1949 Chanute Athletics classic team photo

A Very Different

KOM Flash Report

For the week of

August 16-- 22, 2015

 

Notes from readers:

 

I guess you must have thought we had gotten lost but no we are both fine my e-mails have been out of order for 2 1/2 months so I just got it straightened out and we are back in business I had 3600 in my box so I got them checked over and hope all is well again. Don’t know if we missed any deaths or illness . Molly and Dick McCoy Omaha, NE

•

It is a shame they tore down the grandstand (at Independence) as I remember dressing in it many times for football games on Friday night. What a shame and I wanted a piece of that for memories but my wife would have given me the look if I would have brought some of it home. She at times just doesn't understand the emotions that go with some of those things. As a lady from Wisconsin the Packers and Badgers are in her heart. -- Thomas Drake Ottawa, KS

•

 

Thanks for the great photograph of those young ballplayers. –Gale McCray--another Kansan

 

Well, as you can see, last week’s Flash Report drew very little attention and provoked few comments either positive or negative. In the words of the famous, Martha Stewart, “That is a good thing.” In the words of the not so famous John Hall “That’s tough.” The photo attached to that report was a casual pose of the 1949 Chanute Athletics on a road trip to Pittsburg, Kansas, which I speculated was in late June. After a week of extensive research, on what I had on file about that team photo, it would have to have been taken some time during the first two weeks of July.

 

This past week was spent waiting for some comments to arrive regarding the most recent report and when none did I spent considerable time documenting a few of the highlights of all the fellows on that roster. The “Classic Photo” of that team appears on Flickr at: www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/20383148828/

 

Maybe having a picture to go with a narrative description will help you get to know these guys a little better. It was my privilege to get to know seven of these fellows pretty well.

In an unbelievable story that you wouldn’t believe, unless I told, you under oath, involved a person who was dead without my knowledge of it. I called his last known

number and got a lady of a different name. I told her I was sorry for the inconvenience of the call. She asked what it was about and I remarked that it wouldn’t be of any interest to

her. She reprimanded me and told me she’d be the judge of that.

 

So, for the next few minutes I went through my spiel about how I was looking for former KOM leaguers. She listened, said it was fascinating and the conversation ended. A few

weeks later the lady called and asked what I planned to do with the information I was gathering from the former players. I told her that I had wanted to write a book but wasn’t

sure that there was a market or any interest in such a project. And that was the conversation.

 

A few weeks later the lady called again and wanted to know if she could pay my wife and I a visit. Of course, I said yes but couldn’t understand why she’d want to drive from

Uniontown, Kans. to Columbia, Missouri. We sat down at the kitchen table to visit and the lady asked for a glass of water. While getting the water I heard a thump on the table. When I looked at the table I saw a white envelope. My mother had taught me well not to grab things that belong to others. The lady looked at me and remarked “Aren’t you going to open it?” So, what I saw, upon opening it, was the most cash I had ever seen at one time in my life.

 

Without any further words, on my part, the lady told me that the money wasn’t for me but in memory of all the old guys who had played in the KOM league. She insisted that if

she had anything to say about it those memories would never die. Maxine is now gone but thanks to her and a belated telephone call to Dave Dennis’s old telephone number,

the book “Majoring in The Minors” was published without my having to go into bankruptcy to do it. I guess I was influenced by more ex- Chanute ballplayers, than any other group, in the initial stages of writing about the KOM league. The early KOM

newsletters bear out that statement.

 

1949 Chanute Athletics

 

Back Row L-R: Charlie Bates, Ed Morgenthaler, Jim Hansen, Al Stewart, Larry Jaros, Jake Thies, Dave Dennis, and Dave Newkirk.

 

Middle Row: Pete New, Jim Marks, Ray Mazzucco, Tom Imfeld and Al Fadell.

 

Front Row: Kent Pflasterer, Tom Tarascio, Tom Norbut, John Fehr-Batboy, Jim Imbeau and Jack Butler. By virtue of the composition of this roster this particular photo would have been taken at the start of the 1949 season. Also, the spanking white uniforms indicate they had very little use.

