KOM Flash Report for Week of November 27, 2016-- 1949 Carthage Cubs

The KOM League

Flash Report

For week of

November 27, 2016

 

This report is as close as I will come of mentioning the world champions of baseball in 2016. For the success of any endeavor the road has to be paved by many others. In the case of the Chicago Cubs it took over five generations. Coming up this week is a speech I will be making to a Rotary Club. To make it a bit relevant I’ll mention the Chicago Cub affiliates of the KOM league of which there were three: Iola, Carthage and Blackwell. If my memory holds out and time permits I’ll mention a few of the KOM leagures who had a special connection with the Cubs and others who were phantoms, “passing in the night.”

 

In the previous Flash Report a photo of the 1949 Carthage Cubs was shared that was taken in front of the third base bleachers. This photo was taken a few weeks later and 350 feet in the opposite direction but on an almost direct line. It was taken in front of the scoreboard in right field. www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/30445174213/

 

There was no plan to prepare a report for this week. However, I put together some information that is contained in some of my files on each of the 36 roster members and one batboy for the 1949 version of that team: The photo included in this report is on page 65 of the KOM League Remembered book published by Arcadia in 2005 and it is still available from almost any book source.

 

1949 Carthage Cubs--Taken in front of scoreboard in right field. The only name missing from the previous night’s game, as indicated on the scoreboard, was the third baseman which was, Johnny LaPorta. Bob Speake had the evening off for that game and Hal Brown, basically a catcher, played right field. Phil Costa had replaced Bob Speake at first base.

 

Back Row: Glenn Walden, John LaPorta, Art Leslie, Allen Burger Jr., Darrell Lorrance, Denny Moffitt and Don Anderson.

Middle Row: Hal Brown, Hank Paskiewicz, Don Schmitt, Paul Hoffmeister and Frank Morrow.

Front Row: Ed Garrett, Woody Wuethrich, Bob Saban, Dean Manns, Phil Costa and Bob Speake. Harry Smith Batboy-lying down.

 

Here are a few bits of information regarding the 36-man roster plus the batboy, Harry Smith. I would suggest you only consider a name or two at each sitting and peruse the URLs to get your dose of this club. It isn’t likely I’ll ever prepare another Flash Report with this amount of detail regarding any team.

 

Alsop, Charles Franklin

B. 1/10/1929 La Porte, IN

D. 1/8/2015 LaPorte, IN

He was released by the club on June 1. He didn’t play in 1950 but played from 1951 thru 1956 in the Southern Assn., Northern, Three-I, Western, Texas, Tri-State, South Atlantic, Carolina and Midwest leagues.

Worked for Ford Motor Company and later in life collected Thunderbirds. He once inquired about one I owned.

www.legacy.com/obituaries/gazettenet/obituary-preview.asp...

 

Anderson, Donald Edward

B. 10/22/1918 Chicago, IL

D. 11/22/2010 Hemet, CA

Anderson’s career began n 1939 and was soon interrupted by WWII. After the war he began playing and managing in the Coastal Plain and Florida State leagues. He arrived in Carthage in 1949 and stayed until July 9, 1951. I have long claimed that had it not been for Anderson I would have never written a word about the KOM league. My earliest memories of him were not pleasant and I thought he disliked me as his batboy. When first starting to write about the old league I was ambivalent. In the course of writing I located Anderson and it led to one of the greatest friendships a former manager and his batboy ever had. Anderson came to Missouri a few times to visit me and from our initial reconnection, in 1995, we spoke about once a month, for over an hour each time about the past. He taught me more than anyone in my life about not holding on to misconceptions formed in youth. Much has been written in my books, newsletters and Flash Reports regarding the batboy/manager relationship. Amazingly, I’m writing this section six years to the day of his death and that wasn’t planned. Prior to his death he paid me the greatest compliment that one person could bestow on another fellow human and it is so personal I’ve never uttered it to anyone.

 

Bailey, Jr. Turner W.

B. 10/9/1928Earl Twp. LaSalle County, IL

D. 12/06/2004 Tampa, FL living in Tallahassee

He was a lefthanded pitcher who was released shortly after the opening of the season due to a sore arm. He was one of the very few roster members of that team who wasn’t located while still living.

