KOM League Flash Report 6/4/19--------Model for report is a Thrasher in my back yard.

KOM League

Milestone Edition

By the numbers: 73—70—25—20

June 4, 2019

 

73--In late 1945 when it appeared the world would be at peace, in 1946, E. L. Dale, Clifton A. “Runt” Marr, Charles Evard “Gabby” Street, Earl Sifers and Hershel Beauchamp got together to plan a new Class D league which would commence operation in 1946 . The post WW II league lasted until the Korean War drained it of necessary manpower.

 

70--By 1949 the league had expanded and added to its ranks, that year a young shortstop who showed up in the second month of the season, June 12, and hung around baseball long enough to play his way into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. No one affiliated with the KOM league at that time could imagine a switch-hitting; drag bunting shortstop would later be known to the baseball world as Mickey Charles Mantle.

 

25—In August of 1994 something came over a guy to attempt to document the history of the KOM league by getting first- hand information from those who had been affiliated with it in some manner from players to fans. It has been a long venture that has included newsletters, books written about it, reunions and about every vehicle of communication known to man with the exception of smoke signals. This source has contacted thousands of people, written millions of words on the subject and yet hasn’t even scratched the surface of describing minor league baseball during its heyday.

 

20--Fifty years to the day after Mickey Mantle joined the KOM league another event occurred that was totally unexpected and undeserved. A group of former KOM leaguers put together a special event at Carthage, Missouri and placed a plaque on the entrance to the Carthage ballpark. I think it is still there. On the plaque is an image that when my mother saw it remarked “John Hall, that looks nothing like you.” I told her it was the thought that counted and looking back that stands as probably one of the nicest things ever to come my way. Former KOM league ballplayers showed up for that event that I had never seen before and would never see again.

 

So with that brief numbers game, now stated, it is time for the rest of the news.

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Former Independence Brown passes

 

www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/ronald-minnich-obituary?pi... This link carries a photo of Minnich

 

 

MINNICH, Ronald Julius "was born December 9, 1933 in Roselle Illinois to Rose Rusch and Reuben Minnich. He entered into Heaven on May 13, 2019 at 10:30 AM surrounded by his devoted wife and loving daughter. Ron was an extremely bright precocious young man, excelling in academics and sports. His physical talents in sports were exemplary. He had a real love for the game of baseball from the time he was in grammar school. By the age of 17, the Independence Browns recruited him to become a pitcher in the KOM League which was a minor league farm team system based in Independence, Kansas. This provided a three-year participation in the minor leagues.

 

This participation provided Ron with a fortunate opportunity to procure a position with Sinclair Oil, in the Right-of-Way Department. A lifelong career was born of the employment. Sinclair transferred him to New Jersey where he acquired his formal education at Rutgers University. The intellect, talent, and accomplishments while with Sinclair were noticed and appreciated by many. He was then asked to join Service Resources, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia. As the Executive Vice President, he was able to participate in the major cross-country pipeline expansion projects. In October 1977, Ron was offered the Presidency of the firm and served in this capacity until 1982.

 

In 1984, he joined a past associate and assisted in the founding of TEA, Inc. This company served many types of industry including pipeline companies, oil companies, gas companies, communication companies as well as city and airport annexation. This alliance was very successful; he served there until 1998. In 1998, Land Specialist Incorporated was founded by Ron and was an active thriving company under his leadership. Truly, Ron was a man respected by his clients and peers for his knowledge, business acumen, and honest gentle leadership. Many in the industry were able to learn from his knowledge, teaching, and kindness. There were many activities surrounding his Right-of-Way career. He was a long-time member of the International Right-of-Way Association, where he was well respected and revered. Many associates and clients will miss his intellect, knowledge, quick wit, genuine interest in their lives, and the lessons taught by him. Ron was also a leader in the community. He served on the board of the Sandy Springs United Methodist Church, while exhibiting his true devotion and support. The original campaign to expand the Wesleyan School benefited from his participation and commitment.