 

In the photo shared last week these guys were included: Jim Marks, Al Fadell, Ed Morgenthaler, Charles Jones, Jim Hansen, Al Stewart, Bernie Tye, Larry Jaros, Jack Butler, Kent Pflasterer, Tom Tarascio, Tom Norbut, Charles LaGrace, Al Ketchum and Vernon "Jake" Thies. Between the two photos you have 22 different guys depicted. There were 37 players on that roster at one time or another. One was the batboy and the other was the non-playing manager. Four of the fellows in the two photos all managed Chanute at one time or another. They were; Charlie Bates, Dave Dennis, Jim Hansen and Tom Imfeld.

 

 

Bates Charles William

D. 1/29/1980 Topeka, KS Stormont Vail Hosp. (Living at Alma, KS)

B. 9/17/1907 Philadelphia, PA

Citations: www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&am...

8#safe=active&q=Charles+William+Bates+baseball

He was another of the former KOM leaguers who had a stint in the big leagues but had a longer stint in the minor leagues as a player and manager as the foregoing URL group of

citations indicate. There isn’t much I could add to that other than some anecdotal items shared with me by members of that team which I will refrain from doing. As with all

managers some players approved of the way they did their job and others didn’t.

 

 

Beck Daniel Eldon

D. 7/4/2012 Dubuque, IA

B. 9/22/1925 Dubuque, IA

www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=93091090

www.thonline.com/obituaries/article_43906941-6fb8-571f-ae...

He played in the KOM league regardless of the obituary statement.

 

Boston Elmer A.

Lives in St. Louis, MO -

B: 5/22/1928 St. Louis, MO

June 9, 1949 sports column proves this player was on the roster. " Elmer Boston is listed as the probable Chanute pitcher first game. He has a 1-0 record. Chanute has been hampered by injuries for some time. Charlie LaGrace, infielder, has a hand injury, Tom Tarascio recently had nine stitches taken in a lip that was injured by a bad hopping ball, and Jim Marks has been out with an injured foot. "

www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=boston001elm

 

 

Butler Richard Neil

D. 2/20/2011 Murphy's, CA

B. 5/16/1924 Ringsted, IA

iagenweb.org/boards/jasper/obituaries/index.cgi?read=336559 The obituary shows he played at Miami, OK. He left Miami and joined Chanute on his way back to Iowa. The Find-A-Grave site mirrors the obituary. www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=685643...

 

 

Butler Jackie Dean

Lives in Waynesville, MO

B. 12/9/1929 Bachelor, KS

He was another pitcher who made a career out of playing KOM ball with Miami, OK and Chanute, KS. He was first signed by Miami in 1948 and he lasted a month when they decided the 19-year lefty needed further seasoning and he was sent to Macksville, KS to play Ban Johnson league ball. He was back with Miami in 1949 but didn’t stay long and he went to Chanute and signed on with that independent club. His best year was 1949 when he won five of the eight contests in which he was involved. During the off-season he attended Emporia State Teachers College in Emporia, KS. In 1950 he returned to Chanute for his final season of professional baseball which coincided with that town’s last year hosting a professional team. Here is what Baseball Reference has regarding his career. www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=butler003joh

 

 

Callahan George Robert

D. 4/19/2008 Cedar, MI

B. 2/10/1931 Perry, IA

In my research there wasn’t much I could find on the short term hurler for the Chanute A’s. One of his few decisions occurred the evening of June 20, 1949 when he lost 10-0 to the Miami Owls. The Miami News-Record referred to him as Don Callahan. Before leaving the game, in the 4th inning, he had walked four and thrown a wild pitch, given up home run, had one base runner steal on him and his catcher had a passed ball. Overall it wasn’t the best night an 18-year old could experience.

www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=685643...

 

Coulter Bernard Leroy

D. 12/15/1988 Kansas City, MO

B. 2/17/1931 Eldon, KS

www.baseball-reference.com:8080/minors/player.cgi?id=coul... That citation didn’t know if Coulter threw right or left. One of the great photos I own is that of Coulter in a jumping pose, at shortstop,, throwing a ball to first base with his right hand. That photo is shown on page 86 of The KOM League Remembered published by Arcadia in 2004 and is available wherever good books are sold. For those who are cheap or broke the photo could always be placed on the Flickr site. Coulter and my first cousin, Ernest Hall, both worked for the Federal Narcotics Bureau after Coulter's baseball career concluded. My cousin was his boss.

