KOM League Flash Report for 12/1/2018 ________ Crucani's with Appleton and Miller

The KOM League Flash Report

Spanning the Bridge

Between November and December 2018

 

With the holiday season my telephone traffic increases among the former KOM leaguers. Most of the former players have either ditched their computers or never took up the habit. Recently, I checked and saw that there was a message on my cellphone. I dialed the number and the person on the telephone told me he had a call on another line and that he was going to speak with a fellow in Columbia, Mo. just as soon as his wife made the contact.

 

At that point I told the fellow on the other end of the line that the only person he knew in Columbia was John Hall and he was talking to him. I got that situation straightened out and had a nice conversation with Dick and Molly McCoy.

 

For a quarter a century I have kept tabs on the McCoy’s or better stated they have looked after me. In recent days they had been contacted by someone who has written a lot about Pepper Martin. The old Gashouse Gang member spent a lot of time with the McCoys when Dick played for Pepper at Miami Beach, in 1950. Every time McCoy calls he has a lot of stories about his former manager and none are ever repeats.

 

In the last report it was mentioned that Yours truly hadn’t accomplished much in 25 years of writing about minor league baseball except for one thing; I had managed to reunite a former member of the McAlester Rockets of the Sooner State league with a librarian from that town. They had dated in the 1955-56 era but each went their separate ways until In piecing that scenario together the McCoy’s had wondered if I could locate Martin’s widow and daughters. Since his widow remarried and his daughter’s eventually married that was a rather difficult trail to travel.

 

However, it turns out that the librarian and one of Pepper Martin’s daughters graduated in the same high school class at McAlester. That information was shared with me and I in turn sent it on to the McCoy’s in Omaha who passed the word along to the person writing about Pepper Martin. See how that works.

 

Well, many years passed and there was some more inquiry regarding the Martin family and Molly McCoy seemed to remember that I had told her long ago that I graduated from high school with Martin’s daughter. At my advanced age I know I’ve lost it but I was pretty sure I never graduated from high school in McAlester, Okla. So, Molly started looking for my long ago e-mails to her on the subject of Pepper Martin and she acknowledged that I was passing along the information from Martin’s daughter’s classmate. As a point of curiosity I asked Molly to share the date on that e-mail and I was informed it was 2007.

 

As I spoke with Molly the name of the former librarian and the name of the baseball player she married 50 years after they parted ways, in McAlester, came to me. I’ll have to look up their address and sent them a Christmas card.

 

In getting a telephone call from the McCoy’s I find out the status of some other folks I can only wonder about. Many of McCoy’s former teammates are on the north side of 90 and are in nursing homes. According to the McCoy’s John William “Bucky”Hall who pitched for the 1948 Ponca City Dodgers is in a Florida nursing facility. Gene Castiglione’s wife, Sharon, had a stroke and they are still in Benld, Illinois. The McCoy’s wanted to know if I have heard from Ray Scherschligt from Alpena, South Dakota, which I hadn’t. Since I find no record of his passing I imagine he is in a nursing facility of some type as he is now 93 years old. McCoy also drops some names from the Brooklyn Dodger system on me that never had KOM experience. One name he mentioned in the recent telephone call took me by surprise. The fellow played 13 years in the Dodger organization at high levels. But, time has a way of getting away from all of us. The fellow died on Christmas Eve, eve in 2011. I may just wait and tell the McCoy’s about this guy’s passing at a later time.

 

You have to admire the McCoy’s as they stay “in the game” even after Dick’s recent chemo and radiation treatments. If he holds on as long as his mother did he has another 16 years in which to share his stories.

 

While Dick and Molly were at Miami Beach for the 1950 season they were not aware that Pepper Martin had three daughters. He later told the McCoy’s that he was not about to bring his daughters around where there were young ballplayers. Molly chuckled in telling that story.

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A reader enjoyed hearing about Musial

 

John: Thanks for your recent KOM League report. It brought back wonderful memories of my one encounter with Stan Musial.

 

The weekend of September 17-19, 1965, I was in Saint Louis to see the Saint Louis Billiken soccer team play Michigan State for the NCAA national championship at Washington University’s Francis Field. I never paid much attention to soccer before that day, but I was hooked after witnessing Saint Louis U. beat Michigan State 1-0 on a penalty kick. Many of Michigan State’s best players were from Saint Louis on scholarship. At that time, SLU did not offer soccer scholarships. To me, that made the win that much better.

