KOM League Flash Report for Halloween 2015

The KOM League

Flash Report

for

Halloween—2015

 

This report may be the spookiest thing to either knock at your door or come to you in the form of an e-mail at this Halloween season. However, for a change of pace I had significant feedback from the October 24th version of this publication. Thus, I shall share that with the readership in the order in which they were received. Of course, I’ll probably share my “post-game” comments about each of them. Post-game comments about anything are superfluous. Those kind of sessions are held to tell the masses how stupid they are and really don’t understand the nuances of what was said or seen or else the person making the post-game analysis would be out of a job if he/she didn’t perform that function.

 

So, here is what was received this past week along with post-game comments:

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Death of former Miami Eagle

 

www.legacy.com/obituaries/thecabin/obituary.aspx?n=Hubert...

 

Hubert Brooks, "H.K." of Conway passed into heaven on Oct. 25, 2015.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Donnie Reed Brooks, and his son, Greg Brooks, all of East End, Ark.; and one brother, Charlie Brooks, of Buena Park, Calif.

He is the son of the late Marshall and Glennie Brooks of Saline County. Survivors are his daughter, Lana McCormick; and grandson, Charley G. McCormick III, both of Conway.

His surviving siblings are Elizabeth Moore of Sun City, Calif., Susie and James Rozell of Sachse, Texas, Margaret Brooks of Buena Park, Calif. and Maxie and Ike Brooks of Shreveport, La.

 

Hubert was a deacon of East End Baptist Church for over 40 years, and had gone without missing Sunday school for 47 years. H.K. retired from Reynolds Aluminum in 1983. He was a Texas league pitcher in the early 1950s and he was truly passionate about baseball.

The visitation will be noon, Wednesday Oct. 28 at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home, with service following at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. at Salem Cemetery in East End, Ark.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Salem Cemetery.

Online guest book: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/conway

 

Post-game comment

 

Hubert Kenneth Brooks was born April 14, 1930 in Benton, Arkansas and played for the 1951 Miami, OK Eagles of the KOM league. He posted a 4-6 record at Miami in 26 mound appearances He played a little bit, in 1952, for Decatur, Ill and then went to the Western Association with the Ft. Smith/Van Buren entry in 1953. He lost nine more games than he won that year and in 1954 he pitched for Seminole in the Sooner State league and for Ponca City, OK who by that time was a member of the Western Association. He was 1-1 combined that year. His only loss was with Seminole and his lone win was with Ponca City.

 

As stated in his obituary he was faithful to his church. He must have exhibited great trust among his teammates at Miami for he was the guy in charge of guarding the team valuables—billfolds and wristwatches during the games he didn’t pitch. On one of the nights he was scheduled to pitch by manager, Tommy Warren, Warren announced he’d be responsible for guarding those items. During the time the team was on the field “someone” entered the clubhouse and got away with everything. Well, it appeared all the items went out the door. What actually happened, according to many of my sources, is that Warren stashed the loot in a pot belly stove and assigned himself as the only person to search it. The players were assigned other parts of the clubhouse to investigate. (Another true but sad story in the annals of the KOM league.)

______________________________________________________________________________Death of 1950 Joplin Miner and loyal reader of all the KOM league output

 

A recent e-mail was sent from the address of a fellow who has read the KOM material since “the big inning.” The note at first confused me for I thought I was reading the obituary of the person who sent it. The header note read “Jerry enjoyed your updates...sorry to pass along the sad news.” In further checking I learned that the person sending the note was Jerry’s brother, Tom.

 

This was the sad news:

 

BUCHANAN, George J. "Jerry" Age 84, passed away peacefully on October 14, 2015. Born March 3, 1931 in Dallas, Texas, Jerry graduated from Woodrow Wilson High in 1948. He then entered Southern Methodist University and lettered in baseball for the Mustangs. In 1950, Jerry transferred to Drury College, Springfield, Missouri, where he began his professional baseball career in combination with his fledgling journalism studies. He soon signed a bonus contract with the New York Yankees and played his first organized game as a pitcher for the Joplin Miners. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953, Jerry continued with the New York Yankees, pitching for their various farm teams, which included a winter season in Cartagena, Colombia. Jerry ended his playing career with the New Orleans Pelicans in 1958 and shortly thereafter joined American Airlines, retiring in 1996. Along with his friends and neighbors, Jerry will be missed by his family: brother, Tom, and his wife, Gail; nephew, Ben, and his wife, Deborah; grandnephew, Taylor, all of Atlanta, Georgia. Memorial services will be held at 3 pm on Friday, October 23rd in Restland Wildwood Chapel. Reception following at Jerry's family home.

