’s 25th anniversary as president of the Chattanooga Lookouts, according to that day’s edition of the Chattanooga News-Free Press.
A testimonial luncheon sponsored by the chamber of commerce was planned at the Read House, the paper said, and a special pregame ceremony was scheduled for that night’s game against the Birmingham Barons. The front page story by longtime News-Free Press sportswriter Allan Morris said officials were hoping for a crowd of 30,000 for the game.
“Many baseball dignitaries are on hand to assist Chattanooga civic leaders in honoring Joe, whose many fabulous stunts and promotions, in addition to his shrewd baseball operation, has put the city on the baseball map all over the U.S. since 1930,” Morris wrote.
The Lookouts celebrated Engel’s anniversary with a 9-3 win over the Barons, but “heavy afternoon rains” helped limit attendance to a little more than 10,000, Morris reported in the next day’s paper.