 

Dennis David C.

D. 10/1/1990 VA Hosp. Columbia, MO

B. 5/19/1922 Mapleton, KS

In 1946 this article appeared while Dennis was still with Miami. “The KOM baseball race grows hotter, and fire breaks out in catcher Dave Dennis's chest protector during a torrid argument at home plate in Riverside park.” The story was carried in the Street and Smith Baseball magazine in 1947 as one of the funnier incidents of 1946. Dennis played with and or managed Miami, Pittsburg and Chanute teams in 1946, 47 and 49. He was the uncle of the late Don Dennis who pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals. www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dennido01.shtml David’s brother, Laverne, also played in the KOM league in 1946.

 

Dercole Anthony Paul

D. 5/16/2004 Aliquippa, PA

B. 6/9/1928 Aliquippa, PA

Tony had shots with three KOM league teams. The other two were Iola and Bartlesville in 1948. He was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates but while a good fielder he didn’t hit for power or average. Here is his citation on Baseball Reference: www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=dercol001ant This is shared for that site didn’t state if he was right or left handed. The KOM league never had a left handed shortstop or second baseman. I’m sticking with my notes that he hit and threw from the right side.

 

Fadell Albert Raymond

D. 10/20/2011 Huntington Beach, CA

B. 7/1/1927 Los Angeles, CA

The following citation is a PDF file on Fadell when he passed away. It is a great citation along with a photo. We kept in touch over the years and he truly enjoyed talking about the 1949 Chanute A’s. file:///C:/Users/KC/Downloads/Albert-Fadell-wall.pdf There is a great story in the aforementioned URL about a clipping he saved from the newspaper that year pertaining to something that involved him and Mickey Mantle. For those of you who can’t access URL’s here is the obituary:

Albert Raymond Fadell, born on July 1, 1927 in Los Angeles, California, second youngest of seven children; spent his childhood along the side of his siblings working hard in the family market. Albert was brought into this world being blessed with the ability to be successful in everything he applied himself to. At the age of 18, Albert was drafted into the Army which was devastating to him as he was working hard chasing his dreams of playing professional baseball. Upon his return from the Army, Albert’s dreams were becoming reality and landed a position in the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League (or KOM League) an American minor baseball league which was established in 1946. His athletic expertise allowed him to play any position but settled in as a pitcher for the A’s in Chanute Kansas. One of his proudest moments in his baseball career was striking out one of the most famous baseball historians “Mickey Mantle” with evidence of a detailed article in the local newspaper, thin, discolored, and torn in several places, remains with the family. Albert’s enormous love for baseball was greatly deviated by the love of his life; his “Honey” Patti, and married in Los Angeles on March 10, 1951, where they started their family, two daughters Tori and Tami. In 1954, Albert and Patti decided to move to the Orange fields of Huntington Beach, California where they raised their family and maintained a beautiful home. As always, the home was immaculate down to the front yard. The planters dirt overturned, shrubs manicured and the lawn being mowed in two directions creating a checkerboard appearance. Only one sprinkler placed, directly in the center of the lawn, set deep down creating enough room for a “golf ball” to be sunk. No one dared to step on Albert’s lawn, the lustrous appearance mimic the nicest putting green on any golf course. We laugh on how he was with his lawn, but this is where he practiced his putting continuously; making him known for one of the best putters in the game of golf. Being athletically gifted, Albert was the best of any sport he played, baseball, golf (accompanied by nine “Hole-in-Ones”), bowling (maintaining an average over 200 at all times down to throwing horse shoes. His love of sports was solidified by the enormous amount of hours he would spend watching his college football team USC, favorite baseball team The Angels, and golf. Albert could be heard throughout the house, if not through the neighborhood, if a call was made he did not agree with, the family would laugh and say, “gee the neighbors are going to think dad is yelling at mom”. Albert loved music and was an impeccable dancer. When entering a dance floor with Patti, people would stop and watch creating Albert to really perform. He loved to Karaoke, acting shy (if you can imagine) when ask to get up and sing, but once the microphone in hand, he turned into Tony Bennett or Frank Sinatra singing his favorites “Mack the Knife” or “I left my heart in San Francisco” but a loving memory will be him singing to Patti the famous Beatle song “Something in the way she moves” The “Harbor”, not enough time in the day to express his love Albert had for the Harbor. He loved the job, the people, the reputation he had, the hard work he was known for, being a proud union member, and the relationships he built. Known as “Big Al”; he spent 60 years on the water front always dedicated to his partners, the company, and the job while creating a lifetime of stories and friendships that he held close to his heart. A book could be written of all that Albert accomplished and succeeded at but if ask words to describe him, Generosity (always giving), Religious, Loyal, Strong, Mentor, Protector, Athletic, Hard Working and Caring are just a few but most of all, he was “Proud” of the family he had. He held many titles, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Brother, Uncle, Godfather and Friend but he was most Proud of having the title of Papa, he loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren as much as one could love and was a major influence in their life. Albert demonstrated his strength throughout his battle of cancer for seven years. However, on October 29th 2011 he lost the battle and passed away at his home in Huntington Beach, California, with the most important thing in his life, his family by his side. He will be forever missed and loved for eternity. He is survived by his “Honey” Patti, Daughters and Sons-in-laws: Tori & Paul Daw, Tami & Don Carnes Grandchildren and spouses: Jason & Cheri Thomas, Josh & Nicole Carnes, Chad Carnes, and Danielle Carnes. Great Grandchildren: Chase Thomas, Jake Thomas, Riley Carnes, and Merric Carnes. Cemetery Good Shepherd Catholic Cemetery 8301 Talbert Ave Huntington Beach, CA, 92646 Events NOV 11 Memorial Service 10:00AM

