KOM League Flash Report for 10/11/2021

The KOM League

Flash Report

for

10/11/2021

 

 

With the passage of a few weeks, without sharing a Flash Report, it was decided that an attempt should be made to write one to prove to myself that it is still possible. Now that the attempt has been made it is up to the readership to see if the decision to do so is worth their time. To check on it go to: www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/51578375103/

 

 

Unfortunately, the majority of items coming to my attention deal with former players having had their final birthday.

 

Edward Morgenthaler-1949 Chanute, Kansas Athletics

www.schrader.com/obituary/ed-morgenthaler (St. Louis, MO)

 

Morgenthaler, Ed, born May 27, 1929, passed peacefully at home on September 29, 2021.

Beloved husband of Catherine Morgenthaler who passed away June 3, 1973, and Oretta Morgenthaler who passed away May 8, 2012. Devoted father of daughter, Rita Marsh (Dave) and son, Edward Morgenthaler (Paula). Loving grandfather of Jennifer Marsh, Thomas Marsh, John Marsh, Howard Morgenthaler and Sean Morgenthaler.

 

Our father had a large, quiet, stoic presence about him. A person regarded and respected by all as a man of honor and faith. He spoke without speaking. All the while, he lived an incredible journey wrapped around athletics, service to his country, law enforcement and family.

 

A member of the McBride High School Sports Hall of Fame and four-time medal winner at the International Police Olympics; he signed with the New York (San Francisco) Giants organization at the age of 16. Later he served four years as a MP in the United States Air Force where he was stationed in Europe as a member of the Armed Forces European Baseball Team. A graduate of the FBI Academy, he spent over 35 years in the Clayton Police Department many of which under the rank of Captain. Nothing made our dad happier than just enjoying a cold beer while taking in a game with family and friends.

 

Services: Funeral Mass at Christ Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Monday, October 18, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. Interment at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to American Heart Association. Friends may sign the family’s on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.

 

On the following two links are “posed” and “casual photos of the 1949 Chanute Athletics in which Mr. Morgenthaler appears.

www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/20215377659/

www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/42418276610/

In order to find out where Mr. Morgenthaler is in those two photos the narrative below that photo in a long ago Flash Report will have to be perused.

 

Although communication with Morgenthaler was not as voluminous as with some former players he always notified me of former KOM leaguers in the St. Louis metro area who passed away.

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Richard McCoy- 1948-49 Ponca City Dodgers

roedermortuary.com/richard-c-mccoy-sr/

 

Richard Carl “Dick” McCoy, Sr., 92 years of age. Dick was born the only child to Carl and Irene McCoy on September 7, 1929. He attended grade school in Omaha and graduated from Omaha North High School in 1947. Dick was very active in sports, playing baseball and basketball.

 

He married his high school sweetheart Molly Steck on February 6, 1949. Dick played professional AAA baseball with the Dodger organization. He played in the first game held at Rosenblatt Stadium in1948 and was honored at the last game in 2010. In 1956, Dick joined the Omaha Fire Department where he retired as a Captain in 1986. After retiring, he worked part-time at Wynne Transport, which was owned by Don Wynne, a grade school friend.

 

He cherished his grandchildren and always gave them advice and $20 for tacos. “Accuracy, Not Speed” was one of his reminders to them.

 

Dick and Molly enjoyed many family vacations, camping and gardening. They enjoyed RV traveling with their friends and grandkids and made several trips to Lopez Island, WA to see their son Rick and his family.

 

Dick was quite a historian with many baseball stories and memorabilia. They traveled to KOM baseball reunions to reunite with former players.

 

Tiger Tom’s Pub is where you would find Dick and Molly. Chatting with friends and playing Keno. The staff and customers always enjoy Molly’s baked goods.

 

We are grateful to the doctors and nurses at UNMC and the staff at Hillcrest Hospice who guided his care so his wish to remain at home could be fulfilled.

 

Preceded in death by parents, Earl “Carl” and Irene McCoy. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 72 years, Molly. Sons Rick (Marge) McCoy, Lopez Island WA. Marc (Jodi) McCoy, Bennington NE. Daughter Vicki (Steve) Jensen of Omaha.

 

Grandchildren, Doug (Heidi) Taylor, Burien, WA, Megan McCoy, Lopez Island, WA,

Evan (Cambree) McCoy, Everett, WA, Jared (Alyse) Jensen, Omaha, NE, Jenna Jensen, Lincoln, NE, Heather McCoy, Omaha, NE, Colton McCoy, USMC Cherry Point, NC.