 

Barclay Jr. Donald Thomas

B. 2/1/1926 Oak Lawn, IL

He began his career in 1947 in the Arizona-Texas league and wound up the season in the West Texas/New Mexico circuit. He was with Reno, NV in the Sunset league in 1948. He left Carthage on the 15th of June of 1949 and played the rest of the year at Charlotte, NC in the Tri-State and Concord, in the North Carolina State league. He played through 1951 winding up with Flint, MI of the Central Association.

Current location: Chicago, IL

Barclay is the first KOM leaguer that I ever recall seeing.

 

Brown Jr. Harold Albert

B. 6/7/1930 Chicago, IL

Current residence: Mt. Prospect, IL

When it came to write about Mr. Brown I sent a note, by e-mail, to his neighbor, Jim Gray. The following is Brown’s profile, in his own words prepared during Thanksgiving week of 2016.

After the season I rode home to Chicago with Bill Hornsby in his convertible. Worked in a factory waiting to be drafted in USMC (served 1951 - 1953) which was one of the best things to happen to me. Made Sergeant (in) 1952. Married Babe July 12, 1952 while still in the Corps. Got a job in furniture store late 1953 in Chicago. Nine years later opened my own furniture store with a partner. The business lasted eight years when he moved to Florida. I stayed in home furnishings and carpeting for 35 more years, showing furniture and carpeting to clients at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. We have lived in the same house in Mount Prospect, Ill. where we raised 2 daughters who gave us 2 granddaughters. I played hand ball at the local YMCA for 50 years. I am still moving, but slowly. I try to exercise daily with light weights and bicycle. My good neighbor Jim is the go between. He says he enjoys your reports as much as I do. We have made him into a Cub's fan. All in all we have had a good and happy life and would not change a thing. Sincerely, Hal Brown.”

 

Jim Gray is Brown’s friend who secured the foregoing information. “Babe and Hal are wonderful people and I wish we knew them much longer. Hal has a great since of humor and Babe is great cook, gardener and loves to set a beautiful table and decorate their home for all the holidays. Their home backs up to a park with a creek 100 feett to the north, the coyotes stroll past and attempt to nail squirrels and rabbits at my bird feeders. Hal sits and listens to his favorite team the Cubs when they aren't on television. He was excited to finally see his team win the championship through a couple nail biters that made his stomach do a couple of flips. Chicago had the 7th largest crowd ever attend the parade and celebration. They estimated five and a half million fans at the parade and Grant Park lake front venue.”

 

Burger, Jr. Allen

B. 8/26/1930 Centerville, OH

1951-53 Military Service stationed at Ft. Myer, VA

Member of the Presidential Honor Guard

Played for the 1952 Ft. Myer Colonels baseball team that won the National Baseball Congress Tournament in Wichita, Kansas The Ft. Myer team included big league hurlers Bob Purkey, Alex Konikowski and Tom Poholsky, NBA Basketball player, Jack George and former Pittsburg, Kans. Browns pitcher, John Manopoli, among notable others. I guess I could dig up the photo of that team Burger gave me and identify all the guys shown. But, very few people today would recognize any of the names shared.

 

Contreras, Jr. Domingo

B. 6/12/1930 Los Angeles, CA

He joined the club on June 26 and stayed until July 18. He had been sent to Carthage by Des Moines and when he left Carthage he went to the Cub affiliate in Visalia.

Current status: Unknown

In the many years of research I never learned anything about this man, other than he also played for Visalia, CA in 1950. The Social Security Index shows him as still being alive.

 

Costa, Philip Anthony

B. 2/22/1931 Chicago, IL

Costa’s father was 60 years old at time Philip was born. The family lived near Al Capone

Current residence: Berwyn, IL 60402

Costa was the team comic and knew a little bit of outlaw lore. On one trip from Carthage to Independence, Kans. the team passed through the town of Coffeyville. He announced to the team that he would depart the bus and finish the job the Dalton Gang bungled. That was when the townspeople armed themselves and thwarted the gang’s last bank heist. Costa promised to join the team, later, in Independence. In his trips to KOM reunions he had a lot of comments on how the Italians of KOM towns knew nothing about real cuisine of Italy. In later KOM events he’d favor his “adoring fans” with an aria from Chicagoland. Most of those within earshot welcomed the silence at the end of each outburst. Yeah, everyone enjoyed Costa. He played in 1950 for the Janesville, WI Cubs and in his in final year, 1951, he traveled a lot. He played for New Bern and Edenton, NC; Sioux Falls, SD and Clovis, NM.

