KOM League Flash Report for March 1, 2018 Sign of baseball season

The KOM League

Flash Report

For

March 1, 2018

(Until the next one is prepared)

 

This report is posted at: www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/39846165124/

Hopefully, more people go to this report than they did last week.

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The opening salvo

 

Last time around the report featured the late Jerry Whalen. The limited interest that missive generated was Bill Upton, former Iola Indian, going to St. Joseph, Missouri during the American Association All-Star break and visiting with Whalen. Long time editor of the Iola Register. Bob Johnson, liked that article and shared the following. “Have any idea who Upton pitched against? There were a couple of mighty good eastern Kansas semi-pro teams, based out of Bronson and Piqua, along about then that had at least two players who pitched in the majors: Don Dennis, from Uniontown, pitched for the Cardinals, was at Bronson and Fred Kipp, Piqua, for the Dodgers. They might been in the pros by then, though. I've written about both of them, although years ago.

 

Dennis died a few years ago. His son, Shane, was drafted by San Diego, and then earned $1 million for pitching two years for a Japanese team. Last I knew, he was on the Wichita State baseball staff, where he pitched in college. When I was coaching the Iola American Legion team, we beat Fort Scott, with Shane Dennis on the mound, 4-2 to earn a spot in the 1988 state tournament, which we went on to win in four straight games. I had a lefthander, Bryan Klepper, who was drafted by the Twins, in a low round, who won all four games, two as the starter and two in relief. He was 16 then; in 17 innings he struck out 35. He didn't sign (should have) when offered little more than a bus ticket, then hurt his knee playing pick-up basketball while pitching for the local juco team. He had a good, but short run, at North Alabama, including a no-hitter, I think, before melting into history. We returned to state in 1990 and finished second.

 

On the Piqua team were a couple of guys named Specht, Archie was one, who were very good. Archie passed up a pro contract, to serve in Korea and then spent a lifetime farming. Archie was a very good friend of mine; he died a year or two ago. Another Kipp, don't remember his first name, also was a fair hand for Piqua.

 

At Bronson, the Dawson brothers and Don Bauer, another close friend and a good hand behind the plate, were notable. "Fun" Dawson was the Bronson manager.

 

Bronson and Piqua had some bang-up games. Next time I see Don Bauer I'll ask about the Missouri team.

 

Bronson and Piqua are wide spots in the road (both on U.S. 54) and most of the players for both came from nearby farms. "Town-team ball" was big then, as I know you know.

 

By the way, just finished reading Al Stump's biography of Ty Cobb. One of these books I couldn't lay aside, including reading one evening until 1 a.m., far past my usual bed time. You would like it.

 

On Jan. 2, I pretty much retired, though I still come into the office for a few hours a week, usually Monday, Tuesday and Friday mornings. I still write my weekly column, which I started in the early 1970s. I you would, please copy my emails to my home computer -- ___________ -- so I don't miss any of your posts. They bring back fond memories.” Bob Johnson

 

Ed reply:

 

Speaking of Ty Cobb. At one of the first KOM reunions, Gary Dorn Hegedorn of the 1948 Bartlesville Pirates told me about Cobb and his mother as a young lady.

 

Gary's grandparents owned a brewery near Detroit. Cobb had a date with his mother to be. When Cobb showed up for the date he brought the young lady a red rose.

 

Before his mother died Gary said she asked him to look in her Bible for a rose. When he did she explained how it came to be there. Gary said that was a strange feeling in many ways. Not only that it came from Cobb but that his mother kept it all her life.

 

Ed comment:

 

Some of the family names Bob Johnson mentioned in his e-mail appear in this week’s report.

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The passing of Gerald Otto “Nate” Beaman

 

This edition is different in that it primarily deals with one former KOM leaguer and his family. The story won’t have much appeal except for readers in three counties of Southeast Kansas. But, when someone makes it to the four-score, ten and more plateau, they deserve some recognition. I think if you read this entire article you’ll learn something you didn’t know about how a guy can hit a baseball and wind up being arrested before reaching first base. True story.

 

www.legacy.com/obituaries/morningsun/obituary.aspx?n=gera...

 

Gerald O. "Nate" Beaman, 93, passed away Wednesday, February 21, 2018, at A Country Place Senior Living in Fort Scott. He was born August 7, 1924, in Uniontown, Kansas, the son of Ray and Ruth (Turner) Beaman. He married Mary Kathryn "Kay" Henson on January 11, 1947, in Fort Scott, Kansas, while attending Fort Scott Junior College, and they recently celebrated their 71st Wedding Anniversary, January of 2018.