Published in Dallas Morning News on Oct. 18, 2015

- See more at: www.legacy.com/obituaries/dallasmorningnews/obituary.aspx...

 

Post-game comment:

 

Buchanan was on the 1950 Joplin Miner team that was loaded with talent including future big leaguers, Steve Kraly, Bob Wiesler, Lou Skizas, Cal Neeman and a shortstop with the last name of Mantle.

 

Buchanan had great stories about that era and then some later in life about Mantle when “The Mick” moved to Dallas and would encounter Buchanan, at the counter performing his duties for American Airlines at the Dallas –Ft. Worth Airport. I’m not going to get into any detail here other than Buchanan telling how Mantle would totally embarrass him by some of the things he would yell at him, for everyone to hear.

 

Probably the thing Buchanan was best known for as a young pitcher was his warm-up routine. While batters swung weighted bats before heading to the plate, he had a brick stashed in the bullpen and would throw it during his warm-ups. It made the ball seem lighter just like the weighted bats did for the bat used during the official plate appearance.

 

Additional comment:

 

Not knowing, initially, who might have sent the Buchanan obituary I shared his obituary with a few former KOM and Yankee minor leaguers. I received this note from Shirley Virdon. “Bill knew him from Drury U. (Springfield, Mo.) We did not see this. Thanks for sending. We always heard from him at Christmas time and once in a while he would call and chat with Bill. Sorry to hear about his passing. Take care. Blessings, Shirley Virdon.”

______________________________________________________________________________Now to non-obituary material

 

A note from Aletha Bartley, widow of the late Dodger player, manager and scout, Boyd.

 

Well I was for the Rangers, they lost. Then I was for the Astros, they lost. I was for the Dodgers, they lost, So I decided to be for the Cubs, they lost. So I then got smart and pulled for Toronto and by golly I helped the Royals to win. I never even got a thanks from them.

 

Post-game comment:

 

I imagine the teams in the World Series would pay Aletha big money to get her to root for their opponent.

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More from Bernie Gerl

 

In a recent note from Bernie Gerl he mentioned Fred Marolewski who got into one big league game on the closing day of the 1953 season for the St. Louis Cardinals. Gerl opined that I wouldn’t recognize that name. Of course, I did recall it and any other name of a Cardinal player who put on a uniform for the decade of the mid 1950’s through the mid 1960’s. So, here is a follow-up e-mail exchange

 

Note from Gerl:

Had breakfast yesterday with Frank Marolewski who was in the Cardinal system. He had great stats playing with many of my friends like Harvey Haddix, Jackie Collum and more. He is two years younger than me and has a great baseball mind. He lives by himself and is not an Internet man. We spent two hours together. Let me know if you would like to talk to him. Again pardon the mistakes in my typing

 

Ed reply:

 

I glanced through the rosters of minor league clubs for whom Marolewski played and found that he was a teammate of many former KOM league players.

 

He was signed out of Chicago about the same time as Jim Neufeldt another Windy City player. Neufeldt played in most of the Cardinal ports of call such as Carthage, St. Joseph, Houston and Columbus. Neufeldt got his degree from the Univ. of Illinois and is still residing in that area.

 

If Fred is interested in knowing the fate or whereabouts of any of those guys I'd be happy to share what I know with him.

 

Gerl’s reply:

 

Talked to Fred Marolewski tonight and told him about you. He would be glad to talk to you, phone 815 478 xxxx best time to call about 6: 30 pm . Keep me posted

 

Ed reply:

 

When I make contact I will let you know. I better not call him on World Series game nights, I might just make an enemy.

 

Comment:

 

Fred Marolewski was either a teammate or on the roster, the same year, with these former KOM leaguers: Bob Habenicht, Cloyd Boyer, James Neufeldt, Bob Hyatt, Bill Upton, Bob Jenkins, Lloyd “Pat” Gosney, Charlie Locke, Bob Harrison, Don Schultz, Dick Loeser, Walter Marlow, Charlie Popovich, Jim Morris, Howard “Mace” Pool, Bob Mahoney, Robert Vogel and Dave Young. Six of the fellows just mentioned played in the major leagues. Can you name them and their KOM affiliation?

