KOM League Flash Report for Week of December 5, 2016-------Mickey Mantle in late 1949

The KOM League

Flash Report

For week of

December 4, 2016

 

Introduction:

 

In defiance of the odds another report was pieced together for the week. During this week the KOM league was introduced to a few more people by virtue of a very early Thursday morning presentation. Some of those in attendance heard it in spite of a “big” party they had attended the night before. Yours truly always enjoys being able to talk about the KOM league after many of those in attendance have stopped listening.

 

Prior to leaving home for the presentation I told my wife that the trip to Rotary would most likely be the last time I would ever appear before any type of public forum. When you go places and wind up being the oldest person in the room, by a decade, you have to be perspicacious enough to know the gig has about run its course.

 

So, where does that leave me? That leaves this forum as the only means of expression whether or not anyone even gives it a passing glance. It is good therapy for and old guy in his attempt to stave off senility a few more risings of the sun.

 

Last week the Flash Report might have just as well been entitled “The 1949 Carthage Cubs.” That report was shared basically due to a lack of input from readers and not much gumption on the part of the editor to do much work.

 

Also, in the last edition was an obituary for William Hopkins who played for the Ponca City Dodgers in 1949. After learning of the death of Hopkins I glanced at my database and saw the name of Robert Anson Grove from that same Ponca City team and with whom I had never made contact. I thought he lived in Galveston, Texas and placed a call to the only person with that name in that city. A few days passed and not getting a return call, I figured I had run into another dead end. But hey, if I didn’t already have a middle name, “Rejection” would fit me well.

 

However, about the time I figured the statute of limitation had run out on that call my telephone rang and the voice on the other end said “I’m Robert Grove.” To show how alert I sometimes get I replied “Are you the same Robert Anson Grove who played for the 1949 Ponca City Dodgers?”

 

Well, you all know the answer to my rhetorical question and shortly Grove was telling his life and baseball story. He was a graduate of Ball High School in Galveston, Texas that he said was loaded with ballplayers who were then signed to professional contracts. Keep that tidbit in mind and hopefully I’ll get back to that story later in the report.

 

Grove entered this world on Sept. 12, 1930 in Norfolk, Virginia. His father was transferred to Chattanooga, Tennessee and Texas City, Texas where Robert attended grade and junior high school before winding up in Galveston at Ball High. Robert said his father was “big” in amateur baseball and pushed him to play.

 

When it came to playing, the young Grove was put behind the plate. He said he weighed about 140 pounds and was too small for the position. However, when he was signed by the Dodgers he knew he wasn’t going to make it in that position for the first guy he ever laid eyes on, in Dodger catching gear, was Roy Campanella.

 

Nonetheless, the Dodgers saw fit to assign the young catcher to the Ponca City Dodgers and he only had to beat out Dean Ehlers and Don Keeter for that position. He didn’t and was sent to Sheboygan, Wisconsin to play for Joe Hauser in the Wisconsin State league. Grove’s memory of that experience was a bit dim until his wife, who was listening to our conversation, came up with a photo of the 1949 Sheboygan Indians and started rattling off the names of the members of that club. Yours truly even recognized the names of a couple of those guys in the photo as being former KOM leaguers.

 

Grove said that after the 1949 season he went back home and played some amateur baseball in his adopted hometown for a number of years. I had remembered, from earlier in the conversation of him mentioning playing on a “hot” Ball High School team in 1948. For the sake of conversation I asked if he remembered all of the fellows. The first he mentioned was Russell Rac. www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000038254 That name jumped out at me for it seemed like he played big league ball for the Cardinals since I heard his name on Cardinal spring training broadcasts during a number of my formative years. However, as the attached URL states Rac didn’t make it—but he should have. Here is another URL for Rac. bill37mccurdy.com/2011/11/15/ex-buff-russell-rac-dead-at-81/

 

Going on with his memories Grove recalled one of the pitchers he caught during his high school years was Gordyn Kirschner. If any of you don’t know who Kirschner is/was, you didn’t read or don’t recall last week’s Flash Report. He was the young man who is listed among the 36-man roster of the 1949 Carthage Cubs.

