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'Luke' retired in Lake George, Michigan. He had created an extremely positive legacy before moving into this small, rural, resort community located in mid-Michigan and continued to build that legacy in this community. LUKE HAMLIN FIELD was one of the ways this community expressed their appreciation for his contributions to the Lake George Area.

Luke broke into the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers in 1933 and was inducted into the International League (minor league) Hall of Fame in the Class of 1955.

Luke Hamlin Night was celebrated at Maple Leaf Stadium in Toronto on August 6, 1947. The newspaper ad below is taken from the Toronto Telegram Newspaper advertising this special event.

The Old Man of the Mound had the greatest inning of his colorful career last night. Luke Daniel Hamlin, beloved of the fans, choked with emotion when he was presented with a shiny 1947 sedan and multiple other gifts before 10,138 paid and applauding fans at Maple Leaf Stadium. Then he proceeded to choke the Baltimore Orioles with his amazing 41 year old right arm, and the Leafs came through in fiction-like fashion for a 2-1 triumph in the 11th inning.

It was "Luke Hamlin Night" in honor of one of the most popular gents ever to wear a Leafian livery, and, to this model of every youth who has dreams of a long and honorable athletic stand, it provided "the biggest thrill of my life". There were thrills and chills galore for the multitude.........there were roars and deafening applause for Luke Longpants every time he stepped from the dugout. Luke, a likeable, curly-haired chicken farmer who won 20 games and lost 13 with Brooklyn Dodgers in 1939 for his previous greatest thrill, lost his famed control---when he attempted to thank the fans over the amplifying system in the pre-game ceremony. "I'm so doggoned happy," said Luke, then wavered, while his petite wife, Doris, stood proudly by, two bouquets of roses filling her arms. ....

Another Headline in the Toronto Star date August 7, 1947 by Gordon Walker in part reads:

"When I looked up at that crowd---then the car---and all the other gifts....and then we win the ballgame.....a real good game...well, honestly....this is the happiest day of my life--I'll never forget it--I don't want to ever forget it."

Luke Hamlin stood in the doorway separating Elmer Yoter's private cubicle and the player's dressing room, chest heaving over a heart as big as Gib Rock and just as staunch. ....Mr. Longpants pitched the game of his life on his night....

If the Maple Leaf Baseball Club wishes to fill its Stadium again before the end of the season, it should make immediate plans to stage a "Luke Hamlin Night." The man who acts like a boy is pitching some of the finest ball of his career. In his 19th season in Organized Baseball, he has shattered all Toronto hurling records. He is pitching his fifth season for the Maple Leafs and, in that period, he has established the excellent mark of 77 wins, against 47 losses.

They say that Luke Daniel Hamlin celebrated his 42nd birthday on Thursday. Luke isn't coy, but we suspect that you can add three years to his "official age".

Luke isn't quite as nimble as he was when he appeared in Toronto 14 years ago, but he attacks his chores with youthful zest. He says that he requires five days of rest between games, but you wouldn't think so if you saw him galloping around during batting and fielding practice every evening. In the event that the Maple leaf bat-boy took ill some night, we wouldn't be surprised to see Hamlin volunteer for the job.

In his career in Organized Baseball, he has worked for 10 different teams' including Brooklyn, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia Athletics in the Major Leagues.

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In Part here....The Story of the Wall By MIKE FILEY -- Toronto Sun
As part of the community's bicentennial (Toronto was founded as York in 1793) the Toronto Sun commissioned local artist John Hood to create a mural on the Front Street East wall of the Sun Building. Here's the story of his mural and guide to the people and events portrayed on the wall. Artist John Hood captured in his remarkable 180 foot (55 m.) long, 25 foot (7.6 m.) high mural, titled History as Theatre, 200 Toronto Years, thirty-two vignettes highlighting both historic and contemporary episodes from the city's first two centuries.

The mural is located on the wall of the Toronto Sun newspaper building, that is on the north side of Front Street East between Princess and Berkeley streets. Below a view of a section of the wall and the key, Hamlin is #139, from the book Toronto Sketches #3 (Dundurn Group) by Mike Filey, columnist, Toronto Sunday Sun.

One of the most popular players on the Maple Leaf teams of yesteryear was Luke "Hot Potato" Hamlin (139) who during his years with Toronto (1933-48), pitched a total of 149 games and won a highly respectable 91.

Well...let's give it a try! This information is taken in part from threads on a website referred to as baseball-fever, they are not my words.

1937 to 1941 there appeared in Dodger blue a right-hander affectionately known as Luke "Hot Potato" Hamlin (a 20-game winner in 1939,....)

I do not know why he was called "Hot Potato." However, the author I am about to quote (Heywood Hale Broun) was a fledgling baseball beat writer in his youth, covering the Brooklyn's. He writes of "...Luke 'Hot Potato' Hamlin..........

Luke frequented Mrs. Stahl's Knishes, and he was so addicted to them that he would try to eat them while they were still too hot. As a result, he was always observed juggling the knish while it cooled off, and that is how he acquired the nickname "Hot Potato.

another quote, "Aside from the familiar expression "hot potato," was the derivation of his nickname connected in any way to a preference for potato knishes. I was once told that he was partial to kasha knishes, and therefore could not understand why he was not known as Luke "Hot Kasha" Hamlin.

more quotes......The "Juggling the Knish" theory sounds good to me and appears to be a better reason for the nickname then the one I ran across a few months ago while doing some research and stayed hidden until the question was asked.

Hamlin got his nickname because he juggled the ball while getting ready to pitch.

If you have information about Luke such as pictures, stories, etc. please let us know so we can build a nice website...thanks much