KOM League Flash Report for Father's Day 2018

The KOM League

Flash Report

Father’s Day Edition

2018

 

This edition of the report is posted at: www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/27870876617/ The associated photo has some baseball significance. It is a bird that is affiliated with a Missouri baseball team and as far as I’m concerned it looks a whole lot better than the group of 25 to 40 guys who wear that likeness on the front of their team jerseys.

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Throwing out the first pitch

 

For a while I have suspicioned there are readers of the Flash Reports who don’t receive them by e-mail. The Flickr site is a “grazing ground” for photo lovers and sometimes a person looking for photos accidently comes across a Flash Report. This is a message received in recent days. “Hass_53 said: Thanks for another interesting and absorbing KOM Report! I truly do enjoy reading each and every one and often just scroll back thru your Flickr pages to see if I missed one. Bruce H., Concordia, MO.

 

For those who only find the Flash Reports by sheer accident or dogged determination let me make you an offer. If you don’t want to miss another report or work up a sweat searching for it, send your e-mail address to: j03.john@gmail.com

 

If anyone would like to have an easy guide to many of these reports let me know.

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Death of wife of former KOM leaguer

 

Mr. Hall: This is Paul Wichtendahl (Delbert's son). Dad does not check email (yet) and this email account is the one that Mom used. She passed away on Sunday afternoon.-- Whittemore, Iowa

 

Thanks to Paul I went on-line and wish to share this with the readership.

 

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www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com/obituary/261791/Elaine-Wi...

 

“Elaine Ruth (Meyer) Wichtendahl received her crown of eternal life on Sunday, June 10, 2018. She was born on a farm in rural Whittemore to (Ernest) and Edna Schultz on June 17, 1934. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Whittemore. She married the love of her life, Delbert Wichtendahl on July 20, 1952, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. To this union they were blessed with four children, Vernon, Steven, Paul and Carmen.

 

She was a faithful organist at St. Paul Lutheran Church from 1979-2014. She enjoyed playing cards, sewing, knitting and crocheting and her family lovingly called her "Blazing Needles." Elaine worked at Zumach's AG Foodstore, Dr. LeRoy Strohman's Dentistry, The Travel Agency and Schuchert and Erickson Eye Doctors and many years as the church secretary.

 

Elaine is survived by her husband, Delbert of Whittemore; children, Vernon and Twila of Lotts Creek; Reverend Steven and Cheryl of Guthrie Center; Paul and Mary of Good Thunder, MN; Carmen and Bill O'Brien of Marion; grandchildren: Angela (Josh Rusch) Wichtendahl, Emily (Nick) Crimmins, Suzanne Wichtendahl, Jonathan (Dana) Wichtendahl, Aime Jo Wichtendahl, Sara (Shawn McGuire) Wichtendahl, Courtney Wichtendahl, Corban Wichtendahl, Shayla O'Brien and Melaina O'Brien; great-grandchildren: Leo, Philip, Kaden, Aveline, Vendela, Haley, Steven, Flynn, Brenden and Evan; brother, Eldon (JoAnn) Meyer and many nieces and nephews.

 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Edna (Schultz) Meyer; grandson, Michael Wichtendahl; granddaughter, Kelly O'Brien and a great-grandson, Victor Crimmins.”

 

Ed comment:

 

Like the majority of communication with the former KOM leaguers, it comes from their wives. Although Elaine and Delbert were married a year after he left the KOM league, she had seen a few games, in 1951, when her husband played for the Ponca City Dodgers and later the Miami, Okla. Eagles.

 

Elaine and Delbert attended one KOM league reunion and from that juncture she had an interest in these reports. She’d send comments and questions, from time to time. The best effort I could muster was always put forth for anybody with as few readers as this old batboy has, he wouldn’t want to lose a one. I’m sorry that Elaine will no longer be on the receiving end of these reports and I send along condolences to Paul, his father, and the other members of the family

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The passing of a member of the 1948 Bartlesville Pirates

 

Since the disbanding of the printed newsletter, I don’t hear as promptly from family members, of a deceased former player, as I once did. When a former player’s name gets stuck in my mind, as not having heard from for a few months, I look him. Here is what was found this past week.

 

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www.armeshuntfuneralhome.com/notices/Kenneth-Manwell

 

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord will award to me on that day. Kenneth West Manwell, age 90, of Marion, Indiana, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on November 5, 2017, at 4:32 p.m. He was born in Harlingen, Texas, on October 2, 1927, to the late Cecil (April 21, 1967) and Beulah (Maxey) (April 3, 1983) Manwell. Kenneth graduated in 1947 from Marion High School in Grant County. During World War II, Kenneth was helping his parents with farming. His brother Richard, however, was in the service fighting for the rights of the American people. On Sunday, January 12, 1947, Kenneth married the love of his life, Margaret L. Ulmer, who preceded him in death. Also preceding him death are his youngest son, Kenneth Michael Manwell, brother Richard Manwell, and sister Madelyn Allen.