 

At this juncture in the conversation I had now identified Grove, Rac and Kirschner as members of that 1948 high school team. At that point it was time to do some independent research and very quickly I found the name of James Harvey “Chick” Plowman who also played at Ball High School at that time. He signed with the St. Louis Browns and caught at Pittsburg, Kansas during the 1950 season. There is no way to check anything with Plowman for he died on February, 25, 2009 in Hitchcock, Texas.

 

As with most conversations with former players their children are mentioned. Grove said that he and his daughter were very gifted at tennis and won many doubles tournaments. He said that lasted until someone came along and told her that she had a great voice. That she did. Never have I been able to share anything on the subject of opera but Grove’s daughter Jill, is one of the top performers in her craft.

 

jillgrovemezzo.com/reviews.htm

 

www.google.com/search?rls=aso&client=gmail&q=jill...

 

For those without access to the URLs here are few quotes. You have to credit the old Flash Report editor for sharing something with real class.

 

****

A sought-after concert soloist, Jill Grove has joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, National Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Utah Symphony, Houston Symphony, and Santa Fe Symphony for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. She has sung Verdi’s Requiem with the Toronto Symphony under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis, Tucson Symphony, and Calgary Philharmonic; Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 with the Houston Symphony under the baton of Christoph Eschenbach and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra with Mariss Jansons conducting; Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevskywith the National Symphony under the baton of Hans Graf; Maria Aegyptiaca in Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with the San Francisco Symphony under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas and the Houston Symphony with Eschenbach, Bergen Philharmonic, and the Norddeutsche Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester under the baton of Eschenbach; Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass at the Grant Park Music Festival; Handel’s Messiah with the Toronto Symphony under the batons of Nicolas McGegan and Sir Andrew Davis and with the National Arts Centre Orchestra under the baton of Trevor Pinnock; Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas; Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Minnesota Orchestra; Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody with the American Classical Orchestra; and Verdi’s Requiem with the Dallas Symphony conducted by Jaap van Zweden.

 

Ms. Grove's recordings include Ulrica on a Chandos recording of Verdi's Un ballo in maschera, Auntie in Peter Grimes on the London Symphony Orchestra Live label with Sir Colin Davis and in a new production by John Doyle at the Metropolitan Opera (available on EMI DVD), Magdalene in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg under the baton of James Levine and issued on DVD by Deutsche Grammophon, as well as the Muschel in Strauss's Die ägyptische Helena with the American Symphony Orchestra on Teldec. As a member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, she sang Tisbe in La cenerentola opposite Cecilia Bartoli which was released by Decca/London.

 

She is the winner of the 2003 ARIA award, a 2001 Richard Tucker Foundation Career Grant, a 1999 George London Foundation Career Grant, a 1997 Sullivan Foundation Career Grant, a 1996 winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a 1996 recipient of a Richard Tucker Foundation Study Grant, and a 1995 recipient of a Richard F. Gold Career Grant. She was a member of the Merola Program at San Francisco Opera and the Houston Grand Opera Studio and attended the Music Academy of the West, the New England Conservatory, and Stephen F. Austin State University. She received a Distinguished Alumna Award from the latter university in 2006.

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One find leads to something else

 

After speaking with Robert Grove I went back to my database of other 1949 Ponca City Dodgers I have never found, or determined their fate, with renewed determination to find something. Here was a “find” from the Steamboat Springs, Colorado Pilot of September 1, 1949. “Larry Pearson, 18. of Las Animas, has signed a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers and has been sent to Ponca City, Okla. to start his professional baseball career. He is a pitcher.”

 

For many years I’ve searched for Larry Alvin Pearson but to no avail. I have had him on my list of former KOM leaguers for a quarter of a century. So, before it’s too late to summarize his baseball career I’m a going to quote from the Miami Oklahoma News Record of September 5, 1949. Briefly, he pitched in one game, went 5.1 innings, walked nine batters, struck out four and gave up seven hits in his only game. Of course, he was the losing pitcher. But, he did something that he could have remembered later. He pitched to a future big leaguer. Read this article to find out who that guy was and also to see the complete career of a young man summed up in one brief game summary. (If you can’t figure out the future big leaguer to whom he pitched, ask me who it was. I need something to do.)