 

Courtney, William Leroy

B. 5/6/1931 Camden, DE

D. 6/30/2000 Dover, DE

He reported to Carthage, in August of 1949, as a shortstop, and was too late to get into any team photo. Had he been in any of them he would have stood out as one of the tallest and slimmest fellows in the picture. He was over six feet tall and weighed less than 170. He played in the Cubs minor league system at Moultrie, GA; Sioux Falls, SD; and Grand Rapids, MI before the outbreak of the Korean War. That concluded his baseball career. I did locate him in the mid-1990’s but he didn’t have too many memories of his KOM league career other than to reflect on the fact that he and Mickey Mantle played the same position for their respective teams.

 

Erath, George Snider

B. 7/10/1927 Chicago, IL

D. 11/7/2003 High Point. NC

Career: Owner of a large furniture manufacturing company in High Point. Later owned the High Point baseball club and gave Curtis Flood a chance to play professional baseball. This URL is worth opening. It is a great story and also has a photo of Erath. www.greensboro.com/news/george-erath-patron-philanthropis... The only home run Mickey Mantle ever hit in Carthage was a fly ball to centerfield that Bill Hornsby lost as it went above the light standard and it came down and hit him in the head. Mantle circled the bases on that time at bat. Here is a brief quote from the aforementioned URL. “For all his success, George Erath often talked of one big failure — the time a then-unknown Mickey Mantle hit a home run off a young minor-league pitcher one afternoon in Missouri. Erath was that young pitcher. “I mentioned to him one time, bragging, that I’d seen Mickey Mantle play baseball in Joplin, Missouri,” remembers Bill Fenn, who was Erath’s friend for more than 30 years. “And he said, ‘That’s nothing’ and told me his story, and we had a great laugh.”

 

Another link: www.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2002/06/03/daily34.html

 

Ed note: Here is this editor’s account of the Mantle home run. Sunday, August 21, 1949 was the scene of an afternoon doubleheader between the Carthage Cubs and Independence Yankees. Carthage won the first game and Erath started the second contest with a scoreless innings string of over 20 innings. He got into the third inning without being scored on. He was one out of extending his scoreless streak when a runner reached by virtue of an error. That brought up the left-handed hitting Mantle and he lofted a fly ball into medium left center. By that time of day the lights had been turned on and when the ball went above the level of the lights, Hornsby lost it. When the ball came down it hit Hornsby in the head, left fielder Don Schmitt told me that his teammate was more embarrassed than he was hurt. Anyway, Dr. Tom McNew was summoned on to the playing field to take a look at the fallen outfielder and pronounced him fit to continue. However, Erath’s scoreless streak was over although Carthage wound up winning the game. Ten years prior to that incident Dr. McNew arrived at 1226 Valley Street to bring the author of this article into the world. He pronounced the new arrival fit for this world and 77 years to the day this section was written (11/27/2016) is when McNew was the first person to lay eyes on me.

 

Garrett, Edward Franklin

B. 4/13/1925 Cincinnati, Ohio

D. 5/25/1983 Cincinnati, OH Univ. Hosp.

Batboy 1943-46 Cincinnati Reds

He was a member of the national championship American Legion team, from Cincinnati, in 1947.

Garrett's boyhood friends were Don and Hal Zimmer. Don is the guy who hung around the big leagues for many years as player, manager and coach. Hal, the better player of the two, was a member of the 1951 Ponca City Dodgers. Garrett was older than the Zimmer brothers by 5-6 years but according to an interview I did with Hal Zimmer, they looked up to the former Redlegs batboy. The Garrett family lived at 926 Wells St. and the Zimmers lived at 777 Sedam St. which was 1.8 miles apart. When Garrett went to his duties as batboy he was 3.1 miles from Crosley Field where the Reds played in those days. For the Zimmer brothers to get to Findlay and Western Ave. they had to travel 3.8 miles to see the Reds games, which they did as often as possible.

 

Garrett’s address was mentioned for I did the same for Johnny LaPorta, his big league batboy counterpart and Carthage Cub teammate, in 1949, in a recent story.. I gave the Google URL for LaPorta’s boyhood home and was going to do the same for Garrett but 926 Wells St. is now a vacant lot.

