The Struthers Baseball League was organized "to develop athletic skills, to instill a high sense of sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty and respect for authority, to direct boys and girls toward good citizenship". These aims were set forth by the league founders. The Struthers Little Baseball League evolved from a single team first organized by Mrs. Mary Burns in 1954 and 1955. The team adopted the name "Forty-Niners" in honor of the National Slovak Society who sponsored and financed them. An article placed by Mrs. Mary Burns in the April 30, 1956 issue of the Struthers Journal led to the formation of a baseball league in Struthers. Eight teams in the eight-ten year old bracket originated in 1956. Mr. Bruno Papalia became the first league president, and community businesses and organizations sponsored and financed the teams. Many a "le...