 

Fehr (Batboy) John Joseph

D. 11/10/1981 Iola, KS

B. 2/11/1936 Chanute, KS

The batboy died far too young: www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=28031191

 

Hansen James E.

D. 4/30/2003 Omaha, NE

B. 7/24/1925 Omaha, NE

If I had to name five people, located in the past 20 years, who enjoyed getting back together with his KOM teammates and foes, Hansen would have been right at or near the top. We spent countless hours conversing on the telephone before cheap cell phone rates came on the scene. Hansen was probably one of the two top defensive catchers in league history and tough as nails. During WW II he played college football at both Nebraska and Iowa and led Iowa over Nebraska with the game’s only touchdown, circa 1944. His fellow Omaha friends never forgave him. Here is his career cited on Baseball Reference: www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=hansen003jam

 

Hosaflook Jerry Glenn

D. 2/2/2003 South Bend, IN.

B. 9/8/1927 Alton, WVA

He didn’t get much of a chance to play for Chanute. The few games he played were at third base and then he was gone. I did speak with him shortly before his death. He didn’t think he deserved much mention in any book but I told him he made it into my first one, Majoring in The Minors. komleaguebaseball.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html He played for Galaxy-Radford, VA in the Blue Ridge league in 1950

 

Imbeau James Ray

Lives in Kansas City

B. 10/23/1927 Ola, AR

By the time he got to Chanute his professional baseball days were over. He had started in the Ohio State league when he was 16. Baseball Reference shows his career as: www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=imbeau001jam He was in military service in 1946 and 1947 and then tried to make it with Scranton, PA of the Eastern league in 1949. That didn’t work and he showed up in Chanute and in a May 15th game he was one of the Chanute pitchers routed 13-2 by Bartlesville. He took the loss, giving up seven runs in five innings and was released. Then, on August 10, this report appeared in the Iola Register. “The Chanute A's have signed two new players, Dave Novak 19 a catcher from Pueblo, and Jim Imbeau, 21, pitcher from Kansas City. Imbeau was tried at Chanute earlier and the A's decided to look him over again after hearing he pitched two semi-pro no-hitters.” In 1950 he pitched semi-pro baseball with the Warner Drug team in Kansas City where he had tossed the two no-hitter’s in 1949.