 

Great-grandchildren, Carson McCoy, Beckham Jensen, Montgomery Jensen, Jaia Merriam.

In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Northwest Hills Church. Visitation 5-7PM Friday (10/8/21) at Roeder Mortuary, 2727 N. 108th St. Funeral Service 10AM Saturday (10/9/21) at Northwest Hills Church, 9334 Fort St.

 

Comments:

 

Thanks John You are great seeing so many of our friends go to the better place and we all will join them some day. Dick and I where so lucky to have each other for so long but it is really heard o say goodbye for awhile but I will meet him again. Thank you again for your kind words. Molly McCoy

 

Ed comment:

Note from Molly McCoy which had to be difficult to write. If I was up to the drive I’d attend the funeral. Dick would have done the same for me.

 

I mentioned to Molly that we hadn’t seen each other since the 60th wedding anniversary celebration. That was the reason for the 72 years plus statement.

 

Dick had many close friends but the two closest were Pepper Martin and Boyd Bartley.

Both were his managers but what really formed the bond was their love of fishing.

 

Jack Morris—Baseball necrologist

 

I’m sorry to bring you the news of Dick McCoy’s death. Since it specifically mentions traveling to the KOM League reunions in his obituary, I’m sure you know him quite well.

Jack Morris

 

Note to Boyd Bartley’s daughter

 

Judith, I know of no other former Ponca City Dodger who liked your dad as much as Dick McCoy did. I think being fellow fishermen helped. Judith Fisher—Daughter of the late Boyd Bartley.

 

Ed comments

 

Since the inception of writing about the KOM league contact has been constant between the McCoy family and Yours truly. Dick and Molly shared many photos of the early days of the Ponca City Dodgers and had great stories to back them up.

 

Whenever there was a KOM league event you could count on the McCoy’s to be there to reunite with a very close knit of Dick’s former teammates. Looking back I believe the teams managed by Boyd Bartley kept in contact more-so that any other organization represented in the KOM league with the Independence Yankees running a close second. The Dodgers and Yankees of that era were first class organizations.

 

Many times McCoy would call and ask if I could assist him in finding a former teammate he knew from his days in Miami, Florida- Pueblo Colorado-Ft. Worth, Texas, Oakland, California or Ponca City. We always tracked down that person with one notable exception—Elroy “Straight” Face. He was the former Dodger the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted who become a star pitcher. Face was not that difficult to find but he never got in touch with McCoy.

 

It was a joy to become acquainted with the McCoy family, including his mother, Irene, who lived to be 104. At the 60th wedding anniversary for Dick and Molly they extended an invitation for me to attend. Irene was in an independent living facility where the McCoy’s arranged guest accommodations for those coming from out of town to their anniversary celebration.

 

At this event former Ponca City Dodger, Joe Beran, and I were roommates. Irene invited us to breakfast the next morning which she prepared and it was excellent. She remembered Beran from being her son’s teammate in 1948 and quizzed him about most of the aspects of his life since that time. Some of the questions were quite pointed but “Gentleman Joe” handled each in stride.

 

One of the projects Dick McCoy asked for my assistance was helping him get rid of a rather large, valuable and unique collection of baseball memorabilia. It was mentioned in the early editions of the paper newsletter that used to makes its rounds through the postal service, sometimes arriving at the intended destination. Wouldn’t suffice to attempt to mention all that was in that collection but it was historical even down to the first baseball cap that had a inner lining. It was developed by a John Hopkins professor, at the request of Branch Rickey. Rickey was concerned over the fact that Pete Reiser hit almost as many balls with his head as he did with the Louisville Slugger.

 

After a few weeks of promoting it was possible to find a buyer for McCoy’s collection and it wound up in the hands of a baseball card shop right here in Columbia, Mo. I used to go in and look at it once in a while wishing I owned it. But, the fellow who purchased the collection did give me the Ponca City Dodger cap with the plastic liner which is a treasure, to me.

 

However, over the years my greatest joy and reward has not been in having the physical relics of the past but having made the acquaintance and in some cases friends with many of the big guys who played baseball in the KOM league when I was a little boy and I do mean little.

 

Post script.

