KOM Flash Report for Week of 1/14/2018 -----------1947 Ponca City Dodgers late season photo.

The KOM League

Flash Report

For

Week of 1/14/2018

 

Check this link for the latest edition of the KOM League Flash Report. It is a real dandy. www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/27873950609/

 

Had it not been for some loose ends left from last week’s report there wouldn’t have been one for this week. The loss suffered by the readership would have been incalculable. Ha! Ha! A seldom used word was shared with someone on my e-mail list this past week and I liked it so much that I’m going to use it in this report. My question is: “Are these reports a source of inspiration of suspiration?” I await the reply of the half dozen or so readers that anxiously await these missives around the world and even some in the U. S of A. I suspect someone may claim these reports are sisyphean and that is probably true. To save time check this link for the definition. www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/Sisyphean

 

 

While awaiting the comments solicited in the first paragraph here are the items, for this week, left over from recent reports. The first item is a collaboration between Gary Bedingfield of Glasgow, Scotland and Yours truly of Columbia, MO-- not Columbia the Gem of the Ocean.

 

Jack Blaylock

Date and Place of Birth: February 11, 1925 Oak Ridge, North Carolina

Died: April 14, 2016 Kernersville, North Carolina

 

Baseball Experience: Minor League

Position: Catcher

Rank: Aviation Radioman, Third Class (ARM3c)

Military Unit: US Navy

Area Served: United States

 

John W. "Jack" Blaylock, the son of Thomas and Goldie Blaylock, was born February 11, 1925, in Oak Ridge, North Carolina. He was an outstanding catcher at Oak Ridge Academy and in American Legion baseball. In 1943, and just out of high school, Blaylock had the attention of the New York Giants and even traveled with the team on their final western trip to Chicago and St. Louis, at the end of the season. But military service intervened before the 18-year-old could pull on a professional baseball uniform.

 

Blaylock was inducted in the Navy on November 16, 1943. He took 20 weeks training at Naval Air Technical Training Command Memphis, Tennessee, and a further five weeks at Naval Air Gunners School Purcell, Oklahoma, before moving on to Naval Training Station Bainbridge, Maryland. Aviation Radioman, Third Class Blaylock trained to be a radio operator/gunner in the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, a carrier-based dive bomber. He was at Naval Air Station Miami, Florida, and Naval Air Station Wildwood, New Jersey.

 

While at NAS Wildwood, Blaylock's plane was involved in a crash landing that he was lucky to survive, but left him with both his shoulders and four ribs broken, and a large gash in his lip. These injuries were to have a major impact on his baseball career.

 

Blaylock was honorably discharged from the Navy on April 29, 1946. He decided to give baseball a try and joined the Brooklyn Dodgers' organization, reporting to the Newport News Dodgers of the Class B Piedmont League. In June 1946, he was assigned to the Johnstown Johnnies of the Class C Middle Atlantic League, playing 49 games and batting .154. He joined the Ponca City Dodgers of the Class D K-O-M League in July 1947, and batted .208 in 17 games. His playing career seemed to be going nowhere, but Branch Rickey befriended the young military veteran and gave him a job as the Dodgers bullpen catcher for 1948. He even got a $224.68 share of the Dodgers third-place finish that year. He handled a pitching staff that included Carl Erskine, Rex Barney and Ralph Branca, and was part of a team that included Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Pee Wee Reese. “That was a great bunch of guys," Blaylock recalled. "They treated me like I was a .300 hitter instead of the bullpen catcher.”

 

However, Blaylock knew he'd never be able to play at that level. “I couldn’t hit the inside curve like I used to," he said. "Some days I could hardly throw the ball. Other days I could do pretty well.

 

“I realized I needed to get back home and get an education, and start a new career. I enrolled in the University of North Carolina.”

 

Blaylock was to give baseball one more try in the 1950s. He played for the Elkin Blanketeers of the Class D Blue Ridge League in 1950, batting .239 in 104 games, and signed with the Statesville Owls of Class D North Carolina State League for 1951, but, instead, was hired by Kernersville High School as head coach of athletics. Under his leadership, the school's athletic program began to thrive, and Coach Blaylock led the school baseball team to two state championships in 1957 and 1958 - the first back-to-back winners in North Carolina.

 

“The thing about coach Blaylock," recalled one of his students, "was that he put everyone on the same level. Nobody was better than anyone else in his eyes. That meant a lot to me because some of us were not as good (at athletics) as others.”

 

Jack Blaylock passed away peacefully on April 14, 2016, at his home in Kernersville, North Carolina. He was 91 years old and is buried at Eastlawn Gardens of Memory in Kernersville.

 

A portrait of Blaylock hangs on the wall of fame in a meeting room at the Olympic Family Restaurant in Kernersville.

 

Thanks to John Hall for help with this biography. Created January 7, 2018 Copyright © 2018 Gary Bedingfield (Baseball in Wartime). All Rights Reserved.