 

The love of community brought opportunity to support many charities with his time, talents, and treasures. Among the beneficiaries, Children's Health Care of Atlanta, The Atlanta College of Art (now SCAD), Shepherd Hospital, the ALS Association, Hospice Atlanta, The Pro-Mozart Society, and the American Heart Association. He is survived by his loving wife of forty-two years, Saundra, daughter Mitzi Ritchie (Mike), grandson Brandon Ritchie who will miss his Gampy, and grandson Adam Sherer who loved his Grandpa, sister Diane Minnich Kassal of Chicago, Illinois and sister-in-law Cheryl (Cooky) Hall of Brentwood, Tennessee. The beloved Spike will miss his ice cream with his Daddy. His presence will be truly missed by the children that he loved, influenced and supported in their endeavors: Kimberly Teesateskie (Gary) and daughter Brianna. Michael Falk (Christine), sons Noah and Jonah. He was such a large part of their lives as family adviser on day to day life and instilling faith. Pop was truly special to them as they were to him. That smile and the twinkle in his eye will be missed every day by his loving family, dear friends, and the many people who admired and loved him. A memorial service will be held to honor his life on June 4, 2019, 1:30 PM at the Sandy Springs United Methodist Church, 86 Mt. Vernon Highway, NW, Atlanta, Georgia. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Wesleyan School Campaign for Students Capital Fund. Please send to: Wesleyan School Attn: Office of Development 5405 Spalding Drive Peachtree Corners, Georgia 30092. Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on June 2, 2019

 

Ed comment:

 

Over the years many former KOM leaguers have been located due to diligent digging. However, Minnich was an exception.

 

One of the faithful readers of all the KOM league reports and books was the late Furman Bisher of the Atlanta-Constitution and Journal. He had interest in names of baseball players and came across Billy Jack “Cherokee Kid” Cornsilk in one of my missives. In closing one of his articles he dropped Cornsilk’s name. Probably no other reader gave it a second thought but it intrigued Minnich as to how a sportswriter in Atlanta ever heard of it.

 

Minnich got on the telephone and called Bisher wanting to determine if he knew Cornsilk. Bisher explained that he received material from a guy in Missouri and that he had written an article about him. Minnich wanted to know who the guy was and how to contact him. He explained to Bisher that he had pitched against the “Cherokee Kid” during the 1952 KOM league season as a member of the Independence Browns when “The Kid” pitched for the Ponca City, Oklahoma Dodgers.

 

Bisher got in touch inquiring if it was okay to share my address with Minnich and, of course, that request was granted without a second thought.

 

For many years Minnich was on the distribution list of those receiving the KOM league print edition newsletter and he hung on when that publication was placed on the computer and renamed the KOM League Flash Report. Over the years of communicating it was learned we knew some folks in common that he encountered in his job with Sinclair Oil. I knew the same people who became members of a church I pastored in Tulsa, Okla. The Sinclair employee we both knew was a pilot with a rather dry sense of humor. It would be a pleasant experience to share some of the outlooks he had on life. To sum up what I learned from the old pilot was to never tell someone what was obvious or something they could figure out on their own. An example was the time I was asked to sing a solo in a service. I told him I wasn’t much of a singer. He advised me to do what I thought best. However, if I did decide to give it a try, he advised that I not tell the congregation I couldn’t sing well for they would figure it out immediately after the song began.

 

Well, something should be said about Cornsilk. He is still living at age 86 in Roseville, California. He moved there after living many years in Rancho Cordova, California.

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Death of former Carthage Cardinal

 

Jim Neufeldt of Chicago/Oak Park/Plainfield, Illinois, passed away at the age of 91 in Fort Myers, Florida. He was a graduate of Marshall High School '44, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign '49 BS in Physical Education, and Roosevelt University, MA in Education. Jim served as a sergeant in the U.S. Armed Forces, Ft. Lewis, Washington and represented the Army baseball team that won the Pacific Coast Championship in 1946. He played professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals organization for eight years beginning in 1948. Jim met his wife Mary Sarris, a volunteer at the local hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri, when he became ill while on the road during baseball season, and they married in 1952.

 

Jim spent thirty-one years as educator, assistant principal, and after-school sports director at Jenner Elementary in Cabrini-Green. Jim passed on his passion for sports as a baseball coach for the Oak Park Pony League, recreational director in the Galena Territory, and sports organizer at Carillon in Plainfield. He was a role model and inspiration to all and will be greatly missed. Jim is survived by his children: Cathy, Jim (Laura), Cindy (Steve), Karen (Jeff); and grandchildren: Jason, Mariel (Chris), Nathan, Tasia, Matt, Maegan (Corey), Zoe, Brandon, Corinne (Ian), Lauren, Ryne and is preceded by his wife Mary and daughter Teresa.Jim's life will be celebrated June 22, 2019 (details: 630-484-1231). Please donate to Terri's Race Educational Technology Fund (terriracetechfund.com) or Colorectal Cancer Alliance (ccalliance.org).

