KOM Flash Report 12/13/2015---This photo taken at John Hall's Christmas tree farm in 1975 located in Shawnee County, Kansas.

j03.john@gmail.com is the e-mail address concerning any questions or comments regarding the KOM League.

 

 

The KOM League

Flash Report

For

Week of 12/13/2015

 

 

Each Christmas season I hear from many former KOM leaguers, their wives or other family members. Over the past couple of decades I always received a Christmas card from Nick DeMaio of Darien, CT. He had played for the Miami, OK Eagles in 1952. We shared stories by letter and the Internet and each time his country band would record a CD I would be the recipient of one. Here is a link to DeMaio and his talents: www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&am...

 

Earlier in the week I had Nick on my mind and when I opened the computer on the morning of December 9, 2015 I found this message. “I’m sad to report that my Dad - Nick DeMaio has passed away. He enjoyed getting your KOM league emails and reading your stories about the league and players. Keep up the great work, Jeff DeMaio.”

 

www.lacerenzafuneralhome.com/obituarynotices.htm

 

Nicholas M. DeMaio Jr. (Jay) 84, passed away peacefully at home on December 6, 2015 after a four-month battle with cancer.

 

Nick was born in Stamford on September 14, 1931 to the late Mary (Abate) DeMaio and Nicholas M. DeMaio Sr. Growing up in Stamford’s historic west side, Nick maintained strong roots there, later becoming a 57 year resident of Darien.

 

After graduating from J.M. Wright Technical High School in 1948, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies baseball organization. He went on to play minor league baseball for several years, including the K.O.M. league based in Commerce, Oklahoma. (Ed note: Miami, OK)

 

Nick joined the Armed Forces during the Korean War and continued to play baseball for the U.S. Army team. At the conclusion of his service, he continued his 50 year career in printing at Communications Corporation in Stamford where he was plant manager.

 

Nick married the love of his life, Molly, in 1956 and moved to Darien in 1958. He was a longtime member and former president of the Piedmont Club in Darien, as well as a proud member of the Stillwater Indians baseball organization. Apart from his family, Nick’s greatest legacy is in country music. Nick was known to his legions of fans as “the Ambassador of Country Music”, and as a respected vocalist and authoritarian of this genre.

 

He was a member of “The Country Singing Pals” for 17 years before joining his sons in the band “Gunsmoke” for the past 23 years. Nick was widely known in the country music and western swing communities from Connecticut to Nashville, forming relationships and performing with country legends such as Ray Price, Hank Thompson, and Hank Williams Jr. Nick was proud to have performed for both President George H. and President George W. Bush during their campaign tours. Yet above all of his career highlights, Nick had no greater joy than sharing the stage with the three generations of family in “Gunsmoke.”

 

He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Michael DeMaio and his wife Margaret (Molly) DeMaio of 54 years.

 

He is survived by his loving sons, Nicholas M. DeMaio III and his wife Marilyn of Darien; Jeffrey DeMaio and his wife Margaret of Darien, as well as his four devoted grandchildren, Nicholas DeMaio IV, Christina DeMaio, Jessica DeMaio and Rebecca DeMaio. He is also survived by his sister in laws, Etta Guarino of Darien, Lois Guarino of Fairfield, and many nieces and nephews.

 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 11, 2015 at 10:30 at St. John's Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien, CT. Entombment will follow at St. John's Cemetery, Darien, CT. Relatives and friends may call at the Lacerenza Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 8 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, CT on Thursday, December 10, 2015 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 2151, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38101-2151

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Death of former Independence, KS Yankee

www.joplinglobe.com/obituaries/william-v-drake/article_ff...

 

Bill Drake, 85, of Raytown, Mo., went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Nov. 25, 2015. He was married to his lifelong love, Martha, for 64 years. They have four children.

