The KOM League Flash Report for June 10, 2021 Hank Chott 1950

The KOM League

Flash Report

June 10, 2021

 

 

Go to this site for the latest KOM League Flash Report: www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/51136298245/

 

April 24, 2021 was the last time anyone has turned on the big computer at the KOM League office. On June 7 the owner of said computer attempted to turn it on and in so doing couldn’t remember how to use it. So, this is akin to learning to walk and talk once more.

 

What follows is a note from a California reader that inspired an attempt to piece together another report. “Hi John. Hope this message finds you happy and healthy. Haven’t received a new report from you in a while. Whether you are taking a well-deserved break, or maybe there is just nothing new to say, I just wanted you to know that some of us (at least me) miss hearing from you and haven’t forgotten about you. Many thanks for all that you have done. Enjoy your time off. “ Mark Santo (Son of the late Stan Santo of the 1951 Ponca City Dodgers.)

 

In the response to Santo he was informed that the recipient of his message had neither been healthy or happy for about a month. By asking he received some of the details. However, they won’t be shared in this report since most readers would either be bored or wouldn’t care all that much.

 

Whereas there hasn’t been a report for a few weeks, catching up on some obituaries will comprise the greater part of this missive.

 

Manuel Abril Obituary (2021) - Colton, CA - San Bernardino County Sun (legacy.com)

 

Manuel R. (Ed note: The “R” stood for Ruiz which was his mother’s maiden name) Abril, 89, loving father and grandfather, lifelong resident of Colton, CA, passed away April 23, 2021 of congestive heart failure at home. He was preceded in death by his parents Frank & Carmen Abril, brothers Frank and Arnold Abril and wife Frances Abril. He is survived by his twin brother Ernie Abril and five children: Manuel (Mooch) Abril, April Abril, Stephanie Gonzales, Ernest (Odie) Abril, Franses Homsi, 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He was a graduate of Colton High School class of 1951. He signed and played professional baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates Organization for a year before being called to duty. He served 2 years with the U.S. Army in the Korean War. After service he resumed his baseball career for another 2 years, playing in the Kansas-Oklahoma Missouri League and the Texas League in Mexico. After his career he returned home, married and raised a family. He coached baseball for many years. First with the Catholic Youth Baseball League in San Bernardino and at Ken Hubbs Little League in Colton. Dad touched many lives. He retired from Smith Packing House in Colton. He worked for The City of Colton Community Services Parks & Recreation Department and retired after 25 years in 1994. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Church. He will be laid to rest on May 20, 2021. Services will be held at Immaculate Conception Church in Colton. Rosary at 10:30am, Mass to follow at 11:00am. Interment at Hermosa Cemetery in Colton.

 

Ed note:

 

Emmanuel and Ernesto Abril were one of three sets of twins to play in the KOM league and all did it in 1952. The others were Ronald and Donald Saatzer with the Independence Browns and Gerald and Harold Crucani of the Blackwell Broncos.

 

A picture is worth a thousand words and in this case possibly many more. Take a gander at this link if you are interested in how the Abril brothers met probably the most famous woman in the world in 1953. www.google.com/search?q=manny+and+ernie+abril+marilyn+mon...

 

In every way the sights and sounds were different, in 1953, than they were in 1952 when the Abril twins were traveling to the bright lights of small towns in Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma.

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Death of a former member of the 1946 Chanute Owls.

www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/jasper-jay-bono-obituary?p...

 

Jasper Bono died on April 20th, 2021 at the Cottages at Shawnee, KS, at 9:48 p.m. of heart failure after living 97 amazing years.

 

Jasper (Jay) Bono was born in 1924 in St. Louis, Missouri in the Old Deaconess Hospital on Oakland Avenue. His parents were Joseph and Lena, (nee Biondo) Bono. Both his parents immigrated to the United States from Sicily Italy. His father, Joseph, immigrated first and lived in New York for a period of time then went back and got married to Lena and brought her back to the US and moved to St. Louis. They started their family and had 3 boys and 1 girl, Ben, Sam, Rosie and Jay. Jay was the youngest of his family.

 

He loved baseball and played stick ball during his childhood years in St. Louis. He attended Beaumont High School and later attend Hadley Vocational School. where he learned technical drawing. After vocational school he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 World War 2 and was honorably discharged in 1943 after getting very ill. From there he began his career at the Defense Mapping Agency. He worked for 3 years for the Defense Mapping Agency as a Cartographer, but the love of baseball was calling him.