 

In the days the Garretts and the Zimmers were youngsters their parents took whatever Depression jobs were available. The Zimmer family operated a vegetable stand and Garrett’s father was a waiter and his mother a waitress as late as 1940

 

Hoffmeister Paul Herman

B. 12/23/1928 E. Chicago, IN

Current residence: Arlington Heights, IL 2014

He played in the North Central Kansas Amateur Baseball League of America. That is where many young men, from the Midwest, honed their baseball skills. Paul was with Manhattan, Kans. in 1948.

He also pitched at Mattoon, IL in 1949 and came back to Carthage in 1950. He didn’t play during the Korean War years of 1951-52 but returned to play from 1953-1958 with teams in the Three-I, Texas, Western, and Pacific Coast leagues.

Career: Was a Certified Public Account in Arlington Heights, Ill until retirement

In retirement he still has to put up with these Flash Reports each week.

 

Hornsby William Pennington

B. 6/2/1925 St. Louis, MO –Son of Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby.

D. 6/29/1984 Goodlettsville, TN

He played minor league baseball from 1946 through 1951.

Was hit in head by a fly ball that allowed Mickey Mantle to hit his only home run in Carthage. It was an inside-the-park homer. See that story in the URL under the George Erath citation.

Operated an Anheuser Busch distributorship at time of death.

www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=58549245

 

 

Johnson Leslie Thomas

B. 12/27/1929 Chamberlain, SD (Pukwana)

He reported to Carthage on May 31st as an outfielder. He also played part of that season with Boise, ID of the Pioneer league.

Current residence: Mt. Vernon, WA

My only contact with Johnson has been in regard to some very rare baseball cards, from the 1930’s, that he collected as a young man. They are so rare and expensive that I’ve given him the name of a couple of former KOM leaguers who I trust and who collect rare cards. To my knowledge, Johnson still owns those treasures of his youth.

 

Kirschner, Gordyn Samuel

B. 10/8/1930 Galveston, TX

He was a pitcher who joined the team on August 5th from Sioux Falls, SD

Current residence: Galveston, TX

 

Knapton William Bruce

B. 8/21/1927 Bloomer, WI

He played third base and catcher before being released on May 19th.

Long time basketball coach with a great record.

Current residence: The Villages, FL

www.beloit.edu/archives/documents/archival_collections/fa...

 

LaPorta, John Joseph

B. 11/19/1926Chicago, IL

He joined the team on May 27th from St. Augustine of the Florida International league where he had played for Don Anderson in 1948.

D. 6/1989

After his baseball career John worked for his father-in-law, Frank Longo, in his plating shop in Chicago.

Since the report from last week featured the LaPorta family you can refer back to it to learn about his three-year big league career with the Chicago Cubs which occurred long before he ever saw the bright lights of the Carthage town square.

 

Leslie, John Arthur

B. 10/10/1929Scott. OH

He was a pitcher who joined the team on May 26th from Clinton, IA of the Central Association. He joined the Topeka Owls in 1950 and from there it was off to the Korean War from 1951-53.

Current residence: Houston, TX

 

Lorrance, Jr Darrell Morris

B. 2/28/1928Conway, MO

D. 10/20/2013 E. Moline, IL

He first came to Carthage in late 1945 for a tryout camp held by the St. Louis Cardinals and didn’t make it. He was signed by the Chicago Cubs in 1948 when he pitched for Janesville, WI. He joined Carthage in 1949 and stayed until a sore arm caused him to quit on July5th.

Lorrance was known for his basketball talent. He led Conway, Missouri to a state basketball championship in 1945 (45-3) and was recruited to play for the legendary Adolph Rupp at the Univ. of Kentucky. He later left Kentucky to play for Sparky Stalcup at the Univ. of Missouri. He played AAU basketball for a number of years leading his Conway team to the National tournament in 1948.

 

Manns, Louis Dean

B. 2/23/1929 Centralia, IL

Dean played with Carthage in 1949 and fell in love while there. He stayed in town during the winter and worked for the B &G Construction Company and even spent some time that off-season as a cast member in Little Theater productions. He returned to Carthage in 1950 and shared the catching duties with Don Stange and Don Biebel. For an early Christmas present he went to Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. on December 13, 1950 for induction into the army. He got back to baseball in 1954 with Blackwell, Okla. after they joined the Western Association and saw action in the Pioneer and Evangeline leagues before calling it quits in 1955.