 

On Sunday, the 19th, I went to see the Cardinals lose to the Dodgers, and afterwards that evening, I had supper at Stan and Biggies. Guess whose hand I got to shake. Yes, Stan Musial himself was working the dining room greeting dinner patrons. I didn’t wash my hand for a week. To this day, I deeply regret not being prepared to show up with a picture of Stan, so he could autograph it.

 

One more memory of Stan Musial. Growing up in Anderson, Missouri, before moving to Neosho in 1960, I was a big Cardinal baseball fan. My Uncles, who were dairy farmers on a farm outside Anderson knew this and had me convinced Stan Musial could be Pope someday. You see, growing up Catholic, and knowing you had to be a Cardinal before being Pope, they took advantage of my gullibility my pulling my leg.

 

Thanks again John for bringing back such great memories of Stan Musial, Leo Downey

 

Ed reply:

 

I showed up at Stan’s dinner table at his restaurant, on July 2, 1950, with a little scrap of paper and a pencil used for scoring. He saw my inadequacy and took me into his office and signed an 8 X 10 glossy for me. I don’t know how long you have been on the Flash Report mailing list but in George Vescey’s book on Musial he made chapter six about my meeting with “The Man”.

 

Downey’s reply:

 

Very cool! I’m extremely jealous

 

Ed comment

 

Here is a small world tale. As I was doing next to nothing, one recent afternoon, my wife told me I had a telephone call. The person wanted to tell me of the death of someone he thought I knew, well. In fact the name didn’t ring a bell. The caller told me the deceased had attended one of my Mantle book signings at a local supermarket at least a dozen years ago. Since so few people ever came to one of those signings I decided I had better look up the obituary. Upon doing so I saw how successful the individual had been in his teaching career heading up some prestigious positions at the universities of Missouri and Oklahoma State. Upon seeing his photo I indeed recognized him. What is interesting is that Leo Downey and the deceased were raised on dairy farms in Anderson and Goodman, Mo., respectively, which are seven miles apart. And, by golly they both purchased a copy of a book written by Yours truly. Here is the obituary of the deceased. www.columbiamissourian.com/obituaries/family_obituary/joh...

 

The late Dr. Campbell was interested in a story I shared about the time Mickey Mantle and his all-star basketball team rolled into Goodman to play a game. During the winter months Mantle traveled around the four-state area of Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas with a few of his kinfolk, friends and Billy Martin. That team even played the Harlem Globetrotters at least once. Max Mantle, Mickey’s first cousin, enjoyed telling the tale of the game they played at Goodman. Martin never got to start or play very much. So, Martin convinced Mickey to let him start the Goodman game. Shortly into the contest Martin took a shot and missed. Mickey immediately called time out and when the team got to the bench Martin was told he was being taken out. When he demanded to know why he was being removed from the game Mickey replied “Because you aren’t hitting tonight.”

 

Now, the good news of all this is that the fellow who called, that I hadn’t seen for a dozen years, spoke as though he’d come by my house in the not too distant future to get some more of the Mantle books. Sure hope he makes it before Christmas.

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The passing of a Blackwell Bronco

 

www.meaningfulfunerals.net/?action=obituaries.obit_view&a...

 

Gerald Floyd Crucani, the son of the late John Crucani and Johanna Dernosek, was born Wednesday, October 25, 1933 in Topeka, Kansas.

 

On June 26, 1957, At Shady Grove Baptist Church in Kennett, Missouri, Gerald was united in marriage to Joe Ann Masterson, who preceded him in death on March 30, 1998.

 

Gerald grew up in Franklin, Kansas. As a young adult, he played minor league baseball for the Chicago Cubs. After a few years, he quit playing ball to join the Navy. While in the Navy, he began writing to future wife, Joe Ann, as a pen pal. Shortly after, he was honorably discharged from the Navy. He and Joe Ann then married and relocated to Kennett, Missouri and began starting a family. In addition to his three biological children, he was known as “Dad” to Charlotte, Jennifer, Tisha, and Larry. He also opened his home to many foster children throughout the years. He began working at Baker Implement in 1960 and retired in 1992. After losing his beloved wife of 40 years to cancer he began volunteering for Hospice. He then met Mary Kansas with who enjoyed a 20 year friendship with up until his passing. He enjoyed spending time with family, working in his shop, and being out in the community.

 

Mr. Crucani departed this life at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas at the age of 85 years and 28 days.