Published in a Chicago Tribune Media Group Publication on June 2, 2019

 

Ed comment:

 

The obituary is silent regarding the date of death but the funeral home in Neufeldt’s native Illinois listed it as June 2, 2019.

 

Neufeldt was a member of the 1948 Carthage, Mo. Cardinals. He was another of the many former KOM leaguers found in the search that has now gone on for 25 years. He subscribed to the old paper newsletter but when the communication became automated the contact with the former Cardinal minor league infielder ceased. I was not aware that he had moved to Florida and not aware of his death until getting a note from baseball necrologist, Jack Morris.

 

With Neufeldt’s passing there are a maximum of seven members of the last Cardinal affiliated club in the KOM league, still around. Arthur Lee Wilson and William Hatch were never found by the efforts this writer has undertaken. Those who have been located and still living are; Raymond Dame, James Koukl, Howard Powles, Larry Puent and Thomas Jefferson “Snuffy” Smith. At last contact Dame was in Connecticut, Koukl in California, Powles and Puent in Illinois and Smith in Omaha, Nebraska. Check me out on those locations, they may have moved. Koukl, like Neufeldt was a native of Chicago.

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Joe Stanka’s passing was a shock—seven months after the fact.

 

John, right now I find myself almost in shock. I just read today's FR and had never before known about the passing of your wonderful friend and great ballplayer, Mr. Joe Stanka. Somehow, back in October I surely must have missed your story re that sad event in your life? I cannot imagine you not having composed something truly wonderful. If you have such could you possibly email me a copy?

 

I certainly had never heard his name until hooking up with you at the Red Bridge Library (Metro Kansas City) that summer day many years ago. That was one of the two greatest highlights---the other being getting reconnected with the Old Coach from my youth days in Chanute, the one and only Sam Dixon (and his "commander" of course, the lovely Babs.

 

Thanks as always for all you do. The story about Josh and the trophy brought a few teardrops!!!!! Casey Casebolt—Metro Kansas City

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Previous Flash Report received two atta-boys

 

The latest Flash Report had two items of considerable interest to me.

 

One, as I'm pretty sure I've mentioned before (probably several times), I saw Sadaharu Oh hit a homer against the L. A. Dodgers in Sendai, Japan in the Fall of 1966. So the recovery of the Stanka MVP Trophy, thanks in large part to Oh, gives Oh another tape-measure home run - especially to the Stanka family.

 

Two, the mention of any old ASL/A-ML player always perks up my ears and so I enjoyed reading more about Al Gerheauser. I have Mr. Gerheauser playing both 1935 and 1936 for Rogers.—Jerry Hogan-Fayetteville, Ark.

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Reader voted for e-mail version of report

 

Thank you John. I would like to see the report. My email is ____________c@hotmail.com.

 

Also, do your SEK baseball league records ever show the name Raymond (Ray) Pfeiffer from Garland or Fort Scott KS?

 

He was my father and played a lot of baseball from 1939-1969 in SE KS. I remember many adults telling me that Ray would have made the Major leagues if he did not have gone to WW2.

Please share any info you might have with me.

Ron Pfeiffer

 

Ed reply:

 

Your dad's name hasn't been one I have encountered in my research. There were a lot of amateur teams in that era that had many good players. If I ever come across anything regarding your dad I'll share it. Thanks for contacting me, again.

 

Ed comment after five minutes on computer

 

Your dad, being born in 1924 would have been the age to play American Legion baseball in 1939. By 1942 he would have been the right age for pro ball, but that is when he went into the military. By the end of WW II he would have been 24.

 

Not many people can claim they were from the town founded by D. S. Swart. It was called Swart, Swarts and Swartz at various times. The town was in Vernon County, MO. (The nearest big city was Nevada.)

 

My guess is that he played for a town team or semi-pro team in the area. Playing to 1969 would mean he played a lot longer than most guys.

 

Ten minutes after the previous not was shared with Mr. Pfeiffer

 

A June 16, 1953 edition of the Iola Register carried the account of a game between the Ft. Scott Grays and the Tri State Miners from Miami, Okla.

 

Your dad played shortstop in that game and six of his teammate's had played in the KOM league mostly with Iola and Chanute teams, namely, Dave and Laverne Dennis, Chuck Sisson, Carney Simpson, Gerald Beaman and Dean Hewett. Hewett had played for Pittsburg, Kans. in 1948.

 

The Miami team was mostly former KOM league and Baxter Springs Whiz Kids. In the lineup for that game was one of the twin brothers of Mickey Mantle.