 

Kenneth was to report for spring drills with Keokuk at Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where he began training with the Keokuk, Iowa Pirates of the Central Association, a Pittsburg(h) affiliate, with which he signed a contract in the fall of 1946. Newspaper said, "Manwell, a strong armed right hander, will leave Marion on April 11 to begin workouts with Keokuk club, which is considered a class C organization." His fame was cut short due to the illness of his father, Cecil Manwell. He was a lifetime member of First Friends Church (Golden band class) in Marion, Indiana. Kenneth has been a life time farmer and enjoyed his farming with his son Kim, and grandsons, Scott, Joe, and Nick Manwell. He spent over 50 years in the Masons/Shriners. He loved to play golf, bingo, euchre, basketball, football, and his specialty baseball. He enjoyed watching the races at the Indianapolis 500. He watched them in his last years on television. Kenneth had the gifts of the fruit of the spirit, always displaying kindness, gentleness, and patience.

 

Kenneth is survived by his special friend and caregiver, Janet Humphrey, Marion, 6 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.

 

Arrangements for Kenneth have been entrusted to Armes-Hunt Funeral Home and Cremation Services College Park Chapel, 4601 S. Western Ave., Marion, Indiana, where a visitation will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A funeral service will follow the visitation at 2:00 p.m., with Pastor Robert Garra officiating. Burial will be at Grant Memorial Park in Marion.

 

In lieu of flowers, Kenneth requested that contributions be made to the Special Olympics. Online condolences may be made at www.armeshuntfuneralhome.com.

 

Ed comment:

 

Kenneth Manwell’s obituary was shared with baseball necrologist, Jack Morris, with the caveat that no matter what is contained in that document he didn’t show up in the KOM league until 1948. He played in a baker’s dozen games and got one hit, one walk and was hit by one pitch.

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Death of a 1949-50 Bartlesville Pirate

 

James Leroy Mehan was born August 7, 1930 in the central Oklahoma town of Chandler. Not many sources can verify that data but I know it from my many conversations with the deceased. Over the years he subscribed to the KOM League Remembered newsletter and helped keep that publication afloat, far longer than it deserved.

 

After the newsletter went “belly up” Mehan continued to communicate with this source through e-mail. It had been a while since I heard from him and decided to look on the Internet to ascertain his whereabouts. This was the sad found on this link: www.findagrave.com/memorial/178033738

 

For those who can’t or won’t open the foregoing URL, Mehan passed away April 30, 2015, in Artesia, California. So, he stayed in touch with me right up to the end. With each former player we seem to have something that links us to past, other than the KOM league. When we ran out of things about which to converse it was discovered that we were both members of a particular religious denomination. He thought that was pretty cool. As I mentioned, Mehan was born in Chandler, Okla. in 1930. Thirty-three years after his birth I was in Chandler, preaching in the same church house where he had attended as a very young boy, prior to his parents packing up and heading to California like so many Okies of that era. Had the Mehan’s remained in Chandler I may have met James as far back as 1963.

 

Mehan posted a record of 0-1, in 1949 but came back in 1950 and posted an 11-8 record for Bartlesville. Bartlesville is about 100 miles from Mehan’s birthplace of Chandler. On that same pitching staff was future big leaguer, Ronnie Kline. He won six more games than Kline who was in his rookie season. Ed Wolfe, another member of that mound corps, also made it to the major leagues.

 

Mehan was off serving with Uncle Sam’s army from 1951 through 1954. He rejoined the Pittsburgh Pirate organization in 1955 pitching for Waco of the Big State league and Williamsport, PA of the Eastern league. In 1956 he went south of the border and was a member of the Mexico City Tigers after leaving the Waco Dons, with whom he started the season.

 

While at Mexico City, Mehan had six teammates who were either former or future major leaguers. I could identify them but only a few readers would even care or recognize the names. However, one name interested me, Nicholas Genesta. Nick was a member of the 1951 Bartlesville club and I have never located or determined his fate. He was from Empalme, Sonora, Mexico.

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Watch who you mention

 

Two people who communicate frequently are Bill Clark, former major league scout from right here in Columbia, MO US of A and Barry McMahon of Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada. Between the two of them they have met, know or have communicated with a majority of people affiliated with baseball in the last 50-60 years.

 

In our last breakfast engagement, Clark told me the story about the building of the Houston Astrodome. When the designers were trying to figure out how high to make the roof they called on Ed Roebuck, former Dodger. He was known for his ability to hit fungos. According to the story Roebuck shared with Clark, he hit the roof at a couple of heights before the engineers figured no human could hit a baseball any higher.

 

This past week McMahon shared a story that Mickey Mantle hit the first home run in the Astrodome, in an exhibition game, and I told him about Roebuck and that I thought Roger Maris was the first player to hit the roof of the dome, in a “real” game.

 

McMahon wrote back that he had heard of the prowess of Roebuck with the fungo and that he tried, and almost succeeded in hitting a ball out of the Los Angeles Coliseum. In that same time frame he said Duke Snider tried throwing one out of that same stadium and hurt his arm. I leave all the foregoing for trivia fans to gnaw on while I go to the punch line of this article. Two days after conversing about Roebuck, McMahon sent a note saying we brought Roebuck bad luck for he died this past week. www.google.com/search?q=ed+roebuck+baseball&oq=ed+Roe... My final comment on Roebuck’s death to McMahon was that it was a cruel irony that he died about the same time the news of the “death” of Sears and Roebuck.