1947 Ponca City Dodgers autographs and addresses:

www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/39652221041/

www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/27873953919/ The name of Chuck Goodman was the younger brother of Aletha Bartley.

 

Team photo: www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/27873950609/ old photos do fade but the memories survive.

 

Individuals in the photo: Ponca City Dodgers --Late Season Photo

 

Front Row: Dale Hendricks, Clark Taylor, Mel Waters, Jack Blaylock, Keith Baker, Howie Fisher, Art Billings and Bill Boudreau.

 

Back Row: Carroll "Biff" Jones, Gale Wade, Don Hall, Phil Adams, Herb McCoy, Tony Brzezowski, Boyd Bartley, Ronald Wiblemo, George Fisher and Bill Hodges.

 

An earlier team photo of that same team included the images of four fellows who had been or would wind up in the major leagues in some capacity. www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/38943691814/

 

Seated: Larry Goff Batboy.

 

Front Row: Ted Parkinson (President), Phil Adams, Roland Wiblemo, Art Billings, Boyd Bartley (Manager), Howie Fisher, Jack Blaylock, Keith Baker, Owen Martinez (Business Manager).

 

Second Row: Gale Wade, George Fisher, Tony Brzezowski, Herb McCoy, Mel Waters, Biff Jones, Bill Hodges, Bill Boudreau, Dale Hendricks and Jim Baxes.

 

Notice: All the photos I attach to the Flash Reports are copyrighted and their use is only permissible upon written permission by the guy putting them there, or waived if you happen to be an immediate family member of any person in a photo.

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Where they were from

 

Last week a listing of the 1950 Independence Yankees and where they died or were still living was shared. Thomas Earp of Kansas City commented that he found that where those guys were from was interesting. Since I didn’t list where they were from, only where they died or currently reside, I decided on this feature in order to fill some space.

 

In descending order: (1) Name (2) Place of death or current residence (3) Place of birth

Armstrong Edward Eugene "Mike"

Richmond, VA

Grand Ledge, MI

 

Bartlett Charles Richard

National City, CA

San Diego, CA

 

Beaird Richard Arlen

1/16/2003 Valley, AL

Fairfax, AL

 

Beardslee Kenneth Allen

3/5/2007 Milford, IN

Vermontville, MI

 

Bischoff Jr. Emil Leon

Springfield, MO

Springfield, MO

 

Burtner Raymond Paul

1/11/2012 Edgewater, FL

Claremore, OK

 

Campbell Vernon Richard

3/4/2013 Tucson, AZ

Stafford, AZ

 

Chambers William Nelson

11/1/1978 Manchester, IA

Council Bluffs, IA

 

Curtis Jr Robert Wesley

Port Arthur, TX

Jasper, TX

 

Davis Herbert Hoover

Overland Park, KS

Rogersville, MO

 

Deatherage Abner Edward

Overland Park, KS

Joplin, MO

 

Drake William Vernon

11/25/2015 Raytown, MO

Joplin, MO

 

Evans Glenn Wayman

8/25/2004 Round Rock, TX

Little Rock, AR

 

Foell George Edward

2/07/2017 Republic, MO

Chattahoochee, GA

 

GablerJohn Richard

2/07/2009 Overland Park, KS

Kansas City, MO

 

Hecht John Louis

1/8/1994 Florissant, MO

St. Louis, MO

 

Heiserer Jr. Herbert Henry

6/16/2016 Atlanta, GA

St. Genevieve, MO

 

Holloway Samuel Neil

8/22/2006 Crab Orchard, TN

Crab Orchard, TN

 

Keeling Paul Thomas

Paducah. KY

Paducah, KY

 

Kerr Warren Richmond "Popeye"

3/6/2010 Floyds Knobs, IN

Brookport, IL

 

Kleasner Kenneth Fleet

11/7/2007 Missouri City, TX

Franklin, MO

 

Knoke Robert Albert

9/19/2012 St. Charles, MO

Raddle, IL

 

Lemons Carol Gordon "Bud"

Las Cruces, NM

Pocatello, ID—Moved to Cape Girardeau, MO at age 3

 

Long Alvin Newton

11/20/2000 St. Lukes Hosp. Kansas City, MO

Springfield, MO

 

MallonRobertEugene

Highlands Ranch, CO

St. Louis, MO

 

Michels Louis Harry

9/11/2011 Independence, KS

Springfield, MO

 

Mick Malcolm A. "Bunny"

9/14/2005 Odessa, FL

Odessa, FL

 

Moser William Andrew

1/8/1997 Treasure Island, FL

Chicago, IL

 

Newbill Bobby Gene

5/11/2011 Windsor, MO

Bowen, MO

 

Paul Francis George

Austin, MN (Probably)

Austin, MN

 

Popovich Charles Filmore

11/30/1996 Litchfield, IL

Mt. Olive, IL

 

Price Lloyd E. "Red"

Lincoln, CA

Chicago, IL

 

Qualls James LaVern

Sparta, IL

Jacob, IL

 

Ramsey Robert Lamonte

Springhill, TN

Chattanooga, TTN

 