 

Nate was a Hall of Fame Athlete, both at Fort Scott Junior College and Pittsburg State University, and he played semi-pro baseball as a catcher and outfielder after serving in the US Navy, a WWII Veteran. He was a coach, math teacher, and High School Principal for thirty years in Imperial Valley, California. When he retired, he and Kay moved back to the farm where he was born in Uniontown, Kansas.

 

He is survived by his wife Kay; four children, Jan Beaman, Curt Beaman, both of Uniontown, Kansas, Michael Beaman of Riverside, California, and Ty Beaman, of San Diego, California; six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Ina Nicolini, Ethel Olsen, Lula Shull; and two brothers, Harold Beaman, and Curtis Beaman.

 

Rev. Connie McKee will conduct graveside services, 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 26, 2018, at the Uniontown Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon February 25, 2018, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Harry Hynes Hospice, and left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, PO Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Published in Morning Sun on Feb. 24, 2018

 

Now for a look back.

 

Early in the days of reviving the memory of the KOM League, the aforementioned person was found residing in Holtville, California. Over the years the Beaman family communicated and supported the effort by subscribing to the newsletter that was at that time, sent by mail.

 

During my communicating with the family I learned a lot about the athletic prowess of not only the Beaman brothers but also their sisters who excelled in basketball and one of the sisters who was a top flight golfer.

 

Before going too far into this story the reader would be well served by finding a map of Bourbon County, Kansas. It borders the state of Missouri to the east and the counties of Crawford and Allen County which had a combined three teams in the KOM league, namely; Pittsburg, Iola and Chanute. The Bourbon County towns of Uniontown and Mapleton was home to five former KOM leaguers—Dave Dennis, Laverne Dennis, Robert Brown, Bernard Hays and Gerald Beaman.

 

All of the aforementioned played amateur baseball before winding up serving their country in WW II. The first to sign a KOM league contract was Dave Dennis. Laverne Dennis later hooked up with the Miami, Oklahoma Blues in early June of 1946. Dave had played professional baseball prior to WW II and wasn’t prone to put up with much, namely umpires. Maybe a tale or two about that aspect will be shared later in this story. He was involved later in, 1946, with the Chanute Owls, when they selected him from the Miami club to bolster their roster for the playoffs. Yet another long story that is too long to include in this article.

 

Gerald Beaman got out of the Navy in time to attend Ft. Scott Junior College in 1947. He then enrolled at Pittsburg State College and became a member of the Gorillas football, basketball and track teams from 1948 to 1950. He was good enough to be elected to the Pittsburg State Hall of Fame. www.pittstategorillas.com/sports/2012/1/26/FB_0126125011....

 

He was one of the guys from Southeast Kansas who played baseball for the St. Louis Browns farm club during the summer and attended college on South Broadway Street there during the fall and winter sessions. Doing that balancing act he appeared in 115 KOM league games during the 1948 and 1949 seasons.

 

One of the more memorable appearances Beaman had was in a game, in 1949, at Ponca City, Oklahoma. When learning of his passing, the obituary was shared with one of the few surviving members of either the Ponca City or Pittsburg teams for that year. The following was received from Sal Nardello of Berlin, New Jersey who played shortstop for Pittsburg. “Sorry to hear about Nate Beaman he was probably our best player and definitely was the best hitter we had in Pittsburg in1949. I didn't realize he was that much older than I was. I was 18 and he was evidently about 24 he was a good person to be with.”

 

It is always interesting to receive input from former teammates when an obituary is shared. Some of the things they share are very mundane and others come as a great surprise. Here is a great one of Beaman from the memory bank of Nardello. “I remember something that happened one day when we were playing in Ponca City, and I tell this, hopefully not to cast a bad light on Nate, but only because after 68 years I still laugh out loud when I think about it. There were seldom ever rainouts and we were playing on a field that was really, really muddy. Nate hit a ground ball to the infield, ran about five steps and was virtually still in the batter's box because of the mud. One of our players called out to Nate as he tried to get to first base, ‘How is it out there Nate.’ Nate said something so funny that we all laughed for five minutes.”

 

At this point I was ready to laugh along, nearly seven decades after the fact. But, what Nardello shared next might provide one of the best trivia questions of all time. That question would be “How many things can happen to a runner, after hitting a baseball, before he reaches first base?”

 

Well, Beaman never reached first base but went directly to a place that is found on the Monopoly game board. Here it is in Nardello’s own words. “I can't tell you what he said but the security police came down out of the stands and arrested him on the spot. They we're probably inwardly laughing themselves but because half of the ballpark heard what he said it had to be addressed.

