Pittsburg Browns 1996 reunion: Left to right front row: Sal Nardello, Jim McHugh, Joe Beatka, Yours truly, Don Gutteridge, Mike Bernadett and Jack Nesbit. Back row: Dean Perks, Rex Simpson. Joe Rettie, George Bogatie and Frank Hungerford.

The KOM League

Flash Report

for

March 2, 2015

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Another tale of tracking former KOM leaguers

 

Article from Pittsburg Morning Sun--1949

Pittsburg Brownies Will Have a Strong 1949 Infield By BILL MOREY PITTSBURG, Kas.,. May 2— (AP) — Al Barkus, new manager of the Pittsburg Browns, will depend on a strong infield, fair pitching, mediocre catching, and an outfield boasting but one seasoned performer, to make good his promise of giving Pittsburg a first division team in the KOM league race this season. Barkus is in his freshman year as, a manager, he has spent three seasons with the St. Louis Browns' chain, pitching for Elmira, N. Y., of the Eastern league last, year. Barkus has but three men with previous experience in pro baseball, for the opener with Chanute's Athletics on May 5. Every man on, the squad with the exception of Johnny Waltman, 19-year-old righthand hurler from Ellerslie, Md., is new to Pittsburg this year. Waltman, who started the '48 season with Pitt, and finished as a relief chucker for Belleville, 1ll., is rated as the No. 1 pitcher at this time. His spring work includes a 7-4 victory over Aberdeen of the class C Northern league. Others battling for positions on the 17-man mound staff are: Harold Wilfong, only lefthander- of the group, Vernon Boeschen, Bob Carle,. Anthony Bellotte, Louis Novak, Loren Stewart, Bob Rose, and Charles Watson.. The; infield, Barkus' pride and joy, is made up of Frank Rolfs, first sacker with; Ada, Okla., and Griffin, Ga., last year, and outstanding rookies James Mc Hugh at second, Salvatore Nardello at short and Gene Puetz, third base. Harry Kelly, 25-year-old Albany, N. Y., centerfielder who was with Wausau, Wis., and Mayfield, Ky., in 1948, is the key man of the outfield. His early season play has been on the sensational side. In left will be either Don Shannon, of Powers, Mich., or Ted Ponikiewski, Detroit. Ameal Nassaf, St. Louis rookie, gets the nod for the rightfield post. Fighting it out for the two catching berths are Gerald Beaman, Pittsburg State college football and basketball star, Jack Bright, Gaffney, S. C., and Joseph Rettie, 21-year-old New York City boy.

 

Ed comment:

 

There are two names in the aforementioned article that caught my eye. The first was John C. ”Jack” Bright. He was one of those former KOM leaguers who was very hard to track down. He was signed by the St. Louis Browns and reported to Pittsburg, Kansas in the spring of 1949. Forty-nine was a significant number for that team that year, for that was the number of players on the Pittsburg roster.. They came and went with great regularity. Bright left Pittsburg shortly after the season began and he hooked on for a brief time with the Miami, Oklahoma Owls. There was another member of the Miami team with the same last name, Harry Bright, and that led to Jack being confused with his namesake by researchers who never read box scores to obtain their information.

 

Many years I searched for Jack Bright who was listed in the Pittsburg Morning Sun as being a native of Gaffney, South Carolina. It took this editor until 2011 to track him down and when I did he was living in Spartanburg, South Carolina which is about 20 miles from Gaffney.

 

On a recent, cold winter afternoon, I found this posting. “Jack Bright --Spartanburg, SC – John C. Bright, 85, was carried home by angels to his eternal home to be with his sweetheart, the late Peggy Jean Burgess Bright, on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

 

Jack was born on June 18, 1928 to the late Dawkins D. and Polly Owens Jennings. He faithfully served his country in the US Army, and retired from Arrow Automotive after 35 years of service. He was a member of the Roebuck Masonic Lodge #357 and Beaver Hills Baptist Church. Jack loved fishing and was an avid NASCAR fan.

 

He is survived by his daughter, Teresa Martin (Junior) of Wellford; a granddaughter, Diana Roper (Matt) of Duncan; two great-grandsons, Hunter and Tanner Roper; and a sister in law, Lola Bright.

 

Jack was predeceased by a brother, Leroy Bright; two sisters, Rosetta Bearden and Pauline Clark.

 

The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at Beaver Hills Baptist Church with funeral services to follow at 2:00 PM, officiated by Reverend Gerald Thomas and Tim Hackett.

 

Burial with military honors will be at Sunset Memorial Park.

 

In remembrance of Jack, memorials may be made to Spartanburg Regional Hospice; 120 Heywood Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29303.