 

Miami News Record 9/5/1949 page 6.

 

Everybody had a good time out at Fairgrounds park last night as the Miami Owls closed their KOM league season by splitting a doubleheader with the Ponca City Dodgers. The Birds won the second game, 12-4, after losing the opener, 9-6. But more important than the result of the doubleheader was the announcement by the board of directors of Miami Baseball, Inc., that professional baseball would be in Miami again next season. However, no indication of what the 1950 setup will be was given. With the opening game victory clinching a playoff spot for the Dodgers, Manager Boyd Bartley completely shifted his line-up around in the second game and mid-way through the tilt Owl Manager Omar Lane got in the spirit of the act and started changing his line-up. The last four innings of the second tilt saw Harry Bright, who had done such a fine job at third base during the season, shifted to behind the plate. He really turned in a neat job of catching. Originally a catcher, Bright worked hurler Earl Hays smoothly and also made pegs to second that were right on the beam. When Bright put on the catching togs, Earl Skaggs, regular backstop, shifted to second base; second baseman Bill Sartain went into the outfield; rightfielder Duane Melvin came in to shortstop, and Joe Verbanic moved over from short to third. And the arrangement clicked, much to the enjoyment of the crowd. In the first game, Jack Schaening was working behind a 1-0 lead going into the fourth when the roof fell in. Before the side could be retired, the Dodgers had pushed across six runs on a Texas League double, three "bleeder" singles, two walks and a hit batsman. Again, in the 'fifth the "little Bums" sent three runs across the plate on two walks, a single 1 and a wild peg- to first by Schaening;, who was finally charged with his 11th defeat against 12 victories. The Owls tried hard to win the game when they came to life and racked up two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh and had the bases loaded when the side was retired to end the inning. Earl Hays went all the way in the second fracas for his ninth victory and second in four days. "Hays, the man with the fast ball, struck out eight Dodgers while walking five and allowed but five hits. Helping him on to the win was Bright, who slammed out four hits in five trips and batted in three runs to bring his total to . 97 RBI's for the year. Heading into the sixth, Hays was holding a slim 4-3 lead when Lane, sitting the last one out on the bench with Ike Robbins on first, started the "big shift." And it worked, too, for the Owls came to bat in. the bottom of the sixth and before the smoke cleared away rookie Larry Pearson had been knocked out of the box with a king-sized eight run rally. During the eight-run sixth, the Owls really had their batting eyes ready pecking out six bingles. A drag bunt by Bright scored Jimmy Reaugh; Ike Robbins singled hard into left to push in Melvin and Bright; Skaggs doubled off the left field fence to score Robbins; Sartain singled in Skaggs; Verbanic cracked out a liner to left that drove in Adam Thompson and Sartain and Hays wound up the scoring with a screeching triple against the scoreboard to plate Verbanic.

 

Ed comment:

 

The proving Larry Pearson played a game in the KOM league is another vindication from a few “experts” who, over the years, accused me of “making up names.”

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The passing of a great baseball fan

 

www.carthagepress.com/obituaries/20161128/mrs-dorothy-ann...

A line in the URL cited reads “A committed sports fan, Dorothy loved the St. Louis Cardinals and looks forward to meeting Stan Musial in heaven, along with Abe Lincoln and her beloved (husband) Art.”

 

Dorothy was a member of one of the best known families in the history of Carthage, Missouri. I knew several of them quite well as they buried most of the members of my family ranging from grandparents, parents, nieces and cousins. The Knell’s had triplets of which Bob and Frank were the boys and Helen who you can guess was the girl.

 

Robert and Frank Knell were affiliated with Carthage professional baseball dating to the Carthage Pirate franchise of the Arkansas/Missouri league, in 1938, and Frank was the President of the Carthage Baseball Association when Wid Matthews, of the Chicago Cubs, pulled the financial rug from under the feet of the franchise in 1952.

