The KOM Flash Report for 1/10--16, 2016

Alba Aces 1941 Champs of the Cardinal Jr. League. Won 30 lost 10.

 

Front Row: L-R: Kenton Boyer (Age 10), Max Rose, Wayne Boyer (Age 12), Stanley "Bud" Betebenner and Raymond Cooper

 

Back Row: Vernon Joseph Decker, Cecil Cooper, Dean Rose, Cloyd Boyer (Age 14) Manager Buford Cooper, Johnny Maples-Batboy, Keith "Ping" Patterson and Bob Barkley. Those missing from the photos were Kenneth. Fitzgerald and Bob McCullum. McCullum was the leading hitter on that club and Fitzgerald was runner up.

 

Three of those guys made it to the KOM league. Cloyd pitched for Carthage in 1946 and brother Wayne in 1947. Max Rose made it to the KOM league in, 1951, as an umpire.

 

The KOM League

Flash Report

for

Week of 1/10—1/16/2016

 

 

Why?

 

Early one recent morning the question came to me “Why do people have any interest in the Flash Reports?” That was right after wondering if anyone does.

 

At one time the bible of baseball was the Sporting News. I first became aware of it as a publication of practical interest in the summer of 1951. A few of the Carthage Cubs would pool their pennies and go to the only place in Carthage where it could be purchased, Lee's News, at the outrageous high price of 20 cents. At that time a daily newspaper was five cents and purchased many times with a buffalo nickel. A comic book was dime with the face on Mercury on it.

 

When that publication made it to the Carthage dugout the players would gather around usually, as Walter Babcock read aloud from it what had happened in player transactions in the Chicago Cub organization in such town as Los Angeles-CA, Nashville-TN, Des Moines-IA, Springfield-MA, Greensboro-NC, Rock Hill-SC, Visalia-CA, Clovis-NM, Sioux Falls-SD, Topeka-KS and Grand Rapids-MI. Those were all teams in a higher classification than the Carthage club. The players had absolutely no interest in what was going on with other Cub Class D clubs such as Janesville-WI and Rutherford, County NC.

 

In reading the Sporting News the Carthage players only looked at who got demoted from teams in higher classifications or members of those teams suffering injuries. If there were demotions at the higher classifications those actions had to work their way down through the system and might lead to a Carthage player being let go. Conversely, if there was an injury at a higher classification there might be a chance for advancement. No Class D ballplayer, with ambition to “make it” in baseball, was tied a particular town. If there were any ties it had to do with a girlfriend.

 

My interest in the Sporting News, after 1951, was only hindered by my ability to afford the bi-monthly publication. Very seldom did I see one and when the price rose later on to 25 cents per issue it was out of the question that I’d see very many of them.

 

Much later in life I learned that fellows, such as those I saw reading the Sporting News in the dugout as young upstarts, renewed their interest in the publication to see what had become of the guys they battled on their way up or out of the Cub organization. Yes, the interest had shifted to the section of the Sporting News entitled “Necrology.”

 

There isn’t any way I can judge why some people scan there Flash Reports but I do know there are at least a half dozen readers who only open the reports to see who has passed on. The number of living former KOM leaguers doesn’t come anywhere close to those who have gone to the “Great Clubhouse in the Sky.”

 

In fact, I have lost a lot of readers because of their passing and others have been lost since they got tired of reading of so many deaths. So, there is the dilemma. Do I report on those expiring or cease mentioning that issue?

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Making another pass through the list of “Never Located” KOM Leaguers

 

www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=119010...

(Photo of the deceased is at the aforementioned URL)

 

Charles E. "Chuck" Greene

Birth: May 19, 1928

Topeka--Shawnee County-Kansas,

Death: Oct. 19, 2013

Topeka Shawnee County--Kansas,

 

Charles E. "Chuck" Greene, 85, Topeka, passed away on Saturday, October 19, 2013.Chuck was born May 19, 1928 in Topeka, the son of Linden and Matie (Flanagan) Greene.

 

He graduated from Topeka High School and Washburn University with a Business degree in 1951, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He served in the U. S. Army during World War II and was involved in the occupation of Japan.

 

He was sales manager and later co-owner and President of Kansas Electric Supply. He retired in 2008 after 57 years.

 

He was an Eagle Scout, a member of Grace Episcopal Cathedral, Golden Rule Lodge #90 AF & AM, Kansas York Rite, Scottish Rite, a Life member of the Arab Shrine Temple, NE MAR Shrine Club, Kaw Valley Shrine Club, Legion of Honor, Order of Quetzalcoat, Life member of VFW Post 1650, American Legion Post 172, and a Life member of the Elks where he served as Secretary for many years and Exalted Ruler for several terms, and the Field & Stream club.

 

Chuck married Edna Metzenthin on April 22, 1950 in Topeka. She survives. Other survivors include sons, Russ (Karen) Greene, Topeka, Richard Greene, Seattle, WA; daughter, Julianne Greene, Mission; grandchildren, Jennifer Abruzzino, Brent, Sean, Travis, and Trenton Greene, all of Topeka; and great-grandson, Alec Greene. He was preceded in death by a brother, Linden Greene, Jr; and sister, Florence Webber.

 

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at Grace Episcopal Cathedral. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Chuck will lie in state at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel after 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, and visitation will be from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

 

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Episcopal Cathedral, Topeka Rescue Mission or the Arab Shrine Children's Travel Fund.