 

Bill was a veteran of the United States Army serving in the Korean War. He started his career at Duff & Repp Furniture, in Kansas City, and eventually became president of American Furniture, in Colorado. At 45 years old he fulfilled his lifelong dream of opening House of Sleep, in Kansas City, in 1975. It was the first specialty sleep shop in KC and it grew to six locations in the metro area. He retired in 1995 and three of his children ran the business until 2012.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his soul mate of 64 years, Martha; daughter, Sherri Fast; daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Mike Renfrow; son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Dee Drake; son, Jeff; eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Deanie Hymer; and brother, Bob Drake, of Joplin, Mo.

 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Christmas Pageant Fund of First Baptist, Raytown. Fond memories and condolences for the family may be offered at www.floralhillsfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements: D.W. Newcomer's Sons Floral Hills Funeral Home, 7000 Blue Ridge Boulevard, KCMO, 816-353-1218.

 

Ed comment:

 

When a former KOM leaguer passes away I share what information I have with baseball necrologist, Jack Morris. Sometimes obituaries leave out biographical data that a baseball researcher wants to capture. Here is what I shared with him. “Jack, you would have never figured this one out by using the obituary. This guy played a lot of baseball with and against Mickey Mantle as a member of the Whiz Kids and other pick-up games in the area. Bill played for the Tri-State Miners as a teammate with three of the Mantles. When he played against Mickey Mantle he played for Sunny Jim's team out of Carl Junction, MO.

 

Drake was signed by Tom Greenwade and played for a while with the 1950 Independence Yankees. If there is anything else you need on Drake I probably have it.”

 

After sending that message I included this in another note to Morris. “I don't imagine many or any of your readers ever heard of Bill Drake who died Nov. 25 and I suspect some will think you’re talking about a much older Bill Drake, from Sedalia, MO, who played in the Negro leagues.

 

William Vernon Drake was born in Joplin, MO on July 22, 1930. I told you earlier about some of the guys with whom he played. If you click on this site you'll see him and six other guys who played minor league ball. All three of the Mantles, Travis Kunce, Max Buzzard and Galen Enos.: www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/8529501714/

 

Drake was released on May 30, 1950 by the Independence Yankees.

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Lucky???

 

Hi Johnny- I must be lucky- I get all your emails. I dislike Flickr and am not a twitter over Twitter. Keep those emails please, am not ashamed to have my name on a list, even one with Babcock on it.

 

Don’t let the Googlers get you down.

 

Jim Conroy—Hilton Head, SC

 

Ed reply:

 

You are a great man not to be ashamed to have your name on the same mailing list with Babcock. I don't twitter or Twitter either. On second thought I probably twitter too much. That used to mean “fiddle around.”

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Carl Mallon update

 

Finally got a chance to read through your Flash Report from Friday. In Baseball Reference there was a "C. E. Mallon" who played for Abilene in the 1909 Central Kansas League - www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=mallon0....

That might be Carl Mallon. Then again, it might not. Jack Morris

 

Ed comment:

 

Indeed it was Carl Edward Mallon who, three years earlier, threw a no-hitter on April 20, 1906 for Kansas State Agriculture College (KSAC) against Ottawa University. His was the second no-hitter for KSAC as Arthur Furey had tossed one against College of Emporia on April 17. That information is verifiable at: www.kstatesports.com/news/genrel_012410aaa_html Here is a portion of the verbiage included in the aforementioned URL. “April 17, 1906: Arthur Furey pitched the first no-hitter in Kansas State baseball history in a 13-0 win over the College of Emporia. Three days later, Carl Mallon matched Furey’s feat in the team’s next outing with a no-hitter against Ottawa University. Accounts in newspapers reported: “The game was played on a muddy field and there was a rabbit chase across the diamond.”

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Another story from Bernie Gerl

 

In recent weeks I have shared some material from Bernie Gerl who was a member of the ill-fated 1948 Duluth Dukes of the Northern league. If you are a first time reader or one who doesn’t recall the incident, that was the team with many of its members killed and injured in a fiery bus crash.

 

In the past few days Gerl wrote to ask if I ever heard of Thomas E. Staley. I must confess I hadn’t. Thus I Googled Staley’s obituary and sent it along to Gerl.