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A Cub fan—even after the series with the Mets

 

John: I have told you in the past how much I enjoy the KOM report and your tomatoes. Thank you for mentioning Cal Neeman and Charlie Metro. I actually had season tickets in Chicago the year of the college of coach's and they also had what was called an Athletic Director rather than a GM. Wrigley had weird ideas. I WON the four season tickets but I also think the all-star game may have been in Wrigley Field that year! Keep up the great work and thank you.

Denny Sutherland, your two blocks away neighbor from Aurora, Illinois and a lifelong Cubs fan.

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Don Biebel for Carthage Cub player and Chicago Cub traveling secretary

 

In the previous Flash Report the Charlie Metro book was mentioned and it contained a story regarding Don Biebel hiding out in the Cubs scoreboard and stealing signs. I stated that possibly Biebel would read the item and make a comment. My fondest wish came true with this note.

“You’re right about not helping much. I recall getting 90% of the calls against Bib Gibson and he pitched a one-hitter against us only had the tip of my foot showing in the empty slots on the board. Best story is when Hank Sauer got in street clothes when he was with the Giants in ‘59 came out to the score board and tried to get in. Needless to say he failed. I also caught Bob Buhl and Joey Jay of the Braves sitting in the bleachers trying to get our signs. Of course, I had an usher remove them. Was a fun summer.” Don Biebel—Sacramento, CA

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Dick Wiegand former Brooklyn Dodger up and coming lefthander

 

John, in reading this Flash Report the name Hank Paskiewicz jumped out to me as I played on the same team as he did in 1957 at Rapid City, S.D. He was our second baseman and a very good ball player and person. Rapid City won the pennant that year. Frank Howard played on that team also. It was the summer between his (Howard’s) junior and senior year at Ohio State. Dick Wiegand—Sun City, Arizona, former Ponca City Dodger and a native of Nebraska

 

Post-game comment:

 

It would be very easy to go off on a tangent with that tidbit of information provided by Wiegand. Wiegand and Paskiewicz were teammates at Rapid City, SD of the Basin league in both 1957-58. For those of you too young to remember, that league was a non-professional circuit made up of “large” cities in South Dakota such as; Rapid City, Huron, Mitchell, Watertown, Yankton, Pierre, Winner, Chamberlain along with Valentine, Nebraska. It derived its name from the Missouri River Basin. It drew former and future big leaguers and college students honing their skills during the summer.

 

Going on a brief tangent I know that former KOM leaguers other than Wiegand and Paskiewicz played in the Basin league in 1957-58 including; Leonard VandeHey, Joe “Corky” Buckstead, Ed Staab, Vern McKee, Merlyn Jorgensen and Paul Tretiak. I recognize many fellows who played for other minor league teams by examining this URL www.attheplate.com/wcbl/1957_80i.html and others like it on that site.

 

There were a number of guys who used the Basin league as a springboard to the big leagues, or as a landing strip after playing in the big leagues including but not limited to: Ken Hunt, Craig Anderson, Forrest “Spook” Jacobs, Dick “The Flame Thrower” Radatz, Dean Look who was also an All-American football star of that era, Sonny Siebert, Frank Howard, Ron Perranoski, Jerry Adair, Frank Tanana, Eddie Fisher (not the one who married Liz Taylor and Debbie Reynolds), Don Schwall, Jim O’Toole Dick Howser and Kermit Wahl.

 

If you have time to spare you might Google some of those names to be entertained a bit. For example you might enjoy a You Tube story told by Dean Look and how he wound up playing for Duffy Daughtery’s Michigan State Spartans. www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAK2U9E9o-E

 

Jim O’Toole and Don Schwall both got those amazing $50,000 bonuses, in December, after performing in that league during the summer of 1957.

 

Okay, I didn’t go too far off base so if you’re interested you can go back and click on the next to last URL I shared and you can even see photos of many of the participants in that league.

 

A short time later: For those of you who are real gluttons for punishment, and would like the names of all the former big leaguers who played in the Basin league, I found a great article published in 2003 in the Rapid City Journal. It looks to me as though the writer documented 137 former big leaguers who played in that old amateur circuit. rapidcityjournal.com/sports/local/part-hills-players-fill... In that group are three guys who made it into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

 

Larry Scott--Hall of Fame disc jockey and expert in Southern Gospel, Country and Western Swing genres.