 

McCoy knew hundreds of former players and managers. He formed a mutual bond with two of his managers, Boyd Bartley and Pepper Martin. If there was anything those guys liked more than baseball it was fishing. Since McCoy also an angler the friendships were lasting. During the 1950 baseball season, at Miami Beach, Martin and McCoy put together what amounted to be an amphibious boat. At the conclusion of the season McCoy pulled that “contraption” to Oklahoma, for Martin, and then went on home to Omaha. ________________________________________________

Family necrology of the Boyer family

 

Since a lot of misinformation has existed for many years, regarding the Boyer family’s birth places, this is for the benefit of those who keep up with such things for historical purposes as it relates to professional baseball.

•

ALBA, Mo. - Chester Vern Boyer, 78, patriarch of Missouri's No. 1 baseball family, died at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday at Freeman Hospital in Joplin where he had been a patient since Nov 13.

 

Born Oct 14, 1903 at Arbella, Mo., Mr. Boyer had resided in Alba the last 40 years, moving there from nearby Cossville. He served four terms as mayor and also was a member of the Alba Board of Education. Boyer was a retired employee of the Locarni Quarry in Carthage.

 

He was active in Little League baseball and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Jasper.

All seven sons of Vern and Mable Agnes Boyer signed professional baseball contracts and three of them played in the major leagues.

 

Cloyd Boyer of Webb City pitched for St. Louis and Kansas City in the major leagues and managed and coached in the minor leagues prior to coaching stints with the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves. He is now pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals.

 

Kenton Boyer, St. Louis, was an all-star third baseman with the St. Louis Cardinals and later managed the Cardinals. He recently signed to manage the Cardinals triple-A farm club at Louisville, Ky., for the 1982 season.

 

Clete Boyer, Atlanta, Georgia was signed to a bonus contract with the Kansas City Athletics in 1955 but was an all-star third baseman for the New York Yankees. He is currently third base coach for the Oakland A's.

 

The other sons, Wayne, Kokomo, Ind.; Leonard and Ron, both of Webb City, and Lynn, Independence, Mo., all played minor league baseball.

 

Other survivors include six daughters, Mrs. Juanita Woodmansee, Mrs. Pansy Schell and Mrs. Barbara McNary all of Alba, Mrs. Delorse (sp) Webb, Jasper, Mrs. Shirley Lockhart, Fayetteville, Ark., and Mrs. Marcella Dabbs, Oronogo; a sister, Mrs. Velma Ligon, Tuscon, Ariz.; 41 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

 

Boyer was preceded in death by his wife on Nov. 24, 1971.

 

Services for Mr. Boyer will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Hedge-Lewis Funeral home in Webb City. Lincoln York, minister, will officiate. Burial will be in Friend's Cemetery at Purcell.

 

From this point forward please click on the URLs or you will miss the total import of this section of the report.

 

www.jaspercountyschools.org/r/id42.htm Alba Rosebank School photo 1936-37

 

www.jaspercountyschools.org/r/id43.htm Rosebank school 1936-37

 

www.findagrave.com/memorial/93319797/chester-vern-boyer

 

More historical data. It includes the best family photo I have ever come across along with links to the passing of the Boyer children.

 

www.shirleyandstout.com/obituary/DrMilton-Boyer/

 

masonwoodard.com/book-of-memories/2669506/boyer-lewis/obi...

 

www.findagrave.com/memorial/112213263/leonard-eugene-boyer

 

www.findagrave.com/memorial/19721029/clete-l.-boyer

 

www.findagrave.com/memorial/123079829/lela-thelma-boyer

 

www.findagrave.com/memorial/169871219/juanita-l-woodmansee

 

In the photo accompanying the last issue of this report of the 1939 Rosebank grade school baseball team the teacher and coach Carl Aris Parker, was shown. Parker was the 20-year old teacher, from Nashville, MO at that one room school which had an attendance of over 30 students which the links cited depict.

 

Carl Parker became Dr. Carl Parker after attaining his doctorate degree from the University of Colorad .and taught at Eastern New Mexico University. Prior to that he had served in World War II. Prior to getting his doctorate in education he served as the superintendent of the American high school in Nuremberg, Germany. (Ed note: There are some great photos and other information about Dr. Parker for those of you who have Ancestry.com Look it up if interested)

 

He was contacted in 1964 about two of his students, Kenny and Cletis being in the World Series. He gave an account of how Kenny was a very small youngster in 1939 but he could compete with the older boys for he adapted his swing to punch base hits into right field.