 

I tracked Manns for a few years before finding him in the Villages, in Florida. He finally made it to a couple of KOM league reunions. My oldest sister attended one of those events and upon seeing him exclaimed “Dean, I had a crush on you when I was a waitress at Red’s Café.” That was news to him and to me as well. He was one of the more popular players in Carthage baseball history.

Current residence: Centralia, IL 2010

 

McCalman, Jack Elton

B. 4/21/1930 Caddo, OK

D. 11/9/1978 Caddo, OK

There was never much found on McCalman except that he joined the Hutchinson, Kansas team later in the 1949 season after having been with both Carthage and Lumberton of the Tobacco State league. In 1950 he played at Hickory, NC and Baxley, GA before being inducted into the US Army where he spent the next two years. I never had any success in locating an obituary for Jack but did find one for his older brother that mentioned him. www.meaningfulfunerals.net/home/index.cfm/obituaries/view...

 

 

Meier, Allan Alfred August

B. 12/18/1928 Dixon, IA

D. 6/29/2002 Marengo, IA

Meier spent a very short time with Carthage as he didn’t show up until August 22. He had reported from Elizabethtown of the Appalachian league. He spent time serving during the Korean War which is explained in his obituary. The following was his obituary and baseball wasn’t mentioned. www.legacy.com/obituaries/gazettenet/obituary-preview.asp... “Services for Allan ‘Al’ Meier, Marengo, will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. John's Lutheran Church, Marengo. Burial will be in Marengo Cemetery, with military honors. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. today at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo. He died Saturday, June 29, 2002, at his home following a brief illness. Allan Alfred August Meier was born Dec. 18, 1928, in Dixon, Iowa. He married Janice Bruckman in 1953 in Calamus. He managed and in 1961 purchased the Marengo Elevator Company. He served in the Army from 1950-52 as a paratrooper during the Korean Conflict. A memorial fund has been established. Survivors include his wife, Janice; a daughter, Julie Storck, Marengo; sons, Steven and Greg, both of Marengo, and Scott, St. Louis, Mo.; 12 grandchildren; a sister, Nellie Weih, Bennett; brothers, Mel and Dennis, Marengo; and a brother-in-law, Clifford Danielsen, East Moline.”

 

 

Moffitt, Dennis Eugene

B. 3/28/1929 Visalia, CA

D. 11/7/2015 Exeter, CA

He split his time pitching for Carthage and Visalia in 1949 and in 1950 he pitched for a semi-pro team in Regina, Saskatchewan. From there he went into the service, as his obituary states.

This is the location of Moffitt’s obituary:

www.legacy.com/obituaries/visaliatimesdelta/obituary.aspx... This is a quote from it. “Dennis Moffitt was born March 28th, 1929 to Harold "Pete" and Olga Moffitt in Visalia, CA. Dennis grew up in Farmersville where he met the love of his life, Carolyn DeVault. He graduated from Visalia High School in 1948. Dennis played football and baseball in high school then attended COS following graduation. Dennis played Minor League baseball in Canada, the Visalia Cubs and in Carthage, Missouri. Dennis was drafted into the Army in 1950 for the Korean War. Dennis and Carolyn were married after his return in 1952. Dennis started up his first business in Visalia, Service Station Repair and Maintenance which he owned and operated for eight years. In 1960, Dennis managed the Consolidated Peoples Ditch Company in Farmersville, retiring after 35 years.”

 

Morrow, Frank J.

B. 4/21/1931 Brockton, MA

D. 11/26/2000 Brockton, MA

He joined the Miami, OK Eagles in 1950 and was then sent to Gladewater, TX which displeased him. Thus, he jumped that club and joined the House of David team from Benton Harbor. MI. Unable to grow facial hair the club gave him some.

Knew Rocky Marciano and worked out in his gym many times.

He always wanted to attend a KOM League reunion but each year, at the time they were held, his health prohibited his travel. In 1998 he even got as far as the airport before having to return to his home. He wrote at the time that he cried because he couldn’t make the trip. In the spring of 2000 a very happy man came up to me at Chanute, Kansas and introduced himself as Frank Morrow. He was as happy as anyone I ever met. His wife told me that her husband wasn’t doing very well but looking forward to seeing some of his old teammates was the best medicine he could take. He left the reunion and died five months later.

 

Paskiewicz, Henry F.

