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The KOM League
Flash Report
for
March 12, 2021
This is the first report released in nearly a month. If you care to read it click right here: www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/50957070916/
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It seemed as though a significant number of days had passed since last I came to the computer. It had been nearly four weeks and today an attempt was made to string together a few words in order to compose a comprehensible sentence. Hopefully, some of the material contained herein is okay.
About all that seems to happen anymore is the obituary files continue to expand. There are names appearing each day of people I have known personally or knew of due to their fame. It must be said that there is no pleasure derived in writing about the recently departed. However, some of those leaving us were “big” names in their respective fields of endeavor and without my pointing it out no one, or relatively few, would know they ever had a connection to the KOM league, even tangentially.
Just to preface this report the two recently departed men, who will be tied to the KOM league, are a big league player/coach/manager along with a famous radio voice If either of those subjects don’t appeal to you then cease reading at this point.
Most long term readers know that the author of this report had a baseball career that started and ended in 1951. There wasn’t much use for a skinny, runt of a kid in the game of baseball and he went on to a life that was basically free of the sport except for an idea in 1994 that an old league should be documented.
Over the span of a quarter century of looking for former KOM leaguers many surprises have come my way. In 1951 the New York Giants signed a young catcher out of Cape Girardeau, Mo. by the name of Bill Lee Atchley. By that point in history the Iola ballclub had been affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians and was now surviving as an independent team relying on players showing up for tryouts or being optioned there by a major league organization. Atchley fit into the latter category.
This is a brief clip on Atchley’s life. “Dr. Bill L. Atchley, Ph.D., 68, of Wachesaw Plantation, died Friday, Feb. 18, 2000, at Georgetown Memorial Hospital. Born Feb. 16, 1932, in Cape Girardeau, Mo., he was the son of the late William C. and Mary Logsden Atchley. He was the former president of Southeast Missouri State University, former president of the University of the Pacific, Stockton, Calif., and former president of Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. He served as president of the National Science Center Foundation, dean of engineering at West Virginia University, and associate dean and professor at the University of Missouri at Rolla. He was a U. S. Army veteran, having served in the Korean Conflict. He was a former professional baseball player with the New York Giants.
The following links are a “must read” to understand this story.
www.findagrave.com/memorial/77438609/bill-lee-atchley
digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll3/id/16699/...
clemsonwiki.com/wiki/Bill_Lee_Atchley
By referencing the aforementioned citations it is obvious that what Atchley didn’t attain in baseball he more than made up for it in the educational arena at some major institutions of higher learning in this country. In a long ago conversation he related that he still loved baseball and at one point in history was considered for the opening of the Commissioner of Baseball position that went to Bart Giamatti.
Now, this is not to cut short the story of Bill Atchley but to bring into it another name. In 1947 the Independence, Kansas Yankees had a 22-year old pitcher, Alexander Zych from Kansas City, who had stared his professional baseball career in 1944 being signed by the Kansas City Blues before winding up with Wellsville, NY that year. He pitched minor league baseball in Hagerstown, Maryland--Norfolk, Virginia--Quincy, Illinois-- Greenville, Mississippi-- Raliegh and Kinston, N C as well as Rock Hill, Sumter and Gasonia, South Carolina.
By the time Zych reached the age of 27 he was back in his native Kansas City and playing for the amateur Holden, Mo. Chiefs in both 1954 and 1955. The next year he drove to Nevada, Mo. And pitched for that amateur club and led them to a Missouri state amatuer championship. On that club were three former KOM leaguers along with a former St. Louis Cardinal pitcher from Greenfield, Mo. by the name of Floyd “Goat” Wooldridge.
Over the years communication was maintained with Zych and the first book written about the KOM league contained considerable information that he furnished. The following obituary describes the connection he maintained with the game of baseball in both Kansas City and Oakland with the Athletics and Royals. (If the reader doesn’t click on these sites this report will be meaningless.)
www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/kansascity/name/alexander-zy...
On July 14, 2014 an announcement came over the radio of a terrible automobile accident and the patient was transferred, by medical helicopter, to Columbia, Mo. As it turned out Alex Zych died within a couple of miles of where this report is prepared.