It was a non-issue, short arrest and he played again the next day. Nate was special. I know Nate was a good basketball player and somewhere I have an 8 by 10 glossy of him in his basketball uniform dribbling a ball. John, thanks for the update. R.I.P. Nate.”

 

In reading Nardello’s note, to my wife, I asked her what she thought Beaman might have uttered to get arrested between home plate and first base. Her answer and what I surmised were a bit different. If any of you old ballplayers are reading this what do you think he yelled out to get himself a free ride to jail?

 

In the communication with Nardello he picked up on the obituary statement that Gerald Beaman played junior college basketball. In fact, he played at Ft. Scott, Kansas in 1947 along with his younger brother, by five years, Curtis. That team won the National Junior College basketball championship according to some research done on the younger Beaman brother.

 

***

 

Curtis Neville Beaman

BIRTH--26 Jan 1929--Uniontown, Bourbon County, Kansas, USA

DEATH --6 Apr 1951 (aged 22) Uniontown, Bourbon County, Kansas, USA

BURIAL Uniontown Cemetery --Uniontown, Bourbon County, Kansas, USA

 

Ft. Scott Tribune Monitor

April 6, 1951--C. BEAMAN, CAGE STAR, DIES TODAY

 

Played on JuCo and Pitt State Teams

 

Curtis Neville Beaman, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Beaman of southwest of Uniontown and former Fort Scott junior college star basketball player, died this morning at 2: 30 at the home of his parents. Death was attributed to a brain tumor.

 

Young Beaman was first stricken about a year ago and underwent an operation at the University of Kansas Medical Center at Kansas City last August. Later he suffered a relapse and for the past several weeks had been in a coma.

 

MADE UNCANNY SHOT

 

Besides his parents, he is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Ethel Olsen of Hobson, Mont., Mrs. Lula Shull of Quincy, Cal., and Mrs. Ina Nicolini of Coalings, Cal.; two brothers, Harold Beaman of Manhattan, Gerald Beaman of Harper, Kas.; a niece, Geryl Ann Beaman, and a nephew, Michael Beaman.

 

The deceased was a graduate of Uniontown high school, Fort Scott junior college, and Pittsburg State Teachers college. He was a member of the basketball teams at all three schools. Local fans will never forget his uncanny shot in the last second of play that won the regional junior college tournament here in 1947. The Greyhounds, coached by Russell Davee, won the state title that year. Next to basketball it was baseball for "Curt" as he was known to his friends. He was a right-handed pitcher and made a very favorable impression on his mound appearances last season.

 

FUNERAL RITES SUNDAY

Although his life had been despaired of for the past few weeks, news of his death this morning cast gloom over his many friends in Fort Scott and Uniontown.

Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Uniontown Methodist church. Interment will be in the Uniontown cemetery.

The body is at the Ralston Funeral home at Moran.

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Fort Scott Tribune Monitor--April 9, 1951

 

CURTIS BEAMAN RITES

 

One of the largest funerals ever held in Uniontown was that of Curtis Neville Beaman, former Fort Scott junior college and Pittsburg State student and basketball player, held at the First Methodist church at Uniontown yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock.

 

Teachers, students and friends from Fort Scott, Pittsburg, Uniontown, Bronson, Iola, Savonburg and Redfield filled the church to capacity. Among them were Ross H. Hughes, president of the Pittsburg school, and D.V. Swartz, superintendent of Fort School schools. A total of 55 floral pieces testified to the high esteem in which young Beaman was held.

 

Mrs. McIntosh, pastor of the church, conducted the services and music was furnished by Mrs. Lyle Ramsey, and Mrs. Paul Ramsey, who sang two duets, and Miss Alice Griffith, who sang a solo. Mrs. Grace Griffith was the pianist.

 

Interment was in the Uniontown cemetery, Pallbearers were Curtis's basketball teammates from Pittsburg State. They were Jack Thomas, Doug Story, George Donlevy, Mick Huffman, Bill Long and Don Uhlenhof.

 

Among the out-of-town friends attending the services were John Lance of Pittsburg State and Russ Davee of Baker University, former coaches in basketball for the deceased.

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Related tidbits

 

A click here will allow you to see a Beaman family photo taken while Gerald was still in the Navy, circa. 1945-46. www.findagrave.com/memorial/35408575/ruth-caroline-beaman... A note attached to the photo stated Gerald was the shortest of the boys at 6’ 4”.

 

As mentioned previously, in this article, the Beaman and Dennis families knew each for many generations. The Dennis brothers, Dave and Laverne, of KOM league fame, had a nephew named Don who pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1965-66. He died of cancer at Ft. Scott, Kansas in 2007. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Dennis The last ball player to come out of that area was Adam LaRoche. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_LaRoche

 

As referenced earlier in this report, Dave Dennis had an experience in baseball that few, if any, ever before or after could match.