 

Imfeld Thomas Joseph

D. 11/06/2012 Morristown, TN

B. 6/12/1923 Covington, KY

He started his study for the priesthood in St. Paul, MN in 1954 and he carried on as a priest until his retirement. During the 1950’s he was one of the top slow-pitch softball pitchers in that nation, playing for teams in his native Covington, KY. He had parts of three seasons in the KOM league starting with Independence in 1947 and then with Chanute in 1949 and 1950. I’ve shared many stories about Father Tom, over the years, and to my knowledge they were all true. When attending KOM league reunions he was the designated “Official Pray-er.” Here is his obituary: www.vankirkgrisellfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/2447/Fa...

 

Jaros Lawrence Thomas

Lives in Granite City, IL

B. 8/7/1928 Glen Carbon, IL

This fellow was a good pitcher when he had some semblance of a team around him. In 1949 he had the Chanute A’s as teammates. In 1950 he started out with Chanute and was getting no support and he was sent to Iola. The 1950 Iola and Chanute ball clubs were two of the worst teams in KOM history. They struggled mightily to win 30 games. They both won 35 but Iola wound up ahead of Chanute for Chanute played five more games than Iola and lost every one of them.. So to see how Jaros went from very good in 1949 to the “pits” in 1950, check this out: www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=jaros-001law

 

Jones Charles E.

Lives in Iowa, I think

B. 4/8/1933 Webb City, MO

He was signed June 22, 1949.

There isn’t much for me to share regarding this gentleman. I found a member of his family a number of years ago and was told he was residing in Iowa but the person was vague on details and I didn’t push it.

 

Ketchum Alfred Fred

D. 6/9/1994 Kenner, LA

B. 12/30/1929 New Orleans, LA

On the Internet baseball sites and in the Baseball Guide he isn’t credited with playing for Chanute. The only mention of him is with Hopkinsville, KY in the Kitty league in 1948.

To verify he played in the KOM league here is a blurb from the lola Register. “Al Ketchum started for Chanute last night (July 15), against Ponca City but left in the third after receiving a spike wound.” Here is proof Ketchum won a KOM league game. This account was carried in the July 10 edition of the Miami, Okla. News Record. “Although righthander Larry Jaros started on the mound for the Athletics, Al Ketchum came in with the bases loaded in the third and pitched the rest of the way without allowing a run to gain credit for the win. Although Ketchum gave up only one hit in his five inning pitching stint, the young righthander was exceptionally wild. He walked eight Miami batters.” Ketchum served in the U. S. Army from 4/26/51 to 4/11/53. The rest of his life is sketchy but after his return from Korea he worked as a party chef in New Orleans.

 

LaGrace Jr. Charles Joseph

D. 9/29/1990 San Diego, CA

B. 2/21/1930 Richmond, NY

He played second base and the outfield in his time at Chanute which was about a third of the season. He graduated from Freemont High School in Los Angeles, CA. in 1948 and his graduation photo mirrors what he looked like in the 1949 Chanute team picture. If you have access to Ancestry.com you can pull up this site and see him in his cap and gown. Click anywhere on this jumble of stuff and it will appear before your very eyes.

interactive.ancestry.com/1265/43134_b191311-00019?pid=349...

The foregoing is all that I could piece together on the life of LaGrace.

 

Marcil Jr. Leo Eugene

D. 10/1/1999 Simsbury, CT

B. 1/26/1929 Simsbury, CT

During his stint with Chanute he was a pitcher. When he reported to Chanute he was said to have come from Hartford, CT. He had tried his hand at pitching in 1948 in the Provincial and Florida State leagues. In the spring of 1949 he was one of the players who “answered the ad” in the Sporting News for baseball players in Chanute. In an April 27 column it listed he was one of about a dozen pitchers vying for a spot on that team and he was by inference a right hander. This statement in all the KOM newspapers at the time read “Pitchers working out are; Leo Marcil, Don Reed, Frankie Urban, Elmer Boston, Jim Imbeau, Pete New, Paul Rothermel, Leslie Lamb, Wayne Brickell and Larry Jaros. New and Brickell are southpaws.“ Marcil made the cut and pitched sparingly for Chanute until at least June 9 when he went in to relieve Pete New. He served his country during the Korean War as a member of the United States Air Force. For many years he was a supervisor for Western Union.

 

For Flickr readers the report is continued at this site:

www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/19611661884/

 

Done