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News that is hard to take

 

Really enjoyed your report today. Especially, the part on the Korean War. Always enjoy any photos and marvel at each one or the expressions of the kids etc. I have delayed saying much. But, I have cancer of the prostate and it has been determined that it is aggressive. They did some other scans and found a mass on my kidney that they think is cancer. We meet with the Doctor next week to determine which one is most aggressive and we will go from there. Tell Mrs. Hall “hey” for me. Keep up the good work Bruce-- in Florida.

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Old newspaper reveals names of “Hopefuls.”

 

Each year, young men from near and far showed up at local baseball stadiums to give it shot. Those minor league towns, with big league affiliation, didn’t have many guys make an appearance if they hadn’t already been signed to a “look see.” Miami, Okla. was an affiliate of the Topeka Owls and due to Ray ”Fido” Murphy, who had managed a semi-pro team at a Rhode Island submarine base, in WWII, they had a number of players from the east coast.

 

In reading the early spring column of 1948 it was interesting to look at and determine how many of those who showed up eventually made the team. Here is the list and I hope you can wait until the end to see how many actually made it into one game. In fact, Hank Gornicki, the manager projected for that year never made it to opening day. There were reasons given in the newspaper why Gornicki left but a couple of the former players told Yours truly those reasons were “cover” for the fact that the bulk of the players went to management and demanded be Gornicki replaced. Art Priebe was sent down to manage the team and he played many positions including pitcher. The 27 year-old player/manager was once hailed as another Marty Marion. One year in minor league ball, in 1942, and four years in the service to his country wiped out any hope of that happening.

 

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THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1948—14 PITCHERS WORK FOR POSITIONS ON LOCAL CLUB Hurlers Among New Crop Of Owl Candidates; Drills Revised Of 29 new candidates battling for 21 positions on the Miami Owl roster, 14 are pitchers and eight are infielders.

 

The others, all of whom reported for spring drills late Monday, include five outfielders and two backstops. Because College Field hasn't been conditioned for workouts, the plan for junior Owl prospects to toil on the campus has been abandoned Instead, there will be two squad in action daily at the Fairgrounds park, the Topeka Owls working during the afternoon. following morning practice by the local athletes, who will report at 10 a. m.

 

Manager Windy Johnson of the Topekans and pilot Hank Gornicki of the Miami outfit will get a line on their hurling talent Saturday night and Sunday in the two nine-inning games slated at the Fairgrounds. The Saturday game will begin at 8, the Sunday afternoon clash at 2:30 o'clock.

 

Pitching and batting practices will dominate the training program until the week-end tilts. Topeka breaks camp April 16 for a series of exhibitions and the local aggregation, while remaining here for most of the conditioning, will travel occasionally for competition.

 

Miami will open its season May 5. The new arrivals are:

 

Pitchers—

Robert Scheer, Old Bridge, N. J.;

Edward Brennan, New Haven, Conn.

Dennis Torris, Peabody, Mass.

Robert Vogel, South River, New Jersey

Lawrence Pugliese, Greenwich, Conn.

Francis Wilson, Lynn, Mass.

John Doyle, Salem, Mass.

Glen Oxandale, Wetmore, Kas.

Dean Christman, Jamestown, Kas.

Alex Grieves, Burlingame, Kas.

Robert Moore, Ottawa, Kas.

Fred Rykert, Lenexa, Kas.

Rudy Newman, South Hambar, Mass.

 

Infielders—

Dennis Heins, New Haven, Conn.

Anthony Mormino, St. Louis, Mo.

Vcrnon Stout, St. Louis, Mo.

George Gibson, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Manric Bauer, Pawnee Rock, Kas.

Everett Moore, Morrowville, Kans.

James Moore, Ottawa, Kas.

Robert Newcomer, Lenexa, Kans.

 

Outfielders—

Russell Burkemper, St. Louis, Mo.

Benjamin DiPietro, New York, N. Y.;

Harold Lee, Lenoir City, Tenn.;

Bart Mantia, St. Louis, Mo.

Thomas Quinnlan, Perry, Kas.

 

Catchers—

Byron Perrigo, Holton, Kas.

Willard Grunow, Egg Harbor City, N. J.

 

The answer:

 

Those players on hand in early April of 1948 who made it into at least one game were: Ed Brennan, Bob Vogel, Alex Grieves, Rudy Newman and George Gibson. Alex Grieves was listed as a potential pitcher but never threw one pitch in a regular season game. All of the aforementioned have passed away with the exception of Grieves. Robert Moore didn’t make the 1948 team but had his baptism of fire as a member of the 1947 Chanute Athletics.

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Done!!!

 

Apologies are in order if you took the time to read or scan this report and found it boring. It has been boiling hot in this part of the world ever since the day after the last cold one. There hasn’t been any rain and thus I have to amuse myself by coming down to a cool basement and peck around on the computer from time to time.

 

Done