 

In search of the best and most accurate reporting on the incident it was necessary to go to the book, Majoring in The Minors and turn to page 38. There, in that magnificent tome, was the unparalleled prose of the author. He shall remain anonymous for obvious reasons. However, he gave his permission for the following paragraphs to be used for this seldom read Flash Report. The first two paragraphs, that follow, weren’t quoted from the book but were part of the documentation that led to it being there.

 

***

In highlighting the events of 1946 the Iola Register published in early January, of 1947 some significant items for the year just concluded. It attributed the following to the June 14th edition of the Iola Register—“The KOM baseball race grows hotter, and fire breaks out in Catcher Dave Dennis's chest protector during a torrid argument at home plate in Riverside park.” As hard as I tried I could never find that story in the June 14th edition. Dave Dennis was mentioned for his hitting and the umpires were cited due to the many disputes players from both sides had with them that evening.

 

However, the Miami News-Record had this to say in their June 14th edition. “The Miami/Iola game was not without a highlight of comedy, (Steve) Jordan, failing to agree with a. decision by Umpire George Carney, engaged in a torrid argument with the plate judge. The spat was so hot, in fact, that before it ended Miami catcher Dennis actually caught fire. During the height of the rousing verbal fuss, Dennis started noticing sparks flying out from under his chest protector and ripped the bulky, armor off just as it burst into flames. A carelessly tossed cigarette, which probably fell into the protector while it lay on the ground between innings, and not the steaming argument, was believed responsible for the blaze.”

 

*

One of the more peculiar incident in the history of the KOM, or any other league occurred the night of June 14, (1946) at Iola (Kansas.) It happened to Miami Blues catcher Dave Dennis. The incident was very difficult to research because Dennis had died by the time this book was being written, and no other player from that game remembered the incident. After many attempts to ascertain the true story, Dave’s brother H. Laverne Dennis, came up with the particulars.

 

Laverne had just returned from military duty and Miami needed a backup catcher. He had only played in five games (amateur) before going to Miami.

 

In the June 14th game, Dave and Miami pitcher Steve Jordan became involved in a heated discussion with umpire George Carney over a pitch that was called a ball, when it was obvious to Dave and Steve that it was right down the middle. The heat came not only from inside Mr. Dennis, but also from his chest protector. Carney listened to his protests until he saw smoke begin to boil from underneath the angry catcher’s chest protector. Carney tried to divert Dave’s attention to the danger, but Dave only took it to mean that the umpire was arguing back. Dave finally got the “heartburn” of his life. When he realized he was on fire, he ripped off the chest protector and his shirt, and soon was standing in front of the fans with an exposed upper torso.

 

It was reported that the chest protector was totally destroyed. Having spent many nights in a minor league dugout, I originally surmised that a player sneaking a smoke when the manager wasn’t looking, and stashed the evidence in the most convenient receptacle. That is pretty close to what happened. Dave had piled his catching gear near the grandstand, and an Iola fan had tossed a cigarette but that landed in a fold of the chest protector. That story was later picked up by the national press and Ira. L. Smith and H. Allen Smith carried it in a book entitled ‘Three Men on Third.’”

 

If any of you still have that “great book,” regarding the KOM league, you may wish to finish the story written on page 39 about the rest of Dave Dennis’s life. He worked in his father-in-law’s hardware business in Mapleton, Kansas for a number of years as well as selling cars, insurance, barber supplies and memorial stones. The last 10 years of his life he fought diabetes, arthritis and heart problems and died in the Veterans Administration Hospital in Columbia, MO, on October 1, 1990, just a couple of miles from where all this KOM stuff originates. At the time I was writing “Majoring in The Minors” both my wife and daughter were nurses at the hospital where he died. I made the statement in the book “I hope, perhaps, that a member of my family may have helped ease Dave’s suffering during his last days.” As it turned out, my daughter was the head nurse on the ward where he passed away.

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Speaking of daughters

 

In the foregoing story the daughter I mentioned who cared for Dave Dennis at the Columbia Veterans Hospital was named Cindy by her mother and I, but now goes by Cyndi. There are a couple of Cindy’s on the Flash Report distribution list and they are both daughters of former KOM league players.