 

Ed comment:

 

Over the years of searching for former KOM leaguers, the name of a former pitcher for the Chanute Athletics appeared in a September 2, 1947 box score. While he was still living I used to talk to Lee Dodson who knew everything about baseball in Topeka. I told him of finding a newspaper article that said the Chanute pitcher on September 1 was Chick Greene. Lee pretty much assured me that it was Charles “Chuck” Greene who played some amateur baseball in the Topeka area.

 

In researching the “career” of Mr. Greene, I found that he pitched four innings, in relief, on the first day of September of that year. In his four inning stint he struck out four batters, walked four and gave up four runs. That happened to be the final game of the year for Chanute and Greene’s first and last appearance with a professional team. There was some early chatter in the Chanute newspaper that he might return for the 1948 season but that never materialized as the New York Giants had a working agreement with Chanute that one season.

 

It would be my belief that no one in his family ever heard the story about his time in professional baseball. He wasn’t married until three years after his stint with Chanute and I suspect he viewed that like most of us do when we reflect over our past jobs and never mention the ones that had a short fuse.

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Former players also suffer illness

 

Probably, more contacts are made with me regarding my photos than those precipitated by the narrative of the Flash Reports. But when they deal with news of a former KOM leaguer I work them into the Flash Reports. Here is an example. “Hi John: After looking at the pictures of your day I wanted to take a nap. Those little one's can sure tire you out. Glad you can go with them and enjoy. We did not send any Christmas greetings this year. The holidays just came and went before I even got ready. Harry has had a rough year. A heart attack in July followed by a bleeding ulcer a week later from the meds he has to take for the stents they put in. Had cataract surgery in Dec, on the left eye and the next weekend ended up in the emergency room with a urinary infection. Had to go to the urologist to have his bladder scoped and CT scans and they couldn't find anything he just has to drink more water. Will have his other cataract done Jan. 13. He didn't go to the doctor for over 50 years and I think it has caught up with him.

 

I look at all the pictures you post and enjoy them. Take care.” Pat

 

Ed comment:

 

I suppose you noticed that I didn’t mention any last names or the team for whom Harry played. However, I knew that a former teammate of Harry’s would want to know about him and I shared that note with Loren Doll. Now, if you know every teammate Doll ever had by the name of Harry you’d be able to figure things out. But this isn’t a quiz so don’t bother to look it up. Here is the note from Doll. “Thanks for sending me the info on Harry…never know what old age is going to bring on...appears you are enjoying the little ones...we had a Christmas get together of our family which now numbers 49 persons...includes 15 grandchildren and assorted in-laws...along with 13 great grandchildren...hope things are well and good for you...enjoy your e-mails…Loren Doll. Dodge City, KS.”

 

After reading Doll’s e-mail it dawned on me that what I’m doing is what the Sporting News used to do “back in the day.” Of course, I don’t have the ability of the writers of that era but the good news is that no one pays 25 cents an issue for these reports.

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A bonus item

 

From time to time I mention Gary Bedingfield of Glasgow, Scotland and the newsletter he publishes. Each time I receive one I scan it to see if I can tie any of his stories to the KOM league. I can usually do so.

 

Here is what Bedingfield shared this past week. I suggest you click on his site:

 

Ladies and Gentlemen. Here is the January issue of the Baseball in Wartime Newsletter. This issue features biographies on all 73 living major league veterans who served during World War II.

 

Do you know anyone who would enjoy receiving this newsletter? Send us their email address and we will include them on our monthly mailing list. They can opt out any time.

 

Happy reading!

 

************************************************

Gary Bedingfield

Baseball in Wartime (Founder and Editor)

Author of "Baseball's Dead of World War II," "Baseball in WWII Europe" and "Baseball in Wartime Newsletter"

Website: www.baseballinwartime.com

Website: www.baseballsgreatestsacrifice.com

Email: gary@baseballinwartime.com

This newsletter is sent to over 1,100 recipients.

 

Ed comment:

 

In scanning Bedingfield’s report I noticed that two of the 73 guys profiled were on KOM rosters and both were with the Carthage, MO Cardinals. This is the note I sent to Bedingfield. “Enjoyed your last edition. A couple of those 73 war vets played in my hometown of Carthage, Mo. They were Cloyd Boyer and Chris Haughey. Boyer was there in late 1946 and Haughey showed up at Carthage in early 1947. Haughey's last appearance before going into WW II was with the Brooklyn Dodgers. So, when he came back his first game was in Class D. The record books show he spent the entire season in 1947 with St. Joseph, Mo., but he started with Carthage. I have spoken with him about that.”

 

Bedingfield's reply:

 

Thanks for that info on Haughey. I'm expanding the bios to include on my website, so I'll mention that he was in Class D ball when he came back from service. Best Regards.

 

Comment:

 

If any of you go to the website where Bedingfield posted those photos pay particular attention to the one of Cloyd Boyer. He is in his pitching motion. However, sitting on the bleachers, on the left side of the photo, is a “huge fan” of Boyer’s. When Cloyd gave me an autographed edition of that photo I kidded him about that since the “huge fan” was sound asleep. I intended to share my copy of that photo but it went on vacation. If I locate it in the near future I’ll post it on the Flickr site. However, there are some silver linings behind every something or another. In going through my old photos I ran across the first one that I ever saw of Cloyd Boyer. If you will go to this site you might enjoy seeing it. www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/24174174071

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Finally, a fan letter

 

You sir never cease to amaze me! You have done much to keep the old time baseball alive. If not for you, history would be forever lost to so many!! Thank you my friend, God Bless you sir. Thomas Earp—Kansas City. MO

 

Ed comment:

 

That kind of remark cause the Flash Reports appear from time to time.

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Done