 

Jay went to play ball from 1946-1948 and played for the Chanute Athletics in the KOM league in Kansas and KITL league in Illinois for the Fulton Chicks. He loved it and stayed with host families through those years of playing ball. Goldie Howard was a coach with the Chanute Athletics, and he always talked about Goldie used to call him Bosco Kid because he spiced things up. After playing in those two leagues, he tried out for the St. Louis Cardinals and made their minor league team with having pretty good stats and had a batting average of 290 but was offered a job back at the Defense Mapping Agency. Colonel Nugent at the Defense Mapping Agency liked my dad wanted him back, but he said once you leave again you can’t come back. Jay thought hard about the choice and he always said his dad said get a job with a retirement and baseball in those days wasn’t the big money it was today. He took the job at the mapping agency and worked there for an amazing career of 42 years. There he made maps for the different military service branches as well as NASA for various projects such as Apollo and Space Shuttle Missions before he retired for the first time. Later he was called back after to make maps for Desert Storm the old school way before they were fully were computerized. They need his drawing skills. He met Maxine Lee Miller at the start of his career in 1948 at the defense mapping agency in the Forest Park Highlands in the dance hall and danced his first dance with his wife to be to the Bumble Boggie by Jack Fina. From there they got married in 1949 and had 4 girls, Sandra, Cynthia, Susan and Christine. He loved his girls always and worked hard to provide awesome birthdays, holidays and family vacations in the family truckster station wagon. Plus, he was always faithful in taking his girls to church every Sunday through their growing up years.

 

Jay was married for 59 years to Maxine and was only two months shy of 60 years before her passing. During his retirement after all his girls grew up, he ushered for Costello’s Ushering Company and became a main stay at the Blues Hockey Suite at the Area, (The Old Barn). He got to meet Bob Costas and Dan Kelly which he thought was so cool. Go Blues! Then he ushered Cardinal Baseball and met Jack Buck, another even cooler moment, and Ram’s Football during their Super Bowl year. Which was amazing. Also, in his retirement he ventured down to Florida with Maxine to Disney World over 40 times. They loved their time down in Florida and at Disney in particular. Maxine worked for the Disney Store for 17 years and got amazing discounts. That was one of their happiest times and if their daughters could join them, they loved it even more. During the span of his long life of 97 years, he loved baseball and hardly ever missed a Cardinal game if he could help it. If it wasn’t on TV, he had his hand-held transistor radio tuned to KMOX listening to Jack Buck and Mike Shannon. Same goes for Blues Hockey. If he wasn’t ushering a game, he was watching them play on TV. Jay loved God, life, family and fun. He was the most happy chilling watching sports, eating some good food and taking a good snooze as he would say. He will be missed by all. Rest in peace Jay!

 

Predeceased by:

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Rosie and brothers Bennie and Sam and his beloved wife of almost 60 years Maxine.

 

Survivors:

Jay is survived by his daughter Christine and her husband Jerry and his granddaughter Hayley of Shawnee Kansas. his daughter Cynthia and Gary of Bonne Terre Missouri, daughter Susan and husband Pete of Imperial Missouri his daughter Sandra and husband Bruce and his granddaughters Mary and Melanie of Fenton Missouri.

 

Funeral service at the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Road at Holloway, Ballwin, Saturday, 2:00 p.m. Interment Bethel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to In lieu of flowers, go out in honor of Jay Bono and have dinner with that money. Enjoy family time. He would really like that. Visitation Saturday from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. Friends may sign the family’s on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.

 

Ed note:

 

Contact was made with Mr. Bono during the research of the KOM league and when conversing with him he was living in Owensville, Mo.. He extended a standing invitation to make the trip to his home for a visit but, unfortunately, that never happened. With his passing there remains only one member from the 1946 Chanute Owls and I’m not mentioning his name in this report due to the fear it might jinx him.

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Member of the 1948 Bartlesville Pirates

 

WILLIAM "BILL" DEE JARRETT, JR.

www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/21057270/William-Dee-Ja... There is photo on this link.

 

August 22, 1926 - May 8th, 2021

 

Bill was born in Spartanburg, SC over 94 years ago to William Dee (Red) Jarrett, Sr. and Josephine Frances (Foster). An only child, he was raised in West Tulsa and graduated from Webster High School in 1944, aspiring to be a professional athlete. He married the girl next door, Betty Lou McDowell in 1945 and served in the army stationed in the Philippines. They settled in Red Fork in Tulsa and raised two children, then later relocated to SW Tulsa to build the house on the hill. He was self-employed in two businesses, A/C-refrigeration and commercial water treatment.