 

John, enjoyed this (previous Flash Report) almost as much as ‘’Give The World A Smile.” Larry Scott—Terrell, Texas

 

Ed comment:

 

About the greatest amount of praise anyone could give a Flash Report came from Scott in his “Give The World A Smile” comment. This is that to which he was referring. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9xPkde4ROY

 

Before sharing our back and forth conversation I want to state that I do have friends, interests and acquaintances outside the KOM framework. Scott and I got back to 1959 when he was a staff announcer and disc jockey for KBTN in Neosho, MO. I was a summer fill-in pastor at church, near there, in extreme Southwest Missouri, so much so that most of my congregants were from Arkansas. When you have an average of five in a Sunday service and three were from Arkansas that forms a majority.

 

When I first saw Larry Scott he was promoting large singing events for the big names in Southern Gospel music. One group he promoted was the Oak Ridge Boys when they were the Oak Ridge Quartet and traveling in cheap stretch limousines. One evening, in 1959, I was in attendance at one of Scott’s events that featured the Blackwood Brothers and Statesmen Quartet along with the Singing Speer Family. An old guy to me then, but I’d now consider younger, under the circumstances, was on the stage and all the groups were signing the songs he had written.

 

The old guy whose songs were being sung that evening was Albert E. Brumley Sr. www.google.com/search?rls=aso&client=gmail&q=Albe...

To say that Brumley was a prolific and gifted writer of songs would be akin to saying Babe Ruth could hit a baseball.

 

Jump ahead 40 years from the night I saw Albert E. Brumley Sr. in Neosho, MO. During a KOM league reunion at Precious Moments in Carthage a gentleman, about my age, was engrossed in the items being displayed regarding the KOM league. He seemed more interested than anyone at that event. I knew he was either a true fan or one of the creeps who ripped me off a couple of times at when I had one-of-a-kind of items displayed. The fellow introduced himself as Albert E. Brumley Jr. He iterated that when he was a youth, during the Carthage Cardinal and Cub days in the KOM, his father would plan one big outing each year and drive from Powell, MO to Carthage to see his favorite minor league team. The elder Brumley was a great song writer and his second love was baseball. The Brumleys were huge St. Louis Cardinal fans but didn’t get to any more of the games of the big league team as they did for the Class D Carthage entry.

 

Albert Jr. told me it was a sad day when Carthage dropped out of the KOM league and they had to rely on watching the Joplin Miners instead-- and it just wasn’t the same.

 

So, with that bit of background I can share the give-and-take Scott and I had recently. I shared large volumes of information regarding the Brumleys in the early 2000’s when Al Jr. joined us at the KOM league reunion in Bartlesville, OK. Scott never made it to one of those events but he was a busy guy hosting radio shows heard across this country from Bakersfield, CA to Dallas, TX and even producing a radio sports show for Harry Caray prior to his departure from St. Louis.

 

Ed reply:

 

You must have known I was thinking of you this week. I was going through some ancient quartet videos and found the McDonald Quartet who headquartered out of southeast Missouri, southwest Illinois and northeast Arkansas from the 1920's to around 1950. They broadcast over KBOA in Kennett, Mo for years. I must confess I never heard them but I said to myself "I bet Larry Scott remembers them."

 

Scott’s reply:

 

I’ve got an old radio broadcast by the McDonald Brothers from McAlester, Oklahoma

Doy Ott www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=%20623... was playing piano for them at that time. Rosie Rozell www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19616025

Warren Holmes, and I think Charley Hutton went up to Springfield and joined the Foggys (Foggy River Boys) then, Rosie and Charley went back to Tulsa. Rosie was a policeman and was from Skiatook. The Statesmen hired Rosie in December of ‘58.

 

Bill and Monty Matthews joined the Foggy River Boys and then they formed a brand new quartet, the Jordanaires. www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&am... To complete the group they came to Monett (MO) and hired Cully Holt, and Bob Hubbard. They had been singing with a group called The Four H’s. All the guys last names started with the letter “H”. We had a cousin, Al Higgins, who was singing with the group. They were very popular in our part of the country.

