Wood, Charles W. (Willie) (1985)

Using a baffling underhand delivery. Willie Wood strung together consecutive victories over Saco Valley League opponents in 1930. The string Included four no-hitters.

Wood was invited to try out for the Boston Red Sox.

but because he was a married man with children, he chose to bypass the chance and remain as baseball coach at Thornton Academy. Several Maine communities were to benefit from that decision.

During World War II, Wood coached baseball, basketball and golf for the Saco-Lowell Activities Association. He coached three sports at St. Louis High, once donning a uniform for a football scrimmage. He played a prominent role in developing athletes at CK Burns Grammar School in Saco.

Wood became superintendent of parks and in South Portland in 1947 and coached city and American Legion baseball teams. He returned to Saco in 1349 and launched the city’s first recreation program. He was employed by the Weyerhaeuser Co. in Westbrook and died in 1962.