Cy Young Days Festival to honor Perci Garner
Perci Garner of Dover will be the guest of honor at this year’s Cy Young Days Festival held June 25-27 in Newcomerstown.
The pandemic had a hand in the selection of former professional baseball player Perci Garner of Dover as this year’s guest of honor at the Cy Young Days Festival, but area fans of the local pitcher who at one time played for the Cleveland Indians could not be happier.
The festival will be held June 25-27.
“Because of the pandemic, having the festival was iffy. With travel restrictions and the general state of conditions, it was hard to set anything up,” said Gary Chaney, treasurer of the Cy Young Days Festival committee. “Someone on the committee suggested Perci. He was willing to come, and since he is nearby, he can drive down and wouldn’t need to fly.”
The festival honors professional baseball pitchers. Former guests of honor have included Gaylord Perry, Ferguson Jenkins, Dean Chance, Jim Perry, Vern Law, Bob Turley, Denny McLain, Mike McCormick, Vida Blue, Bret Saberhagen, Doug Drabek, Jack McDowell, Dwight “Doc” Gooden and most recently Randy Jones.
Garner was called up to the major leagues by the Cleveland Indians in 2016 and signed with the Baltimore Orioles in November 2017.
This year Garner accepted the position of executive director of the Tuscarawas Society for Children & Adults Inc. (also known as the Rainbow Connection), a nonprofit, independent health charity dedicated to meeting the needs of disadvantaged and disabled children and adults. He also hosts the podcast, “99MPH with Perci Garner.”
Garner will speak at the festival’s annual luncheon and make several appearances throughout including the Cy Young Run, Cy Young grave visit, as the grand parade marshal and at an autograph signing after the parade at the Old Main Street Museum. For autographs, it is requested items be limited to two per person.
A baseball-bat auction will be held at the luncheon. The bats are marked with the festival name and date and are signed by the guest of honor. Reservations for the luncheon are due no later than June 23.
At the opening ceremonies on Friday, June 25 at the Canal Street Stage, guest speaker Scott Longert will speak about baseball in the 19th century. A lifelong Cleveland Indians baseball fan, Longert has written many articles and books on baseball history.
Longert is the author of “Cy Young: An American Baseball Hero,” a book for children age 8-12. This is his first book for children and allows them to learn not only about Cy Young, but also the early days of baseball and what America was like in the 19th and first part of the 20th century.
Longert also is the author of “The Best They Could Be,” a chronicle of the Cleveland Indians first pennant and World Series victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers; “No Money, No Beer, No Pennants,” which is the story of the Cleveland Indians during the years of the Great Depression; and “Bad Boys, Bad Times,” which covers the Cleveland Indians from 1937 through 1941.
New this year will be a game that allows visitors to check their pitching skills.
“Our Speed Pitch machine adds another connection to baseball pitchers, which our festival is about. It will give our visitors the chance to see how they stack up against others,” Chaney said.
There are many highlights at the festival.
“Our luncheon with our guest of honor and our visiting festival queens on Saturday is always great,” Chaney said. “Everyone looks forward to our parade, which is Saturday evening at 6 p.m., and our Vintage Base Ball Tournament on Sunday at Cy Young Park is very popular. It starts at 8 a.m.”
The festival committee members have heard many good comments from residents about its return.
“They are happy we are going ahead with the festival this year. Last year was such a disappointment, and people are looking forward to getting out,” Chaney said.
Serving on the 2021 festival committee is Ed Gibson, chairman; Jeremy Renicker, vice chairman; David Shepherd, secretary; Gary Chaney, treasurer; and Chris Gibson, Sara Shepherd, Karen Shepherd, Connie Patterson, Corey Rehard, Wes and Sarita Harding, Janet Chaney, Dave Boyer, Riki Johnson, John Cole, Kim Young and Greg Bowman.
The schedule for the festival on Friday, June 25 includes the following: Tents and concessions open, opening ceremonies on Canal Street stage including guest speaker Scott Longert and cornhole tournament sign-ups at 5 p.m.; crowning of the queen and her court on the Canal Street stage at 5:30 p.m.; cornhole tournament downtown and Mike Hoskins to play at Canal Street stage at 6 p.m.; and Moonlyterz Band on Canal Street stage from 8-11 p.m.
The schedule for the festival on Saturday, June 26 includes the following: Cy Young Run at Cy Young Park Rotary Pavilion and Cy Young grave visit with Perci Garner at Peoli Cemetery at 8 a.m., luncheon doors open at Labors Local Hall 134 at 11:30 a.m. with lunch at 12:30 p.m. and the bat auction during the luncheon, tents and concessions open at noon, ArtsNCT talent show on Canal Street stage from noon to 2 p.m., parade lineup beginning at Newcomerstown High School at 4:30 p.m., parade at 6 p.m., royalty and visiting royalty introductions at Canal Street stage at 6:45 p.m., grand parade marshal autograph signing at the Olde Main Street Museum at 7 p.m. (free and open to the public), and The Adam Calvert Band (country/rock) at Canal Street stage from 8-11 p.m.
The schedule for the festival on Sunday, June 27 includes the following: Ron Porcher Vintage Base Ball Games at Cy Young Park starting 8 a.m., concessions open at noon, registration for car show on Main Street from 1-3 p.m., and the car show awards and closing of the festival at 5 p.m. The car show will be held rain or shine.
Some of the sponsors for the event are 31 Incorporated, Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital, Superior Industrial Insulation, Groovfold, RJ Wright and Sons, Millersburg GMC, Eagle Hardwoods, Dover-Phila Federal Credit Union, Wendy’s of Newcomerstown, State Farm Insurance of Newcomerstown, Park National Bank, Newcomerstown Rotary, Lock 20 Auto, Boltaron Inc., Moose Lodge 1337, Coshocton Regional Medical Center, Baker’s IGA, Marstrell Auto Parts, and Huntington Bank. More sponsors and partners are listed on the website.
Anyone interested in helping to sponsor the event or helping at the event as a volunteer can contact any member or send a message through the Cy Young Days Facebook page or website.
For more information and updates about the festival, go to www.cyyoungdaysfestival.com.