I’m gonna make a cd or cd’s that will contain V.O. Stamps and a December, 1937 radio broadcast, Frank Stamps and a 1957 broadcast, some of the Statesmen’s old radio programs, the one by The McDonald Brothers, The Rangers Quartet old Blackwood Brothers recordings several more that helped make gospel music history. I’ll include you on the list. It will take me a little while to get it done. Through September 25th I spent 70% of this year in the hospital. Doing good now, just a little slow. This is a photo of Larry Scott at his studio in Terrell, TX www.terrelltribune.com/image_7f4c9ace-5fa6-11e1-8b7c-0018...

 

Ed reply:

 

I get a surprise every once in a while when looking at the names of some of the guys who sang with a group. I didn't know until this week that Rosie Rozell sang with the Foggy River Boys. I first knew of him with the Tulsa Trumpeteers. It is nice learning something at my age.

 

Thanks for staying in touch.

 

I knew you would know all that stuff. I was aware of much of what you shared such as Rosie Rozell being a Tulsa policeman. Somewhere in that mix in Rosie's life was R. G. Lewis. He ran a florist shop in Tulsa and had something to do with Rosie's early start in

singing.

 

The first time I ever heard of or saw a gospel quartet was in 1949. The Matthews Brothers sang at the Church of the Nazarene in Carthage and the place was packed. They opened the big windows at the church located at Chestnut and Grant Streets and people stood on the sidewalks to listen. Eleven years later I was married in that church and only six people were there. My parents, the preacher and his wife and my bride and I. I guess it turned out okay, we've been happily ever after for 55 years.

 

I look forward to your project on putting together those old quartets.

 

Ed note:

 

The Foggy River Boys and Matthews Brothers were the nucleus of the Jordanaires. The next time I saw that group, in Carthage, was at the Tiger Theater a half dozen years later as they sang the background for Elvis Presley. All things are connected in one way or another. One fellow with whom I attended grade and high school, Bobby Moskop, later played piano for a reconstructed Foggy River Boys and my high school voice instructor, John Mitchell, joined them as the baritone. I exaggerate a little bit about “singing”. Mitchell came around when I was signing in a choir and listened to me and suggested my voice was best suited for signing while alone such as in the shower or in my car with the windows rolled up. The latter version of the Foggy River Boys were one of the first groups to set up shop on the Branson, MO music scene.

 

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Former KOM and big leaguers gathered

 

John, were your ears "burning" last Monday morning? We had breakfast with Bob & Joanie SPEAKE and other friends and we were talking about you, the Flash Report and the KOM League! All good! Have a great weekend!

Blessings, Shirley Virdon—Springfield, MO

 

Ed reply:

 

I kid you not my ears were burning. Now, I know why. It is nice to be remembered.

 

Virdon’s reply:

 

Well, we read the Flash Report and worry about you when we don't get one for a long while!

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Beyond my pay grade

 

John - I know your two favorite teams (Cards & Cubs) fell short of making the World Series. But now that your #3 team is in I’m certain you will be glued to the telly for the entire series. So since I will be unable to watch, could you please send me a short synopsis of each game. I’d really appreciate it. Thx in advance, dave (Austin, Texas)

 

Ed reply:

 

I never liked the Cubs even though I have been around a few of them. As for me and the World Series you are going to have to rely on another source. The last time I watched any World Series game, with any interest, was 1966. The only game I've watched since then was with my grandson in 2011 and only then because he insisted. I gave it up when they fell behind Texas in the 8th inning. I was awakened after a few minutes of sleep by my grandson proclaiming David Freese had homered or doubled.

 

The foregoing is the truth as I know it.

 

I can tell you in advance who will win. The team with the pitchers who aren't worn out after nearly 200 exhibition, regular season and playoff games will prevail. The entire baseball season is far too long. Playing baseball in the winter is only for those living in Latin America.

 

Dave’s plaintive reply:

 

I’m really disappointed, John. I just knew I could rely on you.

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A note that took five months to reach me

 

How nice to reminisce those fun reunions! You did such a terrific thing in bringing all of those former players together to enjoy each other once again and to relive the thrill of playing the game of baseball that is the "love" of all of us who have spent most of our lives with this game in some capacity! My crazy phone wouldn't send this message-----who knows WHY!!!!!!

