RI SPORTS CHRONICLE
  • Home
  • 1. The Story of ...
    • The Bear's First Quarterback
    • Brown Iron Men
    • Hank Soar
    • The Three Musketeers
    • The Dixie Kid
    • High School to the Pros
    • The Cranston Cooneys
    • Poosha Madonna
    • The Perfect Season
    • The Other Steam Roller
    • Sunday Baseball at the Parks
    • The Queen of Baseball
    • The Viking Named Curly
    • Like Father Like Son
    • The Ace of Harts
    • A Man Called Smiley
    • The Pride of Ashton
    • The Rangers on the Pitch
  • 2. The Story Of ....
    • It's All in the Name
    • Cinderella on the Gridiron
    • Howie Crins
    • Semi-Tough
    • The Wordsmith
    • Friar Football
    • Rhody on the Roller
    • The Giants
    • Coach McGee
    • Football Heroes
    • Down-the-River Eleven
    • "Speed" Braney
    • Motor-Paced
    • Cycledrome
    • Young Montreal
    • 32,000 AT LONSDALE
    • If I had a hammer
    • "Dinky" Ballou
    • Leo Cotter
    • Steam Roller Nine
    • The Iron Man Lefty
    • The Miniature World Series
    • The Return of the Roller
  • Football
    • Football History
    • High School Football
    • Amateur Football
    • Pro Football
    • NFL
  • Basketball
    • Basketball History
    • High School Basketball
  • Ice Hockey
    • Ice Hockey History
    • High School Hockey
  • Baseball
    • Baseball History
    • High School Baseball
    • Amateur Baseball
    • MLB
  • Track & Field
    • Track & Field History
    • High School Indoor Track
    • High School Outdoor Track
  • Cross County
  • Wrestling
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Roller Polo
  • Ice Polo
  • Tennis
  • Swimming
  • Golf
  • Boxing
  • Fencing
  • Cricket
  • Legends
  • Venues
  • Contact

A Man Called Smiley

Picture
Ivan J. "Smiley" Thorne was one Rhode Island's leading advocates and directors of youth sports in the 1920s and 1930s.  He coached several sports and owned and operated Smiley Thorne Inc., a sporting goods store on Westminster Street in downtown Providence.  He was named director of athletics at La Salle Academy in 1924 while coaching the baseball, basketball, football, track and cross country teams.  Coach Smiley led La Salle to titles in cross country (1926) and Indoor track (1927).  He was involved with the Providence YMCA, coaching the baseball and basketball programs.  He started and coached the states first YMCA amateur hockey team in 1929.  They played in the Rhode Island Amateur Hockey League at the R.I. Auditorium. 

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
In the 1928 season "Smiley" donated a trophy, the "Smiley" Thorne Trophy, to the eventual champions in each Interscholastic League sport. If any team won three championships it would be awarded the cup in their permanent possession. The 1931 Cranston High "Flying Green Thunderbolt" hockey team turned the trick by defeating East Providence High and capturing their forth championship in six years to win the prize.  In 1933 "Smiley", along with Providence Reds coach Billy Coutu, helped design a new cap for Reds players to wear.  The cap was to provide as complete protection as possible against serious injuries such as the "Ace" Bailey incident that season.  The Toronto Maple Leaf player's career came to an abrupt end when he was hit from behind by Eddie Shore of the Boston Bruins.  He hit his head on the ice fracturing his skull at the Boston Garden.  Smiley was also the past president of the Providence Twilight Baseball League from 1929-35.
Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • 1. The Story of ...
    • The Bear's First Quarterback
    • Brown Iron Men
    • Hank Soar
    • The Three Musketeers
    • The Dixie Kid
    • High School to the Pros
    • The Cranston Cooneys
    • Poosha Madonna
    • The Perfect Season
    • The Other Steam Roller
    • Sunday Baseball at the Parks
    • The Queen of Baseball
    • The Viking Named Curly
    • Like Father Like Son
    • The Ace of Harts
    • A Man Called Smiley
    • The Pride of Ashton
    • The Rangers on the Pitch
  • 2. The Story Of ....
    • It's All in the Name
    • Cinderella on the Gridiron
    • Howie Crins
    • Semi-Tough
    • The Wordsmith
    • Friar Football
    • Rhody on the Roller
    • The Giants
    • Coach McGee
    • Football Heroes
    • Down-the-River Eleven
    • "Speed" Braney
    • Motor-Paced
    • Cycledrome
    • Young Montreal
    • 32,000 AT LONSDALE
    • If I had a hammer
    • "Dinky" Ballou
    • Leo Cotter
    • Steam Roller Nine
    • The Iron Man Lefty
    • The Miniature World Series
    • The Return of the Roller
  • Football
    • Football History
    • High School Football
    • Amateur Football
    • Pro Football
    • NFL
  • Basketball
    • Basketball History
    • High School Basketball
  • Ice Hockey
    • Ice Hockey History
    • High School Hockey
  • Baseball
    • Baseball History
    • High School Baseball
    • Amateur Baseball
    • MLB
  • Track & Field
    • Track & Field History
    • High School Indoor Track
    • High School Outdoor Track
  • Cross County
  • Wrestling
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Roller Polo
  • Ice Polo
  • Tennis
  • Swimming
  • Golf
  • Boxing
  • Fencing
  • Cricket
  • Legends
  • Venues
  • Contact