 

The family would like to thank Tameka Murphy and Brittany Bullington, of Regional Hospice, for their loving and attentive care of Jack.Ray “

 

More comments:

 

In the May 2, 1949 Pittsburg Morning Sun column it mentioned the catching prospects for Pittsburg that year were Bright, Gerald Beaman and Joe Rettie. Seeing Rettie’s name once again sparked my interest. In 1996 the first big KOM reunion was held in Pittsburg, Kansas. I received an inquiry from Rettie asking if he could attend the event. I knew of his time with Pittsburg during the spring of that year and I, of course, told him he’d be most welcome.

 

His interest was genuine and he showed up for the reunion and as I recall he truly enjoyed the event. When all the players gathered for an official team photo, he took his place with all the former Pittsburg Browns. That reunion was held in June of 1996 and Rettie seemed interested in staying in touch. For at least the next year I sent him the monthly KOM League Remembered newsletter. However, I never heard from him after he left Pittsburg. I assumed he wearied of the effort to keep the memory of the KOM alive. I looked in various resource materials for him but nothing could be found. Thus, after reading the obituary of Jack Bright I decided to make another attempt at finding what had become of Rettie. Since 1996 finding information on someone has been greatly enhanced. As with information on any person you locate on the Internet, a lot of it is conflicting.

 

In order to piece the life of Rettie into a coherent synopsis I started at the logical point, the beginning, or as close to it as possible. His parents were natives of Scotland with his father, a carpenter by trade, arrived in this country in 1907. The Navy records for Joseph shows him as being born July 11, 1927 but the Social Security Death Index places his birth as two years earlier on July 11. I accept the 1925 birth date since he went into the Navy after high school and he wouldn’t have come out of the service, as a veteran, at the age of 21, as was claimed by the account of his signing with the Browns. By the time he arrived in Pittsburg he was 23.5 years of age.

 

But, I’m a bit ahead of myself. In tracing Rettie back to his roots I found that he didn’t have a lot. By 1930 he was listed as an “inmate.” Of course, that wasn’t due to a crime for he was living in the Masonic Home and Hospital in Utica, New York. That census showed his age as about 3.5 years. Thus, something that happened to or between his parents caused him to have been in that orphanage. When his parents were married they lived in Manhattan, New York. Everything from the time he was a tyke, until he was mentioned in the 1949 Pittsburg newspaper, is unclear except for the fact that he served in the United States Navy. From May of 1949 until June of 1996 the only thing I can verify is that he was living in Omaha, Nebraska and that for four days in June of ’96 he was back in Pittsburg, Kansas.

 

In the 1996 era I was busy gathering information of as many former players as I could and as rapidly as possible. One thing I had intended to do was to learn more about Joseph Rettie in the days, weeks and months following the reunion. However, I learned last week why I never heard from him again. On December 20, 1996, just six months after the first KOM league reunion, he passed away in Omaha, Nebraska and was buried in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery in that city. One thing for which I’m grateful is that although he never got to play in a regular season KOM league game he at least was able to attend the first KOM league reunion and he had his photo taken with many of the former Pittsburg Browns. I guess there is some justice in this world. I wish I had gotten to have known him better.

 

The Last Man

 

Often I have speculated about the last man standing from the KOM league. I was reminded of that recently after receiving a note from Jerry Hogan of Fayetteville, AR. He commented on spying the name of Woody Fair in a recent Flash Report and he’s always excited when he sees the name of a former Arkansas State or Arkansas-Missouri league player mentioned. A number of e-mails went back and forth and one of the things about which we speculated was whether any fellows who played in that league(s) were still living. In my time researching baseball in Carthage which included their time in the Arkansas-Missouri league, I recalled speaking with a half dozen or so fellows who performed in that league such as: Bob Barton, Woody Fair, Harold Ensley (The Sportsman’s Friend on TV), Frank Stapleton, Chick Wagenhurst and Eddie Barnett.

 

Shortly, after speculating if there were any living members of the old Arkansas State and Arkansas-Missouri league (s) still living I recalled reading about John Orphal and his wife celebrating their 74th wedding anniversary a couple of years ago. I looked for them again and found the following?

www.legacy.com/obituaries/ocala/obituary.aspx?pid=174217820 For a glimpse of Orphal’s career you can visit this site. Keep in mind his 1940 season also included at least a month with the Carthage, Missouri Pirates. I have no idea if his time at Fremont in Ohio State league included his Carthage 2-2 record. My guess is that it didn’t. www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=orphal001joh

 

John J. Orphal—Ocala Fla.