 

In 1981, he married Kathryn Zoe Burke Walker and welcomed in her children and grandchildren. They enjoyed their golden years together and he took good care of her until her death in 2020. His many lifelong enjoyments included baseball and other sports, fishing, quail hunting, gardening, family reunions, and spending time in Peel, Arkansas. If anyone needed help, you could always call on him. He was a handyman, mechanic, do-it-yourselfer, and Mr.-fix-it.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents and wife Zoe. He is survived by his daughter Heather and son Cary; granddaughters Elizabeth and Amy and grandson Jason; and great-grandchildren She'la, Abbigayle, Elijah, and Philip. Also, stepdaughters Diane Tompkins and Beverly Wilson: stepsons Burke Walker and Blake Walker, 6 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

 

Papa was loved and will be missed.

 

Ed comment::

 

Contact was established with the deceased early in the effort to document the history of the KOM league. He was a catcher for the 1948 Bartlesville Pirates, briefly, and he didn’t have a lot of memories of the old league.

 

His obituary was found this past Memorial Day and the following was shared with Jack Morris of Baseball Necrology. It pretty much sums up my knowledge of the deceased. “I had a premonition about this guy in recent days, it turned out he died earlier this month about the same time I felt as though I was going to myself.

 

His dad played a lot of minor league ball in the 1920’s and later. The Jarrett’s were from Carl Junction, Mo. near the baseball town of Alba. The senior Jarrett was playing for Spartanburg, SC the year his son was born. They settled in Tulsa following the end of Jarrett Senior’s playing days.

 

I had been working on a story about the Jarrett’s just before getting whacked by the recent illness.”

 

digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll3/id/98771/... Baseball career of Jarrett Sr.

 

digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll3/id/83646/... Baseball career of Jarrett Jr.

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Alex Grieves.

 

Jack Morris of Baseball Necrology sent this note.

Unfortunately, I found another former KOM leaguer – Alex Grieves

www.kevinbrennanfamily.com/obituaries/Alexander-Grieves-2...

 

His wife died a couple of weeks later -https://www.kevinbrennanfamily.com/obituaries/Marjorie-Grieves/#!/Obituary

 

As it turned out Alex passed away in 2020 and his wife a year and two weeks later. This was my response to Morris. “I knew Marg as well and knew of her death. She and Alex spent their last days in. Topeka nursing home. Back to Alex and amateur baseball. He and Windy Johnson were from Burlingame, Kansas and knew each other very well. When Windy was named manager of the 1950 Iola Indians he offered Alex a chance to make the team. Having pitched for the Miami Owls in 1948 Alex was familiar with the KOM league. Alex refused the offer saying he could play amateur closer to home in Topeka. Alex was a prophet for the 1950 Iola club was one of the worst teams anywhere that year with nearby Chanute being just as futile.”

 

The Topeka Capital Journal obituary:

 

Alexander Junior Grieves, 93, passed away Tuesday, April 28, 2020.

Alex was born July 25, 1926, in Burlingame, Kansas, to Alexander Grieves and Thelma L. Russell Grieves.

 

He graduated from Burlingame High School in 1944. Alex served two years in the Navy as a Seabee in the Philippines. After his discharge from the service, he was a pitcher for the Topeka Owls of the Western Association League from 1948-1950.

 

Alex worked for the Topeka Air Force Depot and at DuPont for many years. He was also a sales manager for several trucking companies in Topeka.

 

He married Marjorie Zwonitzer June 14, 1952. They had two sons, Kevin Dean and Brad Alexander. They spent their married life in Topeka and upon retirement traveled to Arizona and Texas to spend their winters.

 

Alex was a member of Hope Lutheran Church and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. He was also a member of the Topeka Officials Association and spent many nights and weekends officiating high school and college football and basketball. Some memorable stories came from his officiating travels. Alex also enjoyed coaching his sons' baseball and basketball teams as they grew up.

 

Alex was an avid golfer. He had two holes-in-one and played well into his eighties. While in his eighties he twice scored his age in a round.

 

He dearly loved country dancing with Marge and the pair could burn up the dance floor. He also loved gardening and grilling and his family was quick to ask why they didn't get an invite to the steak dinners he made the two of them though occasionally he caved and invited his "crew".

 

He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Barbara Tindell. His wife, Marge, died May 11, 2021.

 

He is survived by his sons, Kevin (Jane) and Brad (Pam) of Auburn, KS; five grandchildren, Kyle (Megan) Grieves of Kathleen, GA, Ryan (Kelli) Grieves of St. George, KS, Kimberly Grieves (Shaun McLean) of Frisco, TX, Cole (Alex) Grieves of Manhattan, KS, and Rachel Grieves of Topeka, KS; and five great grandsons, Eli, Joel, Leo, Luke and Laine Grieves.