 

Thomas E. Staley, age 88. At rest Sunday, November 8, 2015, surrounded by his loving family at Sunny Hill Nursing Home.

 

Born in Omaha, Nebraska. He graduated from Creighton Prep High School. After high school, he played professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals organization and later with the New York Giant organization. He joined the Navy in November 1944, serving in the South Pacific. After service, he went to college and graduated from St. Ambrose in 1950 and later the University of Illinois.

 

In Davenport, IA, Tom met Colleen Lemley and was married for 62 wonderful years. Their marriage produced two beautiful children, Candace and Michael. In 1956, Tom and family moved to Joliet to join his father in the family business, Staley's Home Furnishings. He left the furniture business to begin teaching in the Troy School District, where he later served as Principal of Troy Shorewood School, where he made many good friends. He retired in 1990. After retiring, Tom spent his time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his family home in Wisconsin, and watching his beloved Chicago Cubs.

 

Survived by one son, Michael Staley (Karla Wojcik) of Joliet; five grandchildren: Vanessa (Mark) Schmitt of Chicago, Carrie (Corey) Hromek of Joliet, Lauren (Ed) Ferry of Joliet, Joshua Mancuso and Andrew Mancuso, of Joliet; four great-grandchildren, Mia and Christian Hromek, Matthew Ferry, and Max Schmitt; one brother, Donald in Sarasota, FL; one niece, Denise Werner; six nephews, Mark Werner, Doug, Denny, Pete, Todd and Tom DeDecker; and many cousins and close friends Tom made over the years.

 

He is preceded in death by his wife, Martha Colleen (nee Lemley) Staley; daughter, Candace Mancuso; son-in-law, Samuel Mancuso; sisters, Patricia Werner, Rosemary DeDecker; and his parents, Fred and Margaret Staley.

 

Funeral Services for Thomas E. Staley will be held Saturday, November 14, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet. Fr. Brad Baker officiating with full military honors under the auspices of the United States Navy. Private interment Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations to the donor's charity of choice would be appreciated.

 

Note from Gerl:

 

After sharing that obituary with Gerl he said he had a story to send me. I had surmised Gerl and Staley had seen a lot of each other during their latter days in Joliet.

 

Girl’s reply:

 

Here is the story of Tom Staley’s bonus of $1,000 from the Cardinals in 1944. He was sent to Lynchburg, Virginia where we met. Lynchburg was in first place in a tight race. Tom and I got to play only after we cinched the pennant. I got into three games, I think. We were sent to Lynchburg to show us what it was to be away from home as 17- year olds . The first pitcher I faced was Allen Gettel. Other players in the league were Duke Snider and Clyde King and then Jimmy Foxx. Foxx had been released by the Cubs and was a friend of the owner of the Portsmouth club. He played a few games and one was against us. As I remember he struck out three times and hit into a double play. Would you believe Staley said his dad owned a furniture store ln Joliet and Tom lived with him? Tom’s baseball career didn't last long for he went to college, got a teaching job and later became superintendent of a junior high school. He lived and raised his family here in Joliet and the only time I ever saw him, in all those years, was in the casket at his wake.

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A Christmas Gift???

 

For quite some time I've had the nerve to place the Flash Reports on this Flickr site. Some readers have visited it to either see the beautiful photos or the great prose has brought them back a few other times. Some of the Flash Reports have attracted over 60,000 "hits" to this site for a single photo or report. I don't know how many people visit the site more than once since I'm sure there aren't 60,000 people who would have an interest or knowledge of an old baseball league.

 

Whatever the case, I spent some time searching for previous Flash Reports that have been posted over parts of 2013-14-15. There is enough volume of material in the reports to write a few books but I'm sure the level of writing would fall short and if a book was written there wouldn't be enough people out there who would purchase one. Hey, I know. I've written enough books to understand the universe of interest.

 

If you pull the following site there are 64 Flash Reports included. Just click on the photo and scan down.

www.flickr.com/search/?text=KOM%20Flash%20Reports

 

If you have any questions or have trouble accessing what I just mentioned, let me know.

 

 

 

Done