 

John was welcomed into God’s arms on February 11, 2015. John was born November 22, 2017 And had just celebrated his 97th birthday. He lived a wonderful and exciting life for 76 years with his loving wife, Helen. He was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio to Earle and Florence Orphal and went to Blume High School where he met and fell in love with Helen. He was a talented athlete and became a professional baseball player. His career for 10 years as a ball player took them all over the Unites States achieving a brief stay in the major leagues with the Cincinnati Reds before his contract was purchased by the New York Yankees where he was a Triple A player and became a lifelong fan of the Yankee organization. During that time his two children were born, son, Dennis Orphal (Viki-deceased) of Pleasanton, California and daughter, Linda Brow (Denny) of Ft. Myers, Florida. Also during this time he played guard for the National Cash Register basketball team. This was before found of the NBA when professional basketball teams were sponsored by corporations such as NCR, Goodyear, Firestone, etc. He moved to St. Marys, Ohio, his baseball career and worked for 23 years As a supervisor at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. He retired to Ocala, Florida in 1976 where he enjoyed many exciting hours on the golf course perfecting his game. He is survived by his wife, two children and four grandchildren, Jeff and Kathy Brown, Jonathan and David Orphal and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his two sisters, Glenna McCormick and Doris Weber both of Wapakoneta, Ohio.

 

Ed comment:

 

There aren’t many, maybe one person, around who know the history of the Arkansas State and Arkansas-Missouri leagues. So, when I want to know anything about it I go back to the source, Jerry Hogan of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Before he speaks allow me to explain the 1940 Arkansas-Missouri league half season. The league folded after the 4th of July and players scattered to the four winds of minor league baseball and/or oblivion. No one who ever played that season is credited in the records as having been there. Pete Castiglione played for Carthage before going to Hutchinson, Kansas after the league folded. In many conversations I had with the future big leaguer he had fonder memories of Carthage than any place he ever performed. He even shared some photos with me of that era which sort of verified his statements.

 

That will do it on that subject. John Orphal pitched for Carthage in 1940 and the following is what Jerry Hogan sent me regarding Orphal time in my hometowns when I was six months old.

 

From Jerry Hogan:

 

I went to the archives at the University of Arkansas files regarding Johnny Orphal. Here's what I found: His pitching stats were listed on May 25, 1940 and on June 8, 1940 (next to last newspaper listing of overall league stats as I recall). The main categories:

 

Games: 4

IP: 19

W-L: 2-2

ERA: 4.73

 

The numbers were the same in both listings, so I believe Johnny Orphal was gone from the Carthage team by May 25, 1940, and probably before.

 

On May 3, 1940, the Carthage Evening Press ran a picture of the Carthage team and Johnny Orphal was in the picture.

 

The Northwest Arkansas Times ran box scores for both of Orphal's wins but I didn't see either of the losses:

 

May 8, 1940 - WP in 10-2 Carthage win over Siloam Springs

May 15, 1940 - WP in 14-4 Carthage win over Fayetteville (in this game, Pete Castiglione hit leadoff for Carthage and went 2-6 with a double.

 

That's what a quick check of the old newspapers turned up on the late Mr. Orphal.

 

I also noticed that after the A-ML folded that Buzz Arlitt, Pete Castiglione and 4-5 more Carthage players moved on to Hutchinson, Kansas just as you said in one of your recent posts. As you mentioned also, Arlitt went as manager, too.

 

Ed reply to Hogan:

 

I'm prepared to say that John Orphal was the last member of the Arkansas State and Ark. Mo leagues to exit the arena. You play Taps and I'll stand at attention.

 

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Death of Former Baxter Springs Whiz Kid and Miami Eagle

DERBY (KS) - Lee, Bennie, 85, passed away peacefully Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. Bennie was born Oct. 14, 1929, in Baxter Springs, Kan., the son of Oliver and Mary Lee. Survivors include his loving wife of 58 years, Marita Lee; children, Bennie (Donna) Lee, Jr., James Lee, Mary Williamson; brother, Fred Lee; sisters, Merlyn (Don) Brown, Earlene Realmuto; 8 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Eugene, Floyd, John and Charles Lee; sister, Luella McCoy. Bennie was an outstanding athlete where he attended high school in Columbus, Kan., lettering in all sports as well as an outstanding baseball player in the summer playing for the infamous "Baxter Springs Whiz Kids" having Mickey Mantle as a teammate. After a knee injury took Bennie out for a year, he attended Oklahoma NEO in Miami, Okla., and Wichita University playing football and baseball. Upon graduation he was head football coach at Derby High School for eight years followed by four years as an assistant football coach at Kansas University. He then moved back to Wichita and became involved with aircraft parts distribution with his father-in-law, Claude Mann at Airtechnics. He later formed his own distribution and rep business, Lee Products, until his retirement in 1991. In retirement he enjoyed pitching horseshoes, walking his dogs, enjoying family activities, as well as Shriner and Jester activities. His contribution and love for his family will be missed. The family respectfully requests a private memorial with no public viewing. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Kansas Humane Society, 3313 N. Hillside St., Wichita, KS 67220. To share memories please visit www.mylakeviewfuneralhome.com

A photo of Bennie Lee is at this site. I can assure you this picture was taken a “few” years ago.