B. 4/15/1930 Chicago, IL

Current residence; Albuquerque, NM

Long time educator and coach in New Mexico

Hank played competitive seniors tennis and won many championships both at the state and national levels. Unbeknownst to Yours truly, Paskiewicz was coaching at Sandia High School in Albuquerque, when I lived there and my home was just a few blocks from there. Sure wish I had known at the time he was there.

 

Passarella, Robert E. Nicknamed “The Grouse”

B.2/5/1927 Scranton, PA

D. 1/3/2010 Scranton, PA in Hospice

He was released by the club on May 31st. He didn’t play again until 1951 when he signed with Cordele, GA. He played for two more seasons with the Hot Springs Bathers of the Cotton States league.

Loved reliving his memories of the KOM league with Yours truly during long telephone conversations. He was a died in the wool Yankee fan. When connections were first made between Bob and this author he had just suffered a near fatal accident while pitching batting practice to a local high school team. The communication between Passarella and I was made possible through his brother. Bob was pitching batting practice to a high school team when he was hit in the head with a line drive. He was in a coma for several days. Upon gaining consciousness he was very despondent and had lost the ability to speak or write. According to Bob, being able to talk about his baseball days helped him restore all of his communication skills. To say the least, he was an inspiration to me. He was such an inspiration that Brandy Davis, former Pittsburgh Pirate, would make special trips, on his scouting tours, in order to go to Scranton and visit Bob.

 

Rine, Jr. Robert J

B. 4/12/1926Beatrice, NE

D. 2/06/1990 Seward, NE

Robert Rine showed up at Carthage on May 5, 1949 and stayed for about a week, as a catcher, which coincided with the arrival of Dean Manns. The task in locating Rine was difficult and by the time it was accomplished I learned that he had passed away. About the only thing I knew about him, after his departure from Carthage was a June, 1950 wedding announcement. “Miss Frances Moore, daughter of Mrs., Walter Moore of Liberty, was married to Robert Rine, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cam Rine of Beatrice, Saturday, June 17, at the First Christian church. The Rev. Wayne Greene officiated in the presence of the immediate families. Attending the couple were Mr. and Mrs. Harry Qssowski. The bride was married in a white afternoon dress and wore a white carnation corsage. A wedding dinner was served at the home of Miss Bertha Rine.”

 

At one of the KOM league reunions, in Carthage, Rines’ daughter attended to visit with some of the fellows from the 1949 club, but since he was with the team such a short time, no one remembered him. In 2010 Rine was inducted, posthumously, into the Nebraska Baseball Hall of Fame. This site shows a photo of his son receiving the award for his late father. beatricedailysun.com/sports/local/hunter-one-of-five-indu...

 

 

Roman, Robert Anthony

B. 1/17/1927 Syracuse, NY

D. 12/24/1996 Durham, NC

Career: Roman is featured on page 59 of the book, the KOM League Remembered. He was a handsome fellow who only had to take second place to his wife, Mona, in that department. His career was 21 games for St. Augustine, FL in 1948 and he followed his manager, Don Anderson, from there to Carthage in 1949. Combined, Roman had a 41 game minor league stint. When he left Carthage he headed back to his home in Syracuse. While there he worked in retail sales and developed an interest in singing and acting in local stage productions. He was encouraged to go to New York City for tryouts on the Broadway stage. He made it and performed on Broadway as well with numerous traveling stage shows throughout this country. When the curtain calls ceased Roman and his actress wife, Mona, settled down in Durham, North Carolina. He entered the automobile business and stayed in it until his death on Christmas Eve of 1996.

 

 

SabanMatthew Robert Leroy

B.12/22/1930McCook, IL

D. 10/25/2008 Tempe, AZ

Career: Played 12 years of professional baseball and teamed with most of the Washington Senators, of his era who played with either Chattanooga, TN or Charlotte, NC such as Harmon Killebrew. Saban is kin to every football coach in America with his last name. That is from Lou Saban to the current coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Nick Saban.

Here is his obituary: www.legacy.com/obituaries/azcentral/obituary.aspx?n=matth... This is a brief statement from the obituary. “Bob graduated from Lyons Township High School, IL in 1949. He then began a career in baseball, playing in the KOM (KS, OK, MO) League in Carthage, MO. In 1950, Bob played in Sioux Falls, SD for a Cubs farm club, and then in Rock Hill, SC in 1951. In 1952-53, Bob served in the US Army in Albuquerque, NM at Sandia Base and was the base's ace pitcher. After serving in the Army, Bob was drafted by the Washington Senators (which became the Twins organization) and played in the South Atlantic League, primarily with the Charlotte Hornets, from 1954-1962 with stints in Macon, GA and Chattanooga, TN. In 1966, Bob and his family moved to Champaign, IL. He was an electrician in Local 601.”