 

Visitation is set for Sunday, June 6th from 5-7pm at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. A dual Celebration of Life for Marge and Alex will be Monday, June 7th at 10am at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, followed by a family graveside service at the Burlingame Cemetery.

 

Baseball career:

www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=grieve...

digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll3/id/67400/...

 

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Charles Key

 

memorials5.frontrunnerpro.com/memorials/charles-key/41272... Photo is included in the link.

 

Charles Henry Key, 88, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, passed away on Thursday, February 27, 2020 in Pryor. He was born on August 4, 1931 in Rogers, Arkansas; the son of Henry Newton and Winnie Marie (Hampton) Key. He was raised mostly by his Uncle Louis and Aunt Eulalia Corrall of Garden City, Kansas. Charles married Wilma Marie Galliart in 1950 and they were married 61 years, until her passing in 2011.

 

After graduating from Garden City High School in 1949 Charles was attending Junior College when two major league scouts from the baseball teams Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Red Sox came to look at him. Named as the Southpaw Pitching Ace, Charles signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950. Charles worked as a self – employed contractor most of his life. He wrote two books on the Winchester Model 61 Rifle with the first edition being a sell out the first year. These books have been shipped to people all over the world. Charles enjoyed his hobby of being a Winchester collector and he and his wife turned it into an eBay business. He loved attending or just watching KU Basketball and OU football games. He was a master of puzzles. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

 

Charles is survived by his son, Larry Key and wife Maria of Bixby, Oklahoma; a daughter, Jackie Weaver and husband Doug of Pryor, Oklahoma; three grandchildren, Jason Key of La Junta, Colorado, Jacqueline Hill and husband Tyler of Sunnyvale, Texas, and Kyle Weaver and wife Courtney of Yukon, Oklahoma; two great grandchildren, Tadem Key Hill and Adeline Michelle Hill. He is also survived by a brother-in-law Willie Galliart of Hutchinson, Kansas; 3 sisters-in-laws MaryAnn Ricketts of Sublette, Kansas, Renie Quint and Shirley Nuzum both of Garden City, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, the Corrall's and brother-in-law Richard Galliart.

 

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Shipman’s Funeral & Cremation Service.

 

Ed comment:

 

In the obituary it is mentioned that Mr. Key was scouted by both the Red Sox and Dodgers. Bert Wells was the man who signed most of the Dodger players out of Western Kansas and I can’t imagine the Red Sox had much of a presence there. Actually, it is my best guess that the Red Sox had their bird dog, Joe Becker, looking at the lefthanded pitcher.

 

With the passing of Charlie Key there are seven members of that 1950 championship team still with us. They live in Colorado, Arkansas, two in Texas, two in Kansas and one in California. Their names are Harry Crandall, Gary Donald Anderson, Luther John Burleson, Ernest Jordan, Clyde Girrens, Loren Doll and Roger Rossier.

 

This is the profile of Charlie Key’s career in baseball or better stated “The Brooklyn Dodger Minor League Shuffle.” digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll3/id/116528...

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Hank Chott

 

Over a month has transpired since the promise to write about the late Hank Chott was made. Some things have happened, in the meantime, and still no write-up. Since it has to be done right or not at all, the plans are to work on that subject for the next report. Had he still been living encouragement would be forthcoming to keep the Flash Report project going. He was a huge fan of these reports and since that placed him in a category of “a select few” he is owed a nice tribute.

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A book forthcoming.

 

Fear not, the subject of this section doesn't imply that a fellow who has written three non-bestsellers is attempting a fourth tome.

 

In the past month this old guy was contacted by a person writing the official autobiography of a former KOM leaguer. All that is being revealed is the subject of the book was one of the 33 fellows who played in the league who wound up in the majors. He spent a whole lot of time playing, managing and coaching in both the American and National leagues.

 

It wouldn’t take a genius to surmise who that person might be but since I jinx most everything I’m not revealing that person’s name or the author. When the book hits the street all the pertinent information will be revealed and the reader will be apprised on the way to receive a copy of the autobiography.

 

Contact was made with the old batboy for his input about the person who is the subject of the book and the general conditions under which guys played back in the days of the KOM league.

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This is the end

 

Preparing this report was a difficult task as figuring out how to turn on the computer was tough and it got more difficult as each task such as cut and past was attempted. Sometimes it took a dozen attempts before success was attained.

 

If this report makes sense to you that would come as a surprise. It you run into something that makes as much sense as taking a shower wearing a raincoat, send along your question for clarification.

 

 

 

Done