 

Bob Knell took me to the first baseball game I ever saw and the year was 1949. I counted him a friend until the day he passed away. I worked closely with both the brothers in documenting baseball in Carthage. They were invaluable in sharing photos and memories of that era. Another resource they contributed was where many of the former players had gone after playing baseball in Carthage for Pirate, Browns, Cardinal and to a lesser extent, Cub franchises. When any of those former players returned to Carthage, or wanted information on a certain family, the Knell’s would be the contact point. There were men in their late 70’s who even made contact regarding a “love interest” from as far back as 1938.

 

During the 1936-40 era the Arkansas State and or Arkansas Missouri league had a franchise in Carthage or in nearby Neosho or Monett, Missouri. The most prevalent last name in those two leagues was Knoblauch. Between 1936 and 1940, Charles played at Monett, Carthage and Neosho. In 1938 Edward played at Neosho and from 1938-40 Irvin played for Carthage. These guys were either brothers or cousins even though some were from Houston, Texas and another from Michigan.

 

Upon seeing those old Carthage team photos, I was thrilled to learn such items existed and shortly the Knell brothers gave them to me. In that Knoblauch mix was a younger brother by the name of Ray who played minor league ball in 1950. He was from Houston, Texas had a son he named Charles in honor of his older brother who played in Carthage. The son broke into the major leagues in 1991 and played with the Minnesota Twins and/or New York Yankees until 2002.

 

At the time Knoblauch was with the Twins I was communicating regularly with Tom Mee who had played third base for Iola of the KOM league in 1950. Mee was the official scorers for the Twins at the time and I mentioned to him that some of Knoblauch’s uncles had played in the old KOM area. When Knoblauch learned that I had photos of his uncles when they were minor leaguers he asked Mee if I would share them. I made copies and Chuck Knoblauch most likely still has them.

 

But, I want to return to the Knoblauch/Knell connection. When I was writing my first book both of the brothers told me that one of the Knell girls married one of the Knoblauch’s and that they made their home in California for a number of years. I can’t tie any of Bob and Frank’s sisters to marrying a Knoblauch so it must have been a cousin. (Isn’t senility terrible?) I recall seeing an obituary, in the Carthage Press, within the past decade, or so, that spoke of one of the Knoblauch’s death and that indeed he has married a girl by the name of Knell. I’ll keep tracking this story but since so many people read this report who remember the Knells or is a Knell, maybe one of them can short-circuit my search.

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In closing, another item from 1949

 

This note, along with an attached photo was received from a longtime friend from Ottawa, Kansas. “ You've probably already seen this picture of Mickey, but in case you haven't thought you might like it.” www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/30551050384/

 

This was the response to Mr. Dan Kay who shared the photo. “I can even tell you when and where it was taken. It was after the 1949 baseball season and during the time from September to mid-January of 1950. He was working for Eagle-Picher and he picked up small engines that needed work and taken to the electronic repair shop for basic coil rewinding. That is the time where he built his upper body strength. He was supposed to attend a Yankee prospects camp in Phoenix that winter. He didn't show up on time and they called his place of employment asking where he was. He said he was working and didn't have the money to get to Phoenix. The Yankee quickly wired him the necessary funds. I knew the guy, who was a butcher at Dillon’s Super Market in Joplin, whose dad was Mickey's supervisor at Eagle-Picher. It was and still is a small world down there.”

 

A disclaimer is made regarding that Mantle photo as one that I do not own and neither do I know how it wound up bouncing around the Internet. I have seen a few others in recent weeks. Although I own some from the time he was less than two years old I want everyone to know, especially the Mantle family, that I’m not the source of this photo. This photo was shared with Bob Mallon in Highlands Ranch, Colorado who just a couple of months prior to that photo being taken was Mantle’s roommate at Independence. Bob sent along a note that was the first time he had seen that particular photo.

 

One last comment. The Flash Reports are placed on the Flickr site to determine if anyone even bothers to look at them. An attempt is made to share a photo, each time, that might be of interest to at least three people. I’d like to ask a couple of questions that I suspect will get a response from less than a dozen people.

 

1—Do you ever pull up the Flickr site and if so do you go back to it more than once? How many times, on average do you reference each report?

2---When receiving these reports do you ever pass them along to others and if so, to how many?

 

Thanks!!!

Anyone having comments and can't send them by Flickr, transmit them to j03.john@gmail.com

 

Done