 

He is survived by 1 son Joey Crucani (Debra); 1 daughter Tena Petix ( Alan Campbell); 2 grandsons Damon Crucani (Tori) and Levi Petix (Abigail McMullan); 2 granddaughters Tiffany Patterson (David) and Megan Weaver (Anthony) all of Kennett, Missouri; 7 great grandchildren Charlie, Kobe, Luke, Dyson, Gunnar, Ahdyn, and Laken; 2 sisters Nancy Recer (Barney) of Blue Springs, Missouri and Rosemary Shead of Kansas City, Kansas; 1 sister-in-law Betty Cruciani; and long time special friend Mary Kansas and her family along with a host of other relatives and friends.

 

He was preceded in death by 1 son Jerry Crucani, 1 daughter in-law Bonita Crucani, and 2 brothers John Crucani and twin brother Harold Crucani.

 

Visitation will be held at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Kennett, Missouri on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 6:00 P.M. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. with Reverend Johnny Bogle officiating.

 

Pallbearers include Alan Campbell, Damon Crucani, Ed Jacques, David Patterson, Levi Petix, and Anthony Weaver.

 

Ed Comments;

 

Harold was a very good songwriter. He once sent me a 78 rpm record with a song he wrote and recorded. It was titled “Baseball Season Has Begun.” It was a rather catchy tune and he assigned me the rights to it. I still have it.

 

Harold had the nickname “Twin” and Gerald was “Lefty.” For a while I thought both boys were drafted at the end of 1952. However this article from the January 10, 1958 edition of the Joplin Globe changed that misconception. “NAVY RECRUITS NINE DURING LAST MONTH—Nine district men enlisted in the navy during December, according to an announcement by Chief Lawrence Anderson of the Joplin navy recruiting station yesterday. They are as follows: Thomas Ray Dalton of Anderson: Harold Lloyd Crucani of Franklin. Kan.; George Edward Maddox of Goodman: Alan Robert Drenik of Frontenac, Kan.; Myron Earl Baker of Picher, and James Robert Harrod, Jimmy Lee Neal. Jimmie Lee Moss and” Walter Leon Eubank of Joplin.”

 

The Crucani boys watched a lot of Pittsburg, Kansas Browns, growing up. They made it to Pittsburg to play a few games when Bartlesville moved up there in mid-season, of 1952, and after the twin brothers finally hooked on with Blackwell.

 

Convincing the baseball experts that the KOM league had three sets of twins, in 1952 was 66.66% easy. Proving that the other 33.33% was the difficult task. This was carried in the June 7, 2018 edition of this publication. “An Iola Register story on Sept. 11, 1952 stated that “Iola fans only saw one pair but there were three sets of twins in the KOM league when the season ended. Pittsburg had Ernie and Emmanuel Abril, Independence—Don and Ron Saatzer and Blackwell—Harold and Gerald Crucani.” The article went on to say, in a humorous manner, that the nearest Iola came to twins were Joe Vilk and Bill Wigle. Of course, the twin comparison was in regard to the number of games won as both were pitchers, Vilk was a 21-year old right-hander from Akron, Ohio and Wigle was ten years his senior and a left-hander from Amertsburg, Ontario, Canada.

 

Many years ago, when researching my first book, I communicated with both Gerald and Harold and the contact with Harold was the more frequent. He sent me many things which included a number of photos with him and his twin brother standing next to Pete Appleton. I know everyone in this reading audience remembers Pete. He was known by a different name when he first reported to the Cincinnati Reds. It is a long story and Pete even had a longer name, at birth, which was Jablonowski. You can read all about Pete at this site: www.google.com/search?q=Pete+Jablonowski&oq=Pete+Jabl...

 

There is a lot written about Pete of both last names fame, but not much concerning the baseball careers of the brothers Crucani. Thus, I’m departing from the norm and going into the antiquity of my first book and share their story.