 

Ed comment:

A decade ago I got to know Bennie Maxwell Lee. He played with the Baxter Springs, Kansas Whiz Kids before playing for a while in 1950 with the Miami Eagles. The first I ever knew about Bennie was shared with me by Merlyn Johnson-Mantle. She said that she had a crush on him before she met Mickey. I asked Bennie about that at the Mantle book signing event we had during a weekend in June in 2005 in Joplin and he confirmed the story. Another member of the Whiz Kids who played minor league ball in the Evangeline league and was at Coffeyville, Kansas the night Tom Greenwade attended the Whiz Kid game on the night of Mantle’s graduation from high school. Since there aren’t many of the Whiz Kids with whom to share stories any more I sent a note to Wylie Pitts’ wife Mary Ann who lives in Riverton, Kansas. Here are her comments. “No, we hadn't heard this - Thanks so much for sending it. I used to have a crush on Bennie - he played left field and flirted with the girls in the stands. We were so glad to see him at your reunion in Joplin.” Mary Ann

 

Since Merlyn Mantle told me she had a crush on Bennie and now Mary Ann admits to it I’m enclosing the link which contains a photo of him. I’ll guarantee you he looked more like this back in 1949 than he did in 2015. www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansas/obituary.aspx?n=Bennie-L...

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Comment from a former Chanute fan:

 

It is always enjoyable to remember Bernie Tye, Dick Walt—Durham, NC

 

Comment from a former Ponca City Dodger.

 

This note was sent by my only Canadian reader, Barry McMahon. “John I just discovered the death of Ray Hathaway. Ray pitched in four games with the 45 Brooklyn Dodgers but spent twenty years as a pitcher and manager in the Dodgers organization. Ray was 98 years old. He spent three years in the Navy during the war.”

www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150212&content_id...

 

I quickly figured out he played with or managed 14 former KOM leaguers, of which 13 were former Ponca City Dodgers and one was Kenny Cox who played in the St. Louis Cardinal organization, at Carthage, before joining the Dodgers.

 

Hathaway’s obituary was shared with Dick Wiegand who pitched for Ponca City in 1951 and then played for Hathaway a couple of times later in his career. Here is Wiegand’s comment.” Thanks for sending this to me. I liked Ray as he was a fine person and good manager. I especially remember his quick wit and laugh.”

 

This report turned out to be nothing more than an obituary column. Sorry about that but if I didn’t mention some of these guys no one would know except a family member or some friends. One last word on death was that of Jim King who played mostly with the Chicago Cubs. He died in Fayetteville, Ark. in recent days and I informed Jerry Hogan, the Arkansas State and Arkansas-Missouri league expert. Here are his comments. “John,

 

Jim King is one of those ‘man, I should have followed up on that’ things. Mr. King was from Elkins and had a pretty decent Big League career. I remember him when I was a kid, he was just about done but he had been a power hitter and was a local guy (Elkins, as you probably know, is only 5 or 6 miles from Fayetteville).

 

Mr. King was friends with the father of one my close cousin's wife (my cousin plays with us in our family band East of Zion down here). Anyway, every morning Mr. King and Jack Guinn (the father of my cousin's wife) had breakfast at a little place in Elkins. I kept saying to myself and telling Jack that I wanted to join them one morning and visit with Mr. King.

 

Well, crap, I blew it. Now Jim King is gone. He was said to be completely humble and just a nice man to talk to. I've got to learn to follow up on these opportunities.”

www.arkansasonline.com/news/2015/feb/26/ex-big-leaguer-ki...

 

Ed comment:

 

There is a moral to that story, I leave it to the readers to discern the obvious.

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That is about it for this time.

 

Additional information on any of the fellows shown in the 1996 reunion photo is available, on request. Only players Sal Nardello and Frank Hungerford are still living. The guy I call Yours truly is still alive, I think. Sometimes I question that. But, since he is the guy sharing this message and that photo I suppose he is rated a notch above comatose.

 

Amazingly, I can look at the images in the background of that team photo and name every one of those people even those whose faces are hidden. Wow!! that event made a lasting impression on me.

 

Done