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His fabulous feats on the baseball diamond and gridiron made him a “Superman” among athletes in the 1950s. He could do it all. Whether the powerfully-built southpaw was striking out bewildered batters in the Twilight League or the minors, or using his speed to track down balls in the outfield or create havoc on the basepaths after yet another hit, Willie Greenlaw was exciting to watch. The former Portland High star, who played baseball and football for the University of Nebraska (receiving All-American honors in football), once pitched back-to-back no-hitters in the Twilight League for the Capitol Theater Red Sox in 1956. However, baseball scouts first noticed Greenlaw when he shut out Thornton Academy, 2-0, in the Telegram League championship game in 1953. During the 16-inning marathon, Greenlaw struck out 18, scattered five hits and knocked in the winning run with a booming triple. Greenlaw led the Telegram League in batting that season with a .407 average. The thought-conscious will argue that Greenlaw was even better in football than baseball. He could pass and kick, besides being a great broken-field runner. In 1952 he led the Bulldogs to the state title by scoring 107 points in eight games and gaining more than 1,500 yards rushing, including 188 against Deering in the biggest game of the season. Yet Greenlaw opted for a professional baseball career with the Cincinnati Red-legs organization. “‘I injured my ankle and didn't play well at all my senior year (at Nebraska),’’ Greenlaw told the Telegram in 1972. ‘‘That’s why I chose baseball over football. I had a lot of telegrams and telephone calls from professional football teams asking if I'd take football if drafted.” Greenlaw’s ankle healed and he played for the Portland Seahawks in 1962. He was second in the Atlantic Coast Football League in scoring and fourth in rushing. He made the All-Star squad. Also a basketball and track star, Greenlaw is the subject of numerous arguments whether he was the greatest athlete in state history. From Portland Press Herald Paying tribute to Willie Greenlaw who passed at age 90 on April 29 2024. He was an inductee into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame 1984, the Maine Sports Hall of Fame 1986, and the Portland High School Football Hall of Fame original class of 2013. "He was called a Superman on a playing field. He was compared to Mickey Mantle. He was thought by many to be the best athlete ever to come out of Portland High, if not all of Maine." "Jack Dawson, 89, of Portland, regularly competed against Greenlaw in football and baseball when they were kids growing up in Portland and young men in the Twilight League. “He was built like Mickey Mantle,” said Dawson, a former Portland mayor and the longtime head of the James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy committee in charge of selecting the state’s top high school senior football player. “If you saw him do anything, you knew he was strong and he would do things with ease. He was a natural. Two outs in the ninth inning he would hit a home run. He’d run a punt back for a touchdown, have the play called back on a clip or something, and then he’d run the next punt back.” https://www.pressherald.com/2024/05/09/willie-greenlaw-one-of-the-greatest-athletes-to-come-out-of-portland-it-not-maine-dies-at-90/

Bob Uecker, who turns out hit after hit in baseball commercials, couldn’t buy one while Billy Hamilton’s catcher (or anyone else’s), but the former Westbrook High athlete prized Uecker’s appearance behind the plate. was a great catcher, with good baseball sense,’’ said Hamilton, who will be among 12 entering the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame Sunday evening, October 25 at South Portland’s Hall, Peary Terrace. Uecker handled Hamilton’s southpaw slants in 1959 at Jacksonville, Fla, of the Sally League, Former Boston Braves infielder Sibby Sisti was the manager. ‘“Bob’s exactly the way he comes across on television,’’ added Hamilton, ‘‘outgoing, talkative, a fun guy.’’ Uecker must have his serious side. He’s shrewdly exploited is minuscule batting average in the manner of Joe Garagiola. In poking fun at their futility, they’ve earned big bucks. Making it to the big leagues was tough in those days. After five years, four children and maintaining two homes, Hamilton gave up his dream. He returned to Westbrook, and has been employed at S.D. Warren 27 years in the Specialty Department. Ironically, league expansion came soon after Billy decided to turn his back on baseball. “‘I have few regrets, though,’’ said Hamilton. ‘‘*The experience was nice, the memories great, and I enjoyed most of the five seasons.’”’ Highlight of Hamilton’s minor league career as a Milwaukee Braves farmhand was the 1958 season. He hurled for Cedar Rapids, Iowa of the Three Eye League. ‘“The league was listed as Class B, but I’d rank it as good as Triple A ball now.’’ Hamilton posted a 14-5 record as Cedar Rapids captured half of a split season, then won the playoff. Hamilton twice defeated Gray Peters, later to star with the Chicago White Sox as both a pitcher and pinch hitter. Other talent in that league included recent Hall of Famer Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs; powerful Frank Howard, then with Green Bay, Wisc., managed by Pistol Pete Reiser; pitcher Tony Cloninger, whose major league career featured two grand slam homers, and first baseman Don Miuncher. Upon graduation, Hamilton was signed by the Braves and sent to McCook, Nev. It was the first year of the Rookie League. His manager was Bill Steinecke. The former House of David team member regaled players with his stories of barnstorming with the famed bearded club. A stint with Eau Claire, Wisc., of the Northern League preceded Hamilton’s shuttle to Cedar Rapids. His roommate was Bobby Knopp, later to become a valued second baseman with the original California Angels. He’s still with Gene Autry’s club as first base coach. Hamilton visited him a couple of times.