________________________________________________

Gwinn baseballs

 

A few weeks ago contact was made and some baseball’s from the career of Stanley Gwinn of the 1949-50 Ponca City Dodgers, 1950 KOM league batting champion, were offered if I wanted them. Of course I did and they were sent and the following was what was shared with Stanley Gwinn III regarding those gems.

 

“I got your package today and am thrilled to see those baseballs. I have positively identified each. What I thought at first glance was a 1950 championship team ball was actually from 1949. I recognized all the name on it and while many of the names from 1949 and 1950 were the same I concluded it had to have been the 1949 ball.

The second regular size ball was a memento of a grand slam homer your dad hit the night of June 22, 1950. He had a great game getting four more hits against Iola, Kansas after hitting that home run.

 

The small ball is interesting. Time has taken its toll on some of the signatures but I could make out; Boyd Bartley, Joe Stanek, Ernie Nichols, Loren Doll, Stan Gwinn, Bobby Bonebrake and Don Keeter.

 

Again, I appreciate your sharing these great treasures with me.”

Response from Gwinn:

Truly my pleasure and honor!

________________________________________________

Catching up

 

In recent week I have learned more about some former KOM leaguers who slipped out of this world without my knowledge until recently. Over the years a lot of contact was maintained with Leo Blandina, and Whitey Wood and to a lesser degree Jack Whitaker and John Picconi. Picconi was listed in most of the record books as being born in 1924 but his actual day of advent was in 1922.

 

Due to a couple of reasons which don’t need mentioning all that is being included on the aforementioned four former players is their obituary. If someone out there wants more information it is most likely available on request.

______________________________________________________________________________

 

Richard Elmer “Whitey” Wood—Iola Cubs/Indians 1946-48

 

No obituary was found for fellow referenced so I decided to put a few things together to pay tribute to the grandson of Constantine Wyrvaleski who had a son by the name of Stanley while still in Poland. Upon arrival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Stanley changed his name to Wood and thus when his son came into this world on September 11, 1927 he received the name of Richard Elmer Wood, and kept it until July 4, 2014. He passed away that day in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

 

Due to his blonde hair Wood was called “Whitey.” He was known as that by players and especially female fans in the KOM league from 1946-48. When first starting out researching the history of the KOM league many of the former girls who used to attend games to see Whitey wanted to know what became of him. When they found out he was still living they encouraged me to invite him to the KOM league reunions which he graciously refused to do.

 

His Sporting News card indicates he was signed in 1945 by the Chicago Cubs and was going to be assigned to Leaksville, NC in 1946 but he was sent to Hutchinson, Kansas for spring training and Al Reitz took him to Iola for the 1946 season to play first base.

digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll3/id/164100...

 

Wood was a left-handed first baseman who was a switch-hitter. He returned to Iola as a Cub in 1947 and when Iola was dropped from the Cub minor league affiliation he came back in 1948. In three seasons he played in 280 games. Never a home run hitter he had four in those three seasons with 215 other hits being of the singles, doubles and triples varieties. Within a couple of years after leaving professional baseball Wood was serving in the U. S. Army and served in the Korean War where he attained the rank of corporal.

 

Before and after the war Wood attended the State Teachers College in Milwaukee.

 

This is the Find-A-Grave site for Mr. Wood. www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/200094421:60525...

 

In the next obituary is fellow teammate of Whitey Wood during the 1947 season.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Leo Blandina obituary

Leo Joseph Blandina - Kutis Funeral Home (kutisfuneralhomes.com)

 

Leo Joseph Blandina, Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church on Monday, August 23, 2021. Leo passed away peacefully at the age of 93.

 

Loving husband of the late Virginia E. Blandina (nee Kroner) of 67 years. Beloved son of the late Joseph and Grace Blandina (nee LaFata). Dearest father of John (Jenni) Blandina, Joe (Cindy Bambini) Blandina, Ann (Vince) Holtmann, Maria (Robert) Miller, Gina (Michael) Krebs, and Lea (Tony) Tenore. Dear grandfather of Valerie, Leo, Christian, Sara, Jacob and Alex Blandina, Scott (Meredith) Holtmann, Lisa (Alen) Frankovic, Julie (Daniel) Thorne, Michael Alvey, Joseph, Laura Miller, Jared (Alex), Jennah, Mitchell, Lucas Krebs, Brett Herring and Zach (Taylor) Tenore. Great-grandfather of Leo and Tucker Holtmann, Novak and Petra Frankovic, Quentin Tenore and Baby Krebs. Brother of Theresa (the late Ed) Schmidt, the late Sam (survived by Pauline), Blandina, Vince (Mary) Blandina, Virginia (Lloyd) Weber, Rose (Ed) Biermann, Angie (survived by Marvin) Picou. Our dear brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend of many.

