KOM league Flash Report for 10/11/2019

The KOM League

Flash Report

For

10/11/2019

 

This report can be accessed by going to: www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/48880633756/

Earlier in the week 18 pots of flowers, placed on the deck railing, were removed. To celebrate a Cooper’s Hawk came by to sit on the railing and eat his lunch. It was gray squirrel ala carte. He ate every bit of it.

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Death of Lester Littlefield

 

Many years ago, like 68, I met and got to know the fellow who wrote, using this name. His greatest work of literature was entitled “The Laments of Lester Littlefield.”

 

As a keepsake for his six children he documented his life from birth in Iron Mountain, Michigan to his “golden years” in Saddle Ridge, Wisconsin and Alamo, Texas.

 

Littlefield was an athlete who signed on with the Chicago Cubs in 1950 and headed off to Carthage, Missouri in both 1950 and 1951. It would be great to share all the stories of the missive he wrote for his children. He once told me he had six children, four of whom turned out to be lawyers but in spite of that he still loved them.

 

As a 10-year old batboy for the 1951 Carthage Cubs it was my “honor” to be asked by Littlefield to join him and Don Biebel to do some infield practice. Littlefield chose to play shortstop; he placed me on second base and Biebel at first. This was great; I was playing with real pros. Well, that was my plan. Littlefield acted as if he had just fielded a ground ball at his position and threw it to me about 25 feet away. Never had I backed down from a throw and I stood my ground, for a brief time. The ball thrown by Littlefield knocked the glove off my left hand and sent it flying into short right field and my 75 pound frame wasn’t far behind. To my recollection no throw was ever made to Biebel and that was the last time I ever got in front of anything Littlefield threw.

 

While Littlefield threw right-handed he swung from the left side of the plate and did well at Carthage and also in subsequent years at Sioux Falls, Texas City and Albuquerque. Many times I have said that Littlefield was the best player Carthage ever had that didn’t make it to the major leagues. He wound up being the player the New York Giants traded to the Washington Senators for the ‘legendary’ Carlos Paula.

 

Why Littlefield never made it to the big leagues could be attributed to an incident at Texas City, in 1955. Here is the story in his own words.

 

Texas City, Texas was in the Big State League. We drove along the gulf to Texas City and there rented a motel room with a kitchenette complete with cockroaches. Texas City had gained some fame when it was virtually blown off the map in the forties. The story makes interesting reading, if you ever have the opportunity. Texas City was in the process of building a new ball park, which was not ready at the start of the season, therefore, we were scheduled to be on the road for the first month.

 

Until the season started, we practiced on a little field at one of the refineries. The manager was Bones Saunders (sp), who had a cup of coffee in the major leagues and had played in the Pacific Coast League. (Ed note: This was Malone Battle “Bones” Sanders. He played at Carthage, Missouri in 1941 when they were in the Western Association and managed at Independence, Kans. two different times in 1948 and 1950. He never played in the major leagues.)

 

Sanders was somewhat of a clown, not much of a manager and not a very nice person. (Ed note: A number of the members of the Independence Yankees have revealed those same sentiments.) We practiced for about a week with the pitchers throwing from about 50 feet—there wasn’t any mound. Of course, the pitchers looked great and the hitters looked terrible, but Sanders evidently did not realize the situation.

 

We opened in Galveston and I was not even in the starting lineup. Evidently, I wasn’t good enough in the manager’s estimation to be a starting outfielder; yet I ended up leading the league in hitting. As mentioned, we were scheduled to be on the road for the first month and rather than have Mom sit in Texas City for thirty six days, we packed our things in the Ford and took to the road. The ball club would pay our room, but I had to pay the gas and her meals. When we returned, we rented a brand new apartment with air conditioning and no cockroaches.

 

When I came out of service the Giants had given me a minimal contract, promising a new one if things went well and I could make the ball club; therefore, shortly into the season, (I was already leading the league in hitting) I went to the General Manager, Joe Boughton, and asked if he understood that I was to get a new contract. He was a good General Manager, very knowledgeable and a fine person. He said, “I understand that you are due a new contract, but I have a proposition for you. We, Texas City, understand that you are here in payment for Tony Taylor, whom we sold to the Giants.” (Taylor went to the Giants, the to the Cubs and spent a number of years in the Majors.) “You are payment for him. It is clear that we are going to have a chance to sell you to any one of a number of clubs that are much interested in you—particularly the Yankees. I’ll make a deal with you. It you want a new contract and a couple hundred dollars a month more, alright; but why don’t we do this—whatever we sell you for, we will split the money.” The figure he mentioned was $80,000. That sounded good to me so I played the rest of the year under the original contract.