 

I'm sure the Iola paper carried many accounts of Ft. Scott games over the years your dad played shortstop. It happened that the New York Giants had a scout at that game, Clarence Zonard. He was there to scout the Mantle boy who played left field in that game. The game was sparsely attended.

 

The Mantle who played in that Ft. Scott/Miami game was Mickey's cousin, Max. The Iola sports writer identified him as Mickey’s brother. Max still lives in Joplin.

 

I had to laugh at the write- up of that game in the Iola paper. The sportswriter had no clue as to the first names of the Miami players thus and made up his own.

 

How was my initial guess about where your dad played?

 

Pfeiffer’s response

 

You have some good research sources. He DID play for area semipro teams. After 1969 he played softball on teams in Ft Scott. He told me stories (and had photos) of a young Mickey Mantle, The Boyer Brothers, some players from Bronson Bombers

 

Bronson Bombers won several titles at Wichita tournaments. I vaguely remember some others that were signed to the big leagues. Don Dennis (Cardinal's) was a close friend of our family.

You are correct about his favorite position (SS). I learned from him.

 

Ed reply:

 

During the floods of 1951 the Iola Indians played a game or two at Bronson. However, when that baseball facility was first constructed the guy behind it convinced Earl Sifers, owner of the Iola Indians, to play a KOM game there to dedicate it. I have written about that event in the past and if memory serves me it was Iola vs. Independence. If that was the case two future big leaguers played with the Independence Yankees.

 

Don Dennis was the son and nephew of Laverne "Kid" and Dave Dennis who played in that game with your dad against Miami in 1953. Both of the Dennis boys played at Miami. Another member of that Ft. Scott team was Carney Simpson who had played KOM ball with the Carthage Cardinals in 1947.

 

Dave Dennis passed away at the VA Hospital here in Columbia on the ward where my daughter was head nurse.

 

One of the great stories in all my writing about the KOM league, I was looking for Dave not knowing he had died. I got hold of the lady who got his old telephone number. When I called she wanted to know why I was inquiring about Dave. One thing led to another and we became friends. She put up the money for the publication of my first book about the KOM league. Her name was Maxine Dunham. Hope this stuff isn’t boring you

 

Pfeiffer’s reply

 

Not at All. I knew Kid, Dave and Carney well. They all died in Fort Scott/Mound City area. Very close friends and on the bowling team of mine for many, many years.

 

Thank you for your information.

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Comment on an umpire and vote to keep going

 

In the previous edition of this publication a segment which I figured was a “throw away” because it dealt with umpires was spotted by a former umpire.

 

Here is the unedited letter.

 

“John—Your column about old umpires rang a bell.

 

When I was at George Barr’s School in the spring of 1950—at the old age of 17—it seems that Spellum was the name of one of the students.

 

‘Laughing Boy’ Roberts was one of the instructors.

 

‘Twas a long time ago. I may have the roster of that school her if I can uncover it.

 

I well remember we had two Army veterans there who were umpires assigned to Special Services—and both had been on the Bataan Death March.

 

They taught us to play ‘hearts’—a game they played for 4 years in a Japanese prison campo—using cigarette papers as cards. They were phenomenal in analyzing others playing styles. And they hated McArthur.

 

It was quite a life lesson for a 17-year-old out of the state for the 1st time.

 

Keep on with ‘Flash Reports.’ They make one day a month worthwhile.

 

I’m still doing 5 columns a week and a slave to the effort. I should quit but, like you, I can’t.” Clark

 

Ed note: That is Clark as in Bill Clark former umpire, scout, world traveler and still author of his own website.

 

Ed comment:

 

Every umpire signed to umpire in the KOM league, for 1950, were rookies. They had either graduated from the Bill McGowan or George Barr umpiring schools in Florida.

 

Former Iola Indian first baseman, Bob Schwarz sent this note. “John, according to his obit, Nat Epstein, the ump, was younger than was I when he was doing it in the KOM League. Tell me, are arbiters of the game “allowed’ to be younger than the players they are arbitering (sp)? That said, a GREAT FLASH REPORT.”

 

Ed comment:

 

It was obvious that Schwarz was speaking about the article on Orville Eckstine when he referred to him as “Nat Epstein.” That caused me to take another look at the genealogy of umpire Eckstine and all the generations before him spelled the name as Eckstein. His obituary mentioned he was raised by his single father. That caused me to look for the death of his mother but she lived until 1971. Her life is interesting in that by the start of WW II, or shortly afterward, she moved to California. She is buried in a military cemetery as she enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps in 1945.