 

Leo was the son of Italian immigrants and the patriarch of the Blandina Family. He was a devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Leo was a member of the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, an avid Cardinal’s fan and golfer. He was a proud U.S. Army veteran, a dedicated entrepreneur, beloved member of the Stillwater Family and was the best spaghetti and meatball maker around. Our journey without him seems impossible, but the memories he left us will never fade.

 

Visitation at Kutis Affton Chapel, 10151 Gravois Rd. on Monday, August 30, 3:00 – 6:30 p.m. Funeral Tuesday, August 31, 9:30 a.m. from KUTIS AFFTON CHAPEL, 10151 Gravois Rd. to St. John Paul II Church, 4980 Heege Rd. for 10 a.m. MASS. Interment with full military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to create a memorial at Stillwater Senior Living. Please make checks payable to the Leo J. Blandina Trust.

 

Ed comment:

 

In searching for Leo Blandina’s Sporting News Index Card someone could almost be convinced he never played. It it posted on the Los Angeles Library site as Leo Leonard Blandine and here it is for your reading edification. That card only had his first name correct. digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll3/id/7500/r... From that link it is obvious he had the opportunity to see a great deal of this country during his minor league days. By far his most memorable time in the minor league was as a member of the 1947 Iola Cubs. His Sporting News card shows him going as far back as 1945 but although under contract he did not play until 1947. He was in the Chicago Cub organization until 1949 until he was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1949 he was the shortstop at Three Rivers in the Canadian-American League and his double play partner was George Scherger who later managed the Ponca City Dodgers in 1951 and eventually made it to the big leagues as the first base coach for Sparky Anderson during “The Big Red Machine” era of the Cincinnati Reds.

 

Blandina filled out his Baseball Questionnaire, in 1947, and credited Al Reitz as the person who had the most impact on his baseball career. Reitz was the long tenured pitcher in the minor league which encompassed more than 20 years. He was the last manager the Carthage franchise ever had but after Carthage threw in the towel he still hung around the KOM League at Blackwell, Oklahoma for a year and then with that team when it entered the Western Association.

 

Over the years contact was maintained with Blandina and he was always interested in the whereabouts of his former Iola teammates. When we would talk about them he was moved to tears. On numerous occasions he was invited to meet up with those fellows again, at KOM league reunions, but circumstances beyond his control prevented his attending.

________________________________________________

Andrew Jackson Whitaker. Independence Yankees 1949

 

Whitaker was born September 8, 1927 in Petersburg, Tennessee. He was another of those who claimed to be a year younger upon signing a professional contract. His most significant memory of his baseball career, and those with whom he played at Independence, occurred on a foul ball. The ball was headed toward the screen behind home plate and he went for it, looking up. His teeth hit the wall, just below the screen and that is where a couple of upper front teeth were deposited.

 

He was a tough guy and his teammates recall that he made a bridge to hide the loss of those teeth the best he could. At that time Ipana toothpaste was a popular brand and he attempted to use that item to not on whiten hs his homemade bridge but to use the Ipana to hold it in place.

 

This is the site to local Whitaker’s Sporting News Index Card. As pointed out he was born in 1927. digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll3/id/161134... He died on November 19, 2014 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He had lived most of his adult years in Hollywood, Florida.

_____________________________________________________________________________

John Picconi-Iola Cubs 1947

 

John C. Picconi was a member of the 1947 Iola, Kansas Cubs. He was a veteran of WWII and gave baseball a shot after the war. He took two years off his age when signed by the Cubs. He was born July 16, 1922 in Denver, Colorado.

 

He is buried at Ft. Logan National Cemetery. He passed away on April 7, 2011. www.findagrave.com/memorial/72571003/john-picconi John passed away shortly after his wife did. www.findagrave.com/memorial/219605443/anita-picconi

 

Anyone searching for John Picconi’s Sporting News Index card would have a tough time locating it for they misspelled his last name. digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll3/id/97895/... However, by the time his grandson signed the Sporting News got his name spelled correctly. digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll3/id/91241/...

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Mercifully, for those of you who have endured this report, it is now concluded.

Done