 

This past week I had a note from a Cindy that read “I am at Gladstone Community Center (North Kansas City) and saw a guy walking with a #7 Mantle New York Yankee T-shirt! Don’t see those much!” Cindy Newbill

 

To Cindy’s note I replied that not many people today would even know who Mickey Mantle was. Then, I wondered what would have happened if Cindy had approached the young man, wearing the Mantle T-shirt, and announced that her daddy played with Mantle, in 1949, at Independence, Kansas. At the first KOM league reunion I asked each attendee to give their most vivid memory of their time in the KOM league. I found out some weren’t so “wonderful.” When it came time for Cindy’s dad, Bob, to relate his vivid memory he said “I played first base and Mantle played shortstop. He couldn’t throw the ball and I couldn’t catch it.”

 

Special note: While writing the previous paragraph another member of that 1949 Independence Yankee club, and Mantle’s first roommate in professional baseball, sent me an e-mail with photos of newly born twin great-grandsons. The legacy of Bob Mallon will live on.

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Rambling!!!

 

It was my intention of featuring a Pittsburg Browns team photo with Gerald Beaman included. However, the official team photo was taken after he went back to Pittsburg State for the Fall semester. Like most teams Pittsburg had many roster players. In 1949 they had 46 coming and going at one time or another including two playing managers.

 

Out of those 46 guys who wore a Browns uniform that year the following are most likely alive at this time: Wayne Carlson, Jack Chatham, Sal Nardello, Ameal Nassif, Larry Bale, Frank Rolfs and Ted Ponik who was Ted Ponikiewski when he played at Pittsburg. Robert Rose from Belleville, Ontario and James Leroy Stevens, from North Carolina, could possibly still be alive.

 

A side note which will probably only be of interest to baseball researchers. A lot of debate arises anytime a former player passes away and their date of birth differs in the obituary from that found in the record books. On the surface that is easy to answer. Basically, a fellow wiped two or three years off his true age in order to get the chance to sign and work his way up the ladder of a major league organization. That didn’t much to teams without major league affiliation. They would sign a 30-year if he could help the team. Miami, Okla. did that in 1949 with Elmer Peacock. All Peacock would do after that would be to go back to Commerce, OK and pitch for the Merchants or other amateur teams in the area.

 

Not all players on KOM affiliated teams were signed to contracts by the major league team with whom that team was affiliated. For example Joe Pollock played for the Miami Blues in 1946 and although Miami had a working relationship with the Brooklyn Dodgers neither Joe nor anyone else on that team were property of the Dodgers, except one. The Dodgers only had rights to sign Joe and others at the end of the season. The limit was four and Joe was too old at that time to be considered a prospect. In 1947 he tried out for the Iola club but was cut shortly thereafter. The Chicago Cubs had a working agreement at Iola and although Iola wanted him, the Cubs didn’t. At that juncture the Pittsburg, Kansas Browns wanted Joe and signed him. However, an edict came down shortly after the season started, from St. Louis, that if Pittsburg had signed any player who was 25 or over, no matter how talented he was, he had to be released. Thus, Joe Pollock was on three rosters of teams with major league affiliation, in the KOM league, and was never the property of any of those major league teams. The only time that occurred was when he signed, prior to WWII, \with the Detroit Tigers.

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Shaggy dog story about to conclude.

 

During the years of writing books, newsletters and Flash Reports, I have come upon some interesting folks and what transpired brought me many friends and tons of surprises.

 

When starting upon the task of locating former KOM leaguers a telephone call was made early one morning to a number that belonged to Dave Dennis. Belonged was the correct tense. At that time I was unaware that he had died four years earlier. The person answering the telephone told me that she acquired Dave’s number after his death. I apologized for the inconvenience of the call and tried getting off telephone. The party on the other end asked why I was looking for Dave and I told her that she wouldn’t have any interest. She abruptly informed me she would make that decision.

 

As it turned out she was very interested and stayed in touch for nearly a year always inquiring as to the progress of my publishing a book about the KOM league. This story has been told many times but for the few who haven’t heard it, the lady asked if she could make the trip from the Uniontown, Kansas vicinity to Columbia, Missouri to meet with my wife and me. Her request was granted. When she arrived at our home she asked if we would make her a cup of coffee. We did, and as the brew was placed in front of her she took an envelope from her purse and placed it on the table. I looked at it and she said “Open it.” In so doing I viewed more $100 bills than I had ever seen in my life.

 

Before I could say anything the lady said “Sonny boy, this isn’t for you but rather for the old players who did so much for so little money and recognition.” She said that she knew book publishing was an expensive venture and how right she was. What was contained in her envelope was enough to pay the printing cost of “Majoring in The Minors.” So, had it not been that I was looking for Dave Dennis and found Maxine Dunham, there probably would never have been a book about the KOM league.

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I’m done.

 

If this report was acceptable, let me know. If not, let me know that as well and I will cease and desist in replicating such verbiage in the future.

 

 

Done