 

Well, who said doing research on umpires isn’t interesting? From that seldom seen and expensive book “Majoring in the Minors,” and now updated on the KOM league database, here are the 1950 KOM League umpires by name, age and place of birth.

 

Donald Nathaniel Spellum, 21, Coon Valley, Wisc.

Richard Allen Boll 28, Waukee, Iowa

William David Kissinger 26, Anthon, Iowa

Irvin Hayden 28, Edgerton, Missouri. Living at Atwood, Kans. by 1950

Donald Earl Flecky 22, Council Bluffs, Iowa

Casimir Joseph Kuk 27, South Bend, Indiana

Paul Zane Orr 33, born in Missouri but living in Buffalo, NY by 1950

Nicholas L. Najjar 32, Boston, Mass. (Former Iola and Bartlesville pitcher)

Walter C. Quinn 37, Boston, Mass.

 

Umpires added later in season or filled in on emergency basis:

 

David D. Crockett, 40 Afton, Okla.

 

James Carl “Zeke” Johnson. Age unknown. Worked a late May series with Iola/Independence He was a fixture in amateur baseball in the KOM area. He once lived at Baxter Springs, Kansas. He was living in Fayetteville, Ark. in 1953 and that is the last trace of him from my perspective.

 

Horace James “Bucky” Walters 43, Neosho, Missouri Worked for Santa Fe Railroad and lived in Pittsburg, Kans. in 1950. Only umpired home games for Pittsburg.

 

Max Eugene Rose 21, Alba, Missouri. Umpired again in 1951.

 

All of the aforementioned umpires are now deceased.

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A much honored former KOM leaguer

 

Once upon a time, that time being the summer of 1950, a young man not versed in the way of college sports, headed west from Buffalo, Missouri. His destination was Iola, Kansas where he signed a contract to play for Earl Sifers, Iola Indians.

 

Iola was to be a place to play a little baseball prior to the young man entering college and playing intercollegiate sports. Fortunately, the Buffalo native kept his ears open that evening and learned that anyone signing a pro contract to play baseball was ineligible to play the game in college.

 

In his only game, in uniform, the young man couldn’t wait to get to Sifers office the next morning and beg the owner to tear up the contract and never report that he had signed. That obviously worked for the young man attended Northeastern College in Tahlequah, Okla. and was “scott free” or so he thought. During his tenure at Northeastern he heard the news that a former KOM league umpire was also enrolled there and he feared Eldon Bushong might recognize his name and report him to the school officials. Many years later I reminded the Buffalo boy that Bushong came two years after he spent his one night on the Iola bench and there was no way he would have any knowledge of that event.

 

By “purists” standards, Joe Gilbert, was never an official KOM leaguer for he never entered a game. However, he became a fixture at KOM league events and was always delayed a day or so in getting there due to his coaching duties. It was sort of a routine that a KOM league reunion wasn’t officially started until he arrived

 

In recent days Gilbert sent a note asking that his e-mail address be changed. In looking at his note I discovered that he has been honored, once more, for his outstanding feats in a coaching career that has lasted for 65 years at Barnsdall, Oklahoma. He has a big event on June 30 in Indianapolis, Indiana and this link explains it along with a picture of the guy who “got out of Iola” just in time.

 

mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox?compose=GTvVlcSGKZSvXpLGm...

 

Longtime Barnsdall coach Joe Gilbert will be inducted into the NFHS National High School Hall of Fame, it was announced Tuesday.

 

Gilbert, 86, started his career at Barnsdall in 1954 and is in his 65th year of coaching, with more than 3,900 wins in six varsity sports.

 

Last summer, he received the Blue Cross Blue Shield Lifetime Achievement Award during the Tulsa World’s 2018 All-World Awards Banquet.

 

Gilbert has coached baseball, girls and boys basketball, fastpitch and slowpitch softball and even guided the Barnsdall football program for one season.

 

He guided the Panthers to a Class A state title in baseball in 1980 and a 2A title in slowpitch softball in 2013. He went into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1981.

 

The induction ceremony is June 30 at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, Indiana, part of the National Federation’s summer convention. — Mike Brown, Tulsa World

 

Ed comment:

 

While the previous link tells a little about Gilbert’s accomplishments I think the following link better depicts the success he has had in coaching. One thing that stands out to me is that he was satisfied with his station in life. www.google.com/search?q=joe+gilbert+barnsdall+oklahoma

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That is all for now.

 

In the words of the late Jack Buck “Thanks for your time, this time and until next time, so long.”

 

Done