 

“The Crucani twins, who played at Blackwell were located in Missouri and California. Gerald and Harold were born October 25, 1933 in Topeka, Kansas. At age 18 both signed minor league contracts and appeared to be headed to the Ardmore Indians in the Sooner State League. However, by the end of the spring Harold was with Blackwell. Both Harold and Gerald played part of that season for Jackson, Tenn. in the Kitty League before going to Blackwell. Harold was and outfielder and Gerald played first base. Gerald’s most lasting memory of his time at Blackwell was the ambidexterity of Fred Bade. Gerald said he played second base and could throw right or lefthanded. Harold recalls that the Ponca City Dodgers gave him the toughest competition over-all, he says, ‘There were a lot of good ballplayers in the KOM League with very good talent who were dedicated to the sport, not just the money that might have been offered to them.’ The Crucani’s had brief stays in 1953 with Sandersville of the Georgia State League This was the extent of their professional baseball careers. Gerald played quite a bit of semipro ball around Parsons, Kansas., and worked as a butcher after his KOM days. Harold had enlisted in the Navy (1957) and eventually made it his career. He retired in 1973 as an E-7 Chief Gunners Mate. Gerald also served in the Navy and became a mechanic for 31 years before retirement. He is currently residing in Kennett, Mo. Harold in retirement calls San Diego home.”

 

How I came upon the Crucani photos with Pete Appleton.

 

On November 12, 1996 the following was received from Gerald Crucani:

 

“Dear Mr. Hall: First of all I want to thank you for all the time you have been sending me the magazine. I wanted to help what you are doing but seems like with my health problems and my wife now, just making it on a day to day basis with everything is so expensive. I have enjoyed reading the magazine very much but feel bad I am not supporting the great work you have done and still doing. Here is one of the pictures I found that I said if I did would send you one of Harold and I and Eddie Miller of the Cards. I got some more stuff to send you if I can find it somewhere in the house. If I do I will be sure to get it to you in the future. In closing thanks for everything. God Bless you and yours. Mr. Gerald Crucani—1700 Vinson St. Kennett, Mo. P. S. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. And thanks for the card.”

 

Later on Gerald found some more photos. It was one of him and his brother posing with Pete Appleton. It was of far superior quality to the photo the boys took with Eddie Miler. It is interesting that the photo with Appleton and Miller were taken in the same location. On the back of one photo it says that the photo was taken in 1951 in Florida. The other photo states the photo was taken in 1951 at Cocoa, Florida. I’m nearly positive these photos were taken a baseball camp for young hopefuls. The “A” on the baseball caps of the Crucani’s was for Arma which was another small town just north of Pittsburg, Kansas. Fans in Arma had to drive 10 miles to see KOM league games at Pittsburg while those in Franklin only had to go eight to see those games. Everyone in that area consume a lot of Chicken’s Annie’s famous chicken. search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=AwrCwLCuSwFc4y8AAsMPxQt....

 

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The Death of George Nichols

 

When writing of the death of Keith Baker, in the previous report, I spent some time looking for surviving members of the 1947 Ponca City Dodgers. One member of that team, for two weeks, was George Morrill Nichols, an outfielder. He was born 7/17/1928 in Seattle, Washington.

 

Nichols was released by the Ponca City Dodgers on May 29, 1947 and didn’t play again until 1948 when he became the property of the Cleveland Indians. He played for Indian clubs at Billings, Mont., Bakersfield and Porterville, Calif. as well as Tacoma, Wash. and Yuma, Ariz. Through 1950. In 1951 Nichols had a shot with the Wichita Indians of the Western league but things didn’t pan out for him there.

 

During the years of researching the KOM league I located Nichols and his wife in Illinois. We exchanged Christmas cards a number of years. Last year I didn’t hear from them and thought it would be time to check on them again. Here is was I found: www.evanstonfuneral.com/notices/George-Nichols All that I could glean for the death listing was that he passed away April 19, 2018 in Evanston, Ill. He left this world 70 years, 11 months and 10 days after being released by the Dodgers. It would have been nice to have been able to share an obituary but none was found.

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I shall stop!!!

 

When this report was being anticipated there wasn’t much information available and I had planned to list the KOM deaths for 2018, the former KOM leaguers still living and those never located. That is a daunting chore when possessing a weak mind and eyes to match. But, if the snow gets heavy between now and the first of the New Year I’ll try tackling those three tasks.

 

Oh, one more thing: On Halloween I had a late evening telephone call and it was a treat, not a trick. The call came from Joliet, Illiinois and I’m happy to report I know someone in that town who isn’t incarcerated at the Federal Prison there. On the telephone was Bernie Gerl who is the sole survivor of the Duluth, Minnesota Dukes players involved in the terrible bus crash in 1948.

 

Bernie told me he can no longer attend the Dukes’ reunions but he is always remembered at those events. He still has fond memories of former KOM leaguer, Dick Getter and since Dick and Joan stay in touch I pass along to them greetings from Bernie.

 

Now, I’m done.

 

Done