I took a swing by outer Hammond Street in Bangor the other day and was immediately reminded of the old Bangor Parks and Recreation Department men’s softball league I participated in during my college years and briefly beyond in the early-to-mid 1970s.

What a competitive league that was in those days.

Today, in the same spot old fields Dow No. 1 and Dow No. 2 were located, the Malcolm E. Jones Technology Center and Northeast Cardiology Associates now find their homes. The “new” Maine Business Enterprise Park covers over a lot of athletic memories there and once saw dozens of outstanding Maine athletes strut their stuff on the dust-covered fields.

I played for three teams during those years.

I pitched for L.C. Tyler Insurance. I also pitched for Mike’s Old Tavern, and then I organized my own Doug’s Shop ‘n Save squad. What a grand old time we had participating in not only the city’s league, but also making our way from Brunswick to Presque Isle for a variety of tournaments.

And make no mistake about it. There were some great athletes on those early Parks and Rec teams. Players such as former Bangor stars Leroy Patterson, Tommy Roberts, Jimmy Nelson, Robbie Newman, Tim Furrow, Bob “Punk” Kelly, and Charlie Murray; former Dexter High standout Rusty Clukey; former Orono star Joel McCluskey; former John Bapst standout Jim “Biggie” Dionne; former Brewer standout Donnie Rowe; and a host of others, proudly donned their colorful uniforms and made their way to outer Hammond Street two or three times a week in the spring and summer months to continue their athletic careers on those fields.

I remember giving up a line-drive home run to left field to sweet-swingin’ Jim Nelson one night that took about three seconds to get out of the park. It promptly smacked into an equipment shed situated between the two fields some 350 feet from home plate with such a thud that both games were stopped momentarily to admire the thing. What a powerful guy Jim was.

Another time, Clukey, who was quite an athlete at Dexter High, hit a home run over Hammond Street, which my father retrieved after pulling out of traffic. Looking both ways, he crossed the busy thoroughfare, then threw the large white orb back to the infield yelling, “Haven’t we got another pitcher?”

The Doug’s pitcher was me, of course. Clukey’s Eastland team, a perennial contender in our league, was having its way with us that night. At one point in the game, the Eastlanders bet on who could hit the young pitcher with a line drive up the middle.

Remember: This was slow-pitch softball, so the pitcher had very little protection other than a big glove, which all hurlers wore in those days for self-preservation. Joel McClus-key was the eventual winner of that contest. I still have the stitch mark on my shin to prove it.

The road trips gave all of us the chance to take our teams out of Bangor and play the out-of-town competition. I recall the Hamlet Hotel in East Millinocket always had a competitive squad.

The Presque Isle IGA was good, too. I toiled briefly for them and enjoyed my time with Len McHatten, who is now a well-thought-of high school basketball official.

I was taking summer classes at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, and Lenny recruited me to catch.

Now, catching is not a great job at any level. Softball catching is no exception. Although I didn’t wear any equipment but a mask, I do remember a few narrow escapes from injury. I developed a Carlton Fisk-like sweep tag at home, which helped save my knees, but all that bending over and crouching behind the plate did eventually take their toll.

I can, however, always tell you when it’s about to rain or snow.

Before the City of Bangor took over the tournament, we used to run a big Labor Day Weekend softball extravaganza at Dow 1 and Dow 2. I inherited the responsibility of that thing from a gentleman named Phil Brown (no relation) who, along with his wife, who was an attorney, moved from Maine, and Phil passed the baton to me.

We had 36 teams from all over New England participate in the event, and we had some great games through the years. The late Ronnie Booker, who was an accomplished slow-pitch pitcher in his own right, and I used to munch on ice and watch the championship rounds together. One year, it snowed and we had to hire a helicopter to come in and dry the fields so we could play.

Today, Frank Comeau is the Parks and Recreation director in Bangor.

In my day, the head Rec man was Dale Theriault, a friend to all who participated in city-sponsored functions. The games are played at the Union Street Athletic Complex in Bangor. What a beautiful facility that is, and in any given year, 50 teams or so have at it for bragging rights for city champions.

But every time I see all those buildings on outer Hammond Street, I harken back to all the great athletes who frequented that league and lent their talents to help make that softball venue the best one in the state.

NEWS columnist Ron Brown, a retired high school basketball coach, can be reached at bdnsports@bangordailynews.net