Russell Richard Edward

10/17/1999 Concord, NH

Concord, NH

 

Salmonson Donald Ralph

4/19/2013 Moline, IL

East Moline, IL

 

Sanders Malone Battle "Bones"

1/27/1961 Texas City, TX

Purdon, TX

 

Santoro Michael John

1/28/2017 Las Vegas, NV

Chicago, IL

 

Schaeffler Thomas Charles

8/10/2001 Fenton, MO

St. Louis, MO

 

Self Thomas Dawson

2/25/2009 Escondido, CA

Los Angeles, CA

 

Sparks (Dr.) Ermon Barrett

6/8/2002 Jonesboro, AR

Hazen Prairie, AR

 

Speck Keith Virgil

Loveland, CO

Dodge, IA

 

Taussig Donald Franklin

Mamaroneck, NY (May have retired to FL)

New York, NY

 

Troy James D.

New York, NY

New York, NY

 

VirdonWilliam Charles

Springfield, MO

Hazel Park, MI

 

Walz John Alvin

3/22/2005 Troy, MO

Quincy, IL

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Others making holiday contact

 

Upon mentioning those who made contact over the holiday season I knew I’ve leave someone out. Now is the time to make amends.

•

 

Jackie Swensson the widow of Conrad of the same last name sent a note recalling a visit she and her husband made to the KOM League Hall of Fame nearly two decades ago. Connie was one of the best pitchers in KOM league history and he sat for a long time in front of my computer looking at the information about the old league. After that he browsed the memorabilia that was on display in my basement and then made an utterance I haven’t forgotten. He said something to the effect that he and a lot of his Ponca City buddies thought I was contacting former ballplayers in order to get information for which to write books and subsequently get rich. He concluded with a memorable statement, “You aren’t going to get rich on what you are doing.”

 

Connie was wrong. I have gotten rich by associating with many great former KOMers and their families over the past quarter century. While at our house Jackie was admiring some of my wife’s hand painted Christmas gourds. I must say they were works of art and my wife gifted one to Jackie and she reported that she has displayed it every year since, at the Yuletide season.

 

•

 

From the state of California came a comment from Judith Raftery. Her comment dealt with the photo of the 1950 Independence Yankees. She wrote “Happy New Year from northern California where the sun shines. Your bird photos are wonderful. Most of those birds don’t cross the Rockies and it’s a treat to see them. I don’t think that Lew Saum played for that team.

Thanks, Judy Raftery Saum

 

Ed comment:

 

It is true that Lewis O. Saum was not a member of the 1950 Independence Yankees. Most baseball researchers would claim he never saw the light, or darkness, of a KOM league ballpark, but he did. For two weeks he sat on the bench of the 1951 Iola Indians. Then, the New York Yankees wanted to send two players to Iola and manager Forrest “Lefty” Crawford was forced to cut two players from the active roster. Off to other places went Bob Heilman who had seen action in just two games and the subject of this article, Mr. Saum.

 

But, leaving the KOM league was no problem for Saum. He resumed his education at such places as the University of Missouri before heading west and becoming a prolific writer of stories on Native Americans. Dr. Saum wrote many books and had a career in higher education where he eventually met Judith Raftery. If you don’t recall a rather long article that was featured in this publication a couple of years ago, about Dr. Saum, spend some time reading about him on the Internet. www.google.com/search?q=Lewis+O.+Saum&oq=Lewis+O.+Sau... As a youngster I attended eight years of schooling at Eugene Field School in Carthage, MO. I never knew much about Field until reading the works of Lewis Saum. Two other grade schools in Carthage were named after Mark Twain and Nathaniel Hawthorne.

 

•

 

To show just how small the world is another connection to that 1951 Iola Indians team was experienced, yesterday. After going through the checkout line at a local super market I heard someone call my name. That is pretty remarkable for a couple of reasons since I don’t know many people and my hearing isn’t what it used to be. I looked around and spotted a lady by the name of Martha Klemme. She is the widow of Stan, of the same last name. Stan had two first cousins who played professional baseball. Dale Ward played for Carthage, in 1951, for a while and Dale’s brother, Preston, was the former big leaguer with a number of teams. Now, they are all gone just about like this report will be in a couple of paragraphs.

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Looking back

 

Once in a while I have reason to look back at the KOM League Remembered Newsletters. Since some of them are now nearly a quarter of a century old, there are things I wrote that I have now forgotten. As I peruse them it comes to me that replaying those stories would be more interesting than what I currently share.

 

So, for the fun of it, I want to share three names and challenge the readership to do their own research and come up with the connection. Who can be first to tell me the connection among former big leaguer, Walt Judnich, former Pittburg, KS Brown, Joe Katnich and health and fitness guru, Denise Austin? I have mentioned all of these in past writings so I know I’m not making this up in the twilight of my rather mediocre career.

 

That is it for now and if a couple of people get in touch saying they received the report, and read it, it might inspire me to try another one—someday.

 

 

Done