 

Schmitt Donald Harald

B. 5/5/1929 Davenport, IA

He returned to Carthage in 1950 where he was a member of the All-Star team. He played most every position on the field except pitcher and catcher that year.

Current Residence: Rock Island, IL

He attended the last KOM league ever held. It was in Iola, Kansas and he was very upset on his arrival for he had received a speeding ticket on the outskirts of town. That was no way to treat a former ballplayer returning to the site of many of his All-Star performances. He had just lost his wife, Gloria, prior to the reunion.

 

Smith,Harry WilliamBatboy

B. 1/18/1935 Fayetteville, AR

D. 8/30/1999 Carthage, MO

Frederick “Pee Wee” Smith and his little brother Harry were fixtures of Carthage Cardinal and Cub teams. Pee Wee was batboy in 1947 and 1948 and was assistant groundskeeper in 1949 and the head groundskeeper in 1950 and 1951. Harry had enough of the baseball business after the 1949 season and turned the batboy job over to Estel Back. There were two young men who I recall in grade school who could hit a softball harder and further than anyone else. They both had the same last name of Smith. One was Harry who was four years my senior and the other one was Gary who was my age and no kin to either Harry or Pee Wee.. All of the Smiths, mentioned in this section, have passed away. Harry worked for Atlas Powder Company near Carthage until his death. He fell a year short of retirement.

 

Speake, Robert Charles

8/22/1930 Springfield, MO

Current residence: Topeka, KS

He was the only member of the 1949 Carthage Cubs to play major league baseball.

After his major league days became one of the top softball players in America while playing in Springfield. Mo. Moved to Topeka, Kansas where he became very successful in helping a fledgling insurance company became a powerhouse firm.

Many years ago Speake reminded me that I was a Class D writer, writing about a Class D league and that I should never pay much attention or worry about any criticism of my efforts. That sound wisdom has guided me through the two decades of chronicling the old league. He also warned me not to fall for anybody telling me how interested they were in what I was doing and how they could help me. Again, he was a prophet in his own time.

In retirement Bob has become a very talented woodcarver.

 

Stephens Frederick John

B. 8/9/1931 Cranston, IA

D. 7/25/2015 Rock Island, IL

He was another of the fellows to play shortstop for the 1949 club. He was very difficult to locate. In fact, it wasn’t until a couple of years before his passing that I located him. He said at the time that he spent his extra money and spare time at the river front casinos.

The following site contains his obituary which also includes a photograph. Since he was never in a Carthage team photo it is the only image I ever saw of him. qctimes.com/news/local/obituaries/frederick-stephens/arti...

 

 

Thomas Harrison Irwin

B. 11/22/1929Milan, MO

D. 2/14/2009 Edwardsville, IL

He was a left-handed pitcher who joined the team from Clovis, NM. He stayed with Carthage until June 15th when he quit due to the sore arm.

His obituary was carried in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=harris...

 

 

Walden, Glenn Lawrence

B. 5/31/1927 Manson (Calhoon County, IA)

D. 10/5/1993 Ft. Dodge, IA

Joined the team on June 16th from the Sioux Falls Canaries where he had pitched in 1948 and part of 1949. He returned to Carthage for a brief time in 1950.

Buried Keokuk National Cemetery; Section J Site 1001.

Enlisted in United States Navy 4/5/1945 and discharged 7/10 1946.

May 31, 1949 received $200 W. W. II Compensation Payment from State of Iowa

Occupation in 1959 was that of bartender in Ft. Dodge, Iowa

Married to Janet Borland from Minnesota prior to 1959

Married Alice Roths 9/29/1969 at Ellsworth, Iowa

Married Ina Lewis 7/19/1983 at Shasta, Calif. (I believe this is correct)

At one time lived in Tecumseh, Kansas (East side of Topeka)

 

Werling, Ralph Charles

B. 1/11/1925 Angola, IN

D. 12/17/1994 Ft. Wayne, IN

He was one of a rather large number of catchers Carthage considered in 1949. He was released on May 31st.