 

We had a good ball club and battled Corpus Christi for first place throughout the year. Toward the end of the year, we were in Corpus and defeated them in the first game of the series to take over first place. A league meeting was being held in Corpus at the same time. Joe Boughton, our GM, was attending the meeting took in the first game of the series.

 

Even though the league meeting was over, he decided to stay for the second game. About midnight, following the first fame, a number of us were playing cards, as often happened on the road. Joe Boughton stopped by the room to say goodnight, indicating he planned on riding the team but to the park the next day. He then retired to his room.

 

No one knew, nor did he say, that he was an epileptic. Because he had not planned staying over, he had not brought his medication with him. The next day as the team bus was about to depart for the ball park, someone happened to mention, “I thought Joe was going to go with us.” An investigation led to Joe’s hotel room. Rigor mortis had started to set in. Evidently, soon after retiring, he had suffered a seizure and died. It was so sad—32 years old, a lovely wife and two children. He had so much going for him. In addition, this would have a great effect on my personal life. Would our agreement survive his death?

 

When we returned to Texas City, I went to the owner of the ball club and asked it was aware of the deal. He said he was. A week or so later, I was in the dressing room before a night game when a couple of players with a newspaper in hand came to me and said, “Congratulations!” The paper had a headline reading” “VANDEHEY TO GO TO DALLAS—TEXAS CITY TO RECEIVE SIX PLAYERS. I got a sick feeling because Dallas was a top Giant farm club and I knew I was back in the Giant organization.

 

I immediately went to Derrest Williams, the owner. He said, Van I didn’t want to do this, but the Giants told me unless I returned you to their system, I would never be able to field another ball club.” They thoroughly scared him and sweetened the pot. They sent six players to become the property of Texas City from the Giant system. Granted, they were probably not Major League prospects, but they would be ball players that would help Texas City. The bottom line, after playing the season for ‘peanuts,’ I went to Dallas and instead of $40,000 and a new organization, I remained in the Giant organization, which in the 1950’s was overloaded with outstanding players. I was back in an organization, which gave me the ‘opportunity’ the following spring to go to Sanford, Florida, where Minneapolis of the American Association and Dallas of the Texas League had four first basemen in camp—Willie McCovey (he’s a Hall of Famer), Orlando Cepeda (he’s a Hall of Famer), Bill White, who became President of the National League and played for many years with the St. Louis Cardinals and will be in the Hall of Fame and Len Vandehey (the jury is still out on his credentials).

 

So instead of being in an organization where the path to the Major’s might be wide open, I was back in the Giant organization. I didn’t have any money. I led the league in hitting by 20 point and I was probably the lowest paid regular in the league. Well so be it.

 

During the year at Texas City, we lived in a nice apartment and met some good friends. Mom had taken up knitting—making clothes for herself and the kids as they appeared. We were ‘expecting’ sometime in November.

 

That concludes the segment from Littlefield’s season at Texas City in 1955. Prior to that time he had played at Janesville, Wisc., Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Carthage, Missouri. Then for two years he played and managed teams at both Goodland, Kansas and Ft. Carson, Colorado during his time in the Army. As the playing manager he had a number of guys in his charge whose names were pretty well known in baseball. The most notable was Yankee second baseman, Billy Martin.

 

It would be great to share more about Littlefield but time and space are both limited. For the past couple of years I was aware that he was in a losing battle with the ravages of Alzheimer’s. His companion kept me posted and in turn I kept his former Carthage Cub teammates in the loop. On October 5 an early morning e-mail brought this news,. “He passed away yesterday- I might have let you know or you knew it wouldn’t be long.”

 

Of course, Lester Littlefield was the pen name for Leonard Elmer VanDeHey.

 

Leonard E. VanDeHey

 

www.legacy.com/obituaries/marshfieldnewsherald/obituary.a...

 

Portage - Leonard E. VanDeHey (87) of Portage WI and formerly of Elroy, WI passed away on October 4, 2019, in Ashtabula OH surrounded by family and in the care of hospice.

 

Len, also known as Van or Buster, was born on April 1, 1932, in Iron Mountain MI to Leonard and Ione (Carpenter) VanDeHey. Born an "April Fool," he was witty and had an impish sense of humor until the end.