Anyway, a few months late, I will try again. Shirley V

 

The aforementioned note came from Shirley at the same time she was responding to a comment about the baseball season being too protracted. Here is what she said on that score which made me feel good that someone agreed with me. “I watched until the12th inning last night and Bill watched until the end of the 13th! Tonight is beginning to resemble last night's game! I probably will head to the bedroom before long, and hear about the game tomorrow! I can't seem to get too interested----I'm with you----I have never liked the playoffs-----I wish they would leave the game alone---no replay, no playoffs, no sabermetrics and certainly no robots to replace the umpires!!!! I have been on my "bandbox" since the three teams with the best percentages in all of baseball were eliminated and not one of them made it to the Series! That should not happen! Sadly, money is the driving force-----when you play 162 games and end up on top, you should be playing in the Series!!! Now, after this inning I may head to bed. With the Royals strong bullpen, they surely can secure a win again tonight. Sleep well! Blessings, Shirley V. (Note: This note was written at the midway point of the second game of the Mets/Royals series.

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Keeping up with everything

 

The late Neil Gibson of Arlington, TX was a long time reader of these Flash Reports. He proclaimed, many times, that the publication was like the old telephone switchboard operator who knew everything about everybody. He passed an edict that I could never die for there wouldn’t be anyone around who could pass along the messages. Well, I fall short of fitting his estimation of my outreach but I do hear from some people who seem to come out of nowhere.

 

Recently, I heard from a regular reader who said some of his high school buddies were weightlifters who also attended the Univ. of Kansas in the early 1960’s and recall “A 29-year old stud” from Columbia, Missouri, who was “heavily” into that sport. My reader recognized the name from these reports and asked if I could provide information to a buddy of his about the guy who now has surpassed the 29-year old mark by over a half century. After a few attempts of getting the information from point A to point C by way of point B, this is the response from point C through point B about the former 29-year weight wrestler and coach. “Casey: Incredibly, Bill Clark did get my message. Will give a bit of the flavor: "John Hall and I have been friends for 20 years. He's from Carthage--where I held baseball tryouts and signed my first player for the Pirates in 1968. His name was Joe McAtee from St. Paul, Ks. I tried out, at age 16, in Carthage for the KOM league team and am an honorary KOM alumnus. I was cut after the first day of a three day tryout. "Good Field....no hit". I became an umpire".

 

Point C continued. “Bill and I will probably meet for lunch soon. Amazing how these little tidbits can bring people together.” Point C is John Willcott.

 

Ed note:

If the foregoing needs any clarification I’d be happy to send along Bill Clark’s son’s e-mail address since Bill never goes near a computer.

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A peek at the past.

 

In recent weeks I shared the obituary of Robert Jenkins, long time minor league performer who started out in the KOM league. Back in April of this year I shared a photo of the 1949 Pittsburg Browns of which he was a member. If you wish to see that photo go to:

www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/17086976836/ In that report I listed him as one of the three guys in that photo still living. Now, it’s down to two.

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World Series Anniversary

 

Gary Bedingfield of Glasgow, Scotland has been mentioned a number of times, in this forum, regarding a site that honors those former ballplayers who served in the military. His site is www.baseballinwartime.com This month he featured the 70th Anniversary of the ETO World Series (European Theater of Operations).

 

Bedingfield’s e-mail coincided with a telephone call from Bob Nichols of Canton, OH who played in the ETO. In fact, he was the starting pitcher in the first ETO game played, in 1945, at Nuremburg Stadium. He was with the 778th Tank Battalion that was assigned to the 1st Armored Division’s Artillery Unit. Unlike the rest of the members of his team he was the only one without prior professional baseball experience. When the captain of the unit came around to write a profile of the team he learned Nichols had never pitched prior to that game. That is why Nichols was shocked to learn he was the starting pitcher.

 

He recalled that the distance to the left field wall was 525 feet and in one game he faced future big leaguer, Bobby Morgan, who whistled a shot over the left fielders head and he walked home from third base in that inside-the-park blast.

 

During high school he and Paul Stuffel were classmates. He recalled being surprised pitching in another ETO game where Stuffel was the opposing pitcher. Stuffel not only shutout Nichols’ team but hit a home run in a 1-0 win.

 

You may recall a story this summer, along with a photo, of Bob Nichols reaching the “Fourscore and ten plateau.” I asked him how it felt to be a decade away from the century mark and he replied “It is a heavy mantel to bear.” If you missed it here is Nichols’ birthday party announcement. www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/19620261459/

 

Done