Sometimes you locate a former player or his fate through the obituary of a next of kin. In this case it was his widow, Nadene. qctimes.com/news/local/obituaries/frederick-stephens/arti...

After reading Nadene’s obituary I located Ralph’s final resting place which is shown here: www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inallcem/wayne/stjohn/new/werl...

Ralph went ahead of Nadene by 16 years.

 

Wuethrich, Merle F. "Woody"

B. 9/4/1925 Eureka, IL

D. 4/17/2013 Peoria, IL

Comment: He was one of the best pitchers to ever pitch for Carthage or any other team in the KOM league. His best season was 1949 but he was pressed back into duty, on short rest, and was never the same afterward. 1950 was his final shot at baseball. His obituary tells of his life’s work in the oil business. The following URL tells it better than I can

.http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pjstar/obituary.aspx?pid=164319588

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Keeping track of a few former players

 

Sometimes I only know of the status of a former player by reading obituaries of their loved ones.

A number of years ago Don Annen, of the 1950 Carthage Cubs, asked to be taken off the mailing list for I carried the news of too many deaths. Checking on him last week I found the obituary of his wife: host.madison.com/news/local/obituaries/annen-dorothy-a/ar...

 

Richard Loeser of the 1948 Ponca City Dodgers is one guy who never answered any of my attempts to locate him. Even in ignoring me I have known for many years that he lives in St. Louis. In checking his status, recently I found the following: “LOESER, DELLA L. (nee Muhr) fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church on August 25, 2016 at the age of 85.

Beloved wife of Richard Loeser for 62 years. Dear sister-in-law of Robert J. Loeser.

She was a lifelong resident of St. Louis and was a very caring and loving lady to anyone she met.

Della will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Funeral Mass will be held Monday, 8/29, 10 am at St. Norbert Catholic Church. Interment Calvary Cemetery. “

VISITATION SUNDAY 4-8 PM at Stygar Florissant Chapel and Cremation Center.

Memorial contributions to American Cancer Society or American Kidney Fund appreciate

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Death of former Ponca City Dodger

 

HOPKINS-WILLIAM J. "HOPPY"--Age 87, of Castle Shannon, passed away on October 14, 2016, peacefully surrounded by loved ones. He was born on March 10, 1929, to the late Aaron Hopkins and Catherine Stoyle Hopkins. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Nancy (Locke) Hopkins. He is also survived by his daughter, Pamela Morocco and son-in-law, Richard Morocco; grandson, Brad (Brittany); and granddaughter, Courtney; sisters, Norma Scholl and Mary Jane (Frank) Palmer; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers and sisters, Ethel (Ed) Clark, Aaron (Grace) Hopkins, Daniel (Eleanor) Hopkins, Dorothy (John) Wasieleski, and Nancy Davies. Mr. Hopkins was a veteran, having served in the US Army from 1951 through 1957. He was also inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 and served on the Executive Board until his death. Per Mr. Hopkins and his family, there will be no viewing, however the family invites you to a Memorial Mass on Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Anne's Church in Castle Shannon. Arrangements by JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME. Contributions may be made to Pilgrimage Hospice, 2000 Cliff Mine Road, Suite 100, Pittsburgh, PA 15275.

 

Ed comment:

 

William Hopkins was one of the first of the former KOM leaguers located some two decades ago. In our conversation he recited his baseball career as beginning in 1948 with Youngstown, Ohio and Johnstown, PA in the Middle Atlantic league. In 1949 he was with both Ponca City and Johnstown, PA and in 1950 didn’t play at all. He entered military service in 1951 and played on the 28th Artillery team in Germany that finished second in the European Championships.

 

At this juncture the baseball researchers are not in agreement with Hopkins. Baseball Reference shows him back in Class D ball, in 1951, as a member of the Ada, Okla. Herefords of the Sooner State league. Hopkins told me, and his obituary shows, that he stayed in the service until 1957. That conflicts with Baseball Reference showing him playing in the St. Louis Cardinal organization as late as 1955.

 

When Hopkins was with the Ponca City Dodgers he played the outfield.

 

The foregoing information was shared with Jack Morris, baseball necrologist. His group, who look into baseball deaths, may be able to clarify the discrepancies between the record books and his obituary which states he was with Uncle Sam after 1951 and through 1957.

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Done