 

Len was an exceptional athlete. He kicked a state record 58-yard drop-kick field goal for Loyal High School in 1948. After turning down a football scholarship to UW-Madison, Len was a professional baseball player in the minor leagues from 1950-1952 and 1955-1958. He played baseball, football, and basketball while serving in the Army during 1953 and 1954, and in 1955 led the Big Sky League in batting average (.377). Len attended UW-Eau Claire on the G.I. Bill from 1957-1961, where he played basketball for three seasons and set every major rebounding record at the school.

 

Len married Joan Catanzar on September 11, 1954, in Indianapolis IN. After graduating from college, he enjoyed a long and distinguished career in secondary education. Len taught history and a wide range of social studies courses at Dor-Abby High School in Abbotsford WI, Loyal High School in Loyal WI, and for many years at Royall High School in Elroy. Len was also the head football coach at Dor-Abby, the head basketball coach at Loyal, and the head football and golf coach at Royall. He was an avid golfer, a vocal bridge player, and an enthusiastic sharer of opinions.

 

Len was preceded in death by his beloved wife Joan (in 1993) and son Michael (in 2005); his parents; and siblings Lawrence, Frank, Sister Marietta, and Jimmy. He is survived by his loving companion Katharine Finck of Portage WI; his children David (Cathy) of Ashtabula OH, Lynn (John) Barr of Roseburg OR, Robert (Mary) of Lancaster WI, Karl (Liza) of Shorewood WI, and Peggy (Mark) VanRumppe of Brecksville OH; twelve grandchildren and one great-grandchild; his siblings Donald (Shirley), Margaret (Tom) Kraus, Milly Schill, and Mickey (Roberta); and numerous nieces and nephews.

 

The family has designated the American Cancer Society for memorial contributions. A private service will be held at a later date. The family extends its thanks to all of the professionals in the Dean Healthcare system in Wisconsin and the Hospice of the Western Reserve in Ohio for their care and compassion.

Published in the Marshfield News Herald from Oct. 8 to Oct. 11, 2019

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Dale Lober-1950 Carthage Cubs

 

www.everhere.com/us/obituaries/il/chillicothe/dale-e-lobe...

 

CHILLICOTHE, Illinois - Dale E. Lober, age 93, a well-loved teacher and coach of Chillicothe, passed away on Friday, March 1, 2019, surrounded by his family.

 

Dale was born on January 19, 1926, in Cissna Park, IL, to Edward and Rosella (Roll) Lober. He married Geraldine Northrup on August 9, 1952, in Chillicothe.

 

Surviving are his wife, Geraldine; his daughters, Lisa (Michael) Kemmer of Washington, IL, Connie Lober of Chillicothe, IL, and Trish Lober of Antioch, TN; three grandchildren, Kirsten Burrow of Washington, IL, Kristopher (Emily) Kemmer of Henderson, NV, and Kassidy (Darren) Cherrington of Davis Junction, IL; and his eight great-grandchildren. Also surviving is his brother, Arlyn (Maureen) Lober of Springfield, IL.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents and one granddaughter.

 

Dale was a Physical Education and Driver's Education teacher for Chillicothe High School and Illinois Valley Central High School, as well as the baseball and basketball coach and Athletic Director. He retired from teaching and coaching in 1983. During his retirement, he was in advertising and sales for the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce and for Chuck Rolinski in Toluca, IL.

 

Dale was a U.S. Navy World War II veteran. He was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria and a member of the American Legion Post 9 for over 70 years. He was a member of the Illinois High School Baseball Association and was inducted into the IHSA Baseball Coach Hall of Fame. He was also a lifelong Cubs fan. Dale will be greatly missed by his family and friends as well as the many lives he touched.

 

The family would like to thank the staff of Transitions Hospice and Heritage Manor for the loving care shown to Dale.

 

A service will be held Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at noon at Weber-Hurd Funeral Home in Chillicothe. A private burial will be at Chillicothe City Cemetery, immediately following services.

 

Memorials may be made to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Online condolences may be made through www.weberhurdfuneralhome.com.

 

Ed comment:

 

Dale graduated from the University of Illinois, in 1952, with a degree in physical education. He coached high school athletics for many years. He was a pitcher, briefly, for the 1950 Carthage, Mo. Cubs.

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Are photos preferable?

 

When messing around on the Internet, recently, “KOM League obituaries” was entered. Then, I clicked on images and found scores of photos related to the KOM League, most from obituaries. that have been posted over the years by Your's truly. What you do does come back to haunt you.

 

You can start at the beginning of the posted photos and most of the first 40 are KOM affiliated. Check them out and see how many you recognize. Some are of players, their wives, umpires or even one of an old batboy. After you locate Joe Stanka and Mickey Mantle you can stop.

www.legacy.com/obituaries/marshfieldnewsherald/obituary.a...

 

If anyone wants the KOM identity of all those faces make your request by doing so on the back of a gold or silver certificate and rush it to the” John Hall Widows and Orphans Fund.” If the previously mentioned bills are not in your wallet a Federal Reserve Note will suffice.

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A question about the MLB playoffs

 

From a reader in Austin, Texas--What say you now Old Man? Are you allowed to talk about & watch the Cardinals now? dave

 

Reply:

 

No. I'm still in silence mode. This you might not believe but I would swear to it on our mutual friend Neil's grave. I was laying down when the Cardinals/Braves finale started. My laptop was beside me and I saw that the time was a little after 4:00 p. m. More than I needed to sleep I needed to eat. I thought to myself the game has started and the Cardinals probably scored 10 runs in the first inning. Now, remember, I'm swearing this on our late friend's grave. I hadn't turned on anything to which I could receive communication about the game. While getting my supper ready I decided to open the I-pad and see how bad the Cardinals were being taken. The first thing I saw was the game was in the top of the first inning and the score was 10-0 I figured my less than 20/20 eyesight was playing tricks on me and that the score was probably 0-0. Casually, I went to the bedroom where my wife was watching a Jeopardy re-run and asked if she could turn on TBS to check the score. At the precise moment that channel appeared on the screen Yadier Molina grounded out to third base to end the top half of the first. The announcer said "Mercifully, for the Braves the top of the inning is over," or something to that effect. I was stunned. Never in my life have I predicted anything and been correct except when Carlos Martinez comes in to close a game for the Cardinals and it is a cinch nothing positive will happen for the Cardinals without a bunch of negatives first transpiring.

 

Of course, I can't share this story in my Flash Report for most of the readers would accuse me of making up another whopper. I have only shared this story with one of my best friends from childhood, my son-in-law and former big league scout, Bill Clark who at one time was the chief international ivory hunter for the Braves. A couple of those with whom that incident was shared asked that I select the lottery numbers for them this week.

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Only five remain.

 

This message was received on October 5 from baseball expert, Bill Carle. “My uncle, Don Womack, batboy for Iola in the KOM League, died yesterday in Phoenix, Arizona.

 

Donald Womack was born December 20, 1933. By 1946 he became the batboy for the Iola, Kansas Cubs and held that position through the 1948 season.

 

Womack had a sister Rose, about four years older, and she became the queen of the Iola Cubs in 1947. Later she married a gentleman with the last name of Carle and that is how Bill eventually became the messenger for the news of the passing of one of the longest tenured batboy’s in KOM league history.

 

Many years ago Womack was contacted by former Iola pitcher, Hal Brydle, and that was the source that made it possible for me to contact the old batboy. He shared photos of his time as batboy with Iola which included the 1946-47-48 seasons. He shared the batboy duties with Scott Mann in 1947. The most interesting comment he made was that he was given a brand new baseball prior to each home game. That was an unheard of practice in that era for a dozen baseballs were worth more than most any ballplayer in the sight of management. It is also surprising Womack received such a gift for the owner of the Iola club, Earl Sifers, was known for pinching pennies.

 

Womack left Iola after graduating from high school and moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma where he was married in 1956. He spent some time in Wichita working for Boeing Aircraft before moving to Corona, California and then on to Phoenix where he operated a construction company for 50 years.. Unfortunately, an obituary hasn’t appeared with regard to his death, as yet. However, he died October 4 just like Leonard VanDeHey mentioned earlier in this report.

 

In mentioning the death of Womack it gives me the chance to say “KOM League batboys are a dying breed.” Well, that applies to the five who remain. One batboy, Richard Spradlin of the 1949 Ponca City Dodgers, has never been located or his fate determined.

 

When Larry Flottman, Bill Froman, Dan Dollison, Scott Mann and the guy writing this report leave the scene there will have to be another former something or another to come along to pen these missives. Flottman was at Iola in 1952, Mann- co batboy Iola in 1947, Dollison-Independence 1949, Froman-Miami Blues 1946, Scott Mann-Iola 1947 and old “grumpy,” in 1951, for the Carthage Cubs.

 

 

Done