Now go back to 1951
In 1951 Alex Zych was pitching at Kinston, North Carolina, Bill Atchley was catching for the Iola Indians, and a young boy was born on January 12 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The newborn had a cousin, once removed, named Patricia. In 1954 when the young boy was three years old his cousin, Patricia Limbaugh, married Bill Atchley. www.floydmortuary.com/obituaries/Patsy-Atchley/#!/ObituarySo
So, the connection to Rush Hudson Limbaugh III and the KOM league is made. Once back from Oakland Alex Zych was the “wise old head” in the Kansas City Royals clubhouse and when an upstart 27-year ticket salesman needed advice he went to the person who he considered the wisest which was Alex Zych, the equipment manager for the team. From a couple of sources I have heard that Rush Limbaugh affectionately referred to Zych as “Dad.”
Following the death of Zych he was paid high praise on Limbaugh’s national radio broadcast and the famed broadcaster thus attended the funeral of a former KOM leaguer. Whether Limbaugh was close enough to Atchley to attend his funeral I don’t know. Often I wondered if Limbaugh ever heard of Atchley’s baseball playing days. When Limbaugh had his “open line Friday” segments there was a temptation to call and ask that question but some things are just meant to never be known.
On a personal note, the first time I ever heard Limbaugh was in the 1970’s when he was on the staff of KMBZ in Kansas City. At that time I was living in Topeka and early of the morning he was given five minutes for making comments. They were a bit different from what I had heard on the radio. But, in those days about all you ever heard was “Swap Shop,” “Kitchen Klatter,” “Trading Post” and religious shows such as Theodore Epp and his “Back to the Bible” broadcast that emanated from Lincoln, Nebraska. AM Radio was nearly toast by the 1980’s.
After hearing Limbaugh in the 1970’s, on KMBZ, I never heard of him again until 1992. At that time I had met up with a former grade and high school acquaintance by the name of Mickey Roberts. He was going by the name of Mike and doing play-by-play broadcasting of the Albuquerque Dukes Pacific Coast league games on KOB radio in that town. At one game he told me I had to listen to a new show they had on their station. He told me the voice was from a former Missouri. I told Roberts I had heard that voice a decade and a half earlier while living in Topeka, Kansas.
Of all the forms of media radio was always my preference and I was attracted to people who knew how to communicate whether or not I agreed with them or not. At one time I reveled in hearing divergent voices of Limbaugh and Garrison Keillor who couldn’t have been more opposite if they had practiced. People have to be smart enough to listen, digest and form their own opinions which is sadly lacking in the era.
Many a debate—or argument—arose over the years with my son about what Limbaugh did or didn’t say. One thing I recall predicting, over two decades ago, was that Limbaugh would die most likely from lung cancer, long before his time. I made that point to my son, many times, due to his addiction to whatever cigarettes have that addict. Since Rush’s passing my son has never mentioned it even happening. I think he might recall what his old man has told him over and over about tobacco.
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The latest death with a KOM league connection.
This past week saw the passing of a former big league player coach and manager by the name of Norman Sherry ps://www.mlb.com/news/norm-sherry-ex-catcher-manager-dies-at-89
In reading that obituary one of his buddies from “day one—actually” came to mind. Sherry and Stan Santo who played first base for the 1951 Ponca City Dodgers were lifelong friends until Santo’s passing. It is always my goal to share information with people when it has some meaning and in this case I figured the son of one of those guys fit into that framework.
To Mark Santo
I have seen a lot of articles today from the baseball experts about the death of Norm Sherry. They claim to know all about him. Your dad could have filled them in on a lot about his younger days of which they are unaware.
Santo’s reply:
Hi John. You got that right. Talk about similar paths…My dad and Norm were born one day apart. They went to high school together, played baseball together in high school, went together for induction into military service, and remained friends until my dad passed away 2 years ago. They both lived in San Diego county in their later years.
Growing up in the same neighborhood my dad also knew Larry Sherry. As I was told, they never thought that Larry would ever be a great player due to a birth defect with his feet; needless to say they couldn’t have been more wrong about that. When Larry passed away a few years ago my Dad was invited to and attended his funeral.
When I was 13 years old my dad took me to a winter training camp in the Los Angeles area where Norm was coaching to see if my pitching talents were as good as my Dad thought they were. Of course they weren’t and I distinctly remember being blown away by the grown-ups. Not exactly a moral booster for a 13 year old, but a great experience nonetheless. I feel like Norm’s passing represents the end of a chapter in my life.
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A special item.
It is realized that not all the recipients of these reports care all that much about them. Here is a special link to something I found interesting. I’d place this under the category “sometimes you never know what you have.” youtu.be/VmdFNQnbS0k ________________________________________________________________________________
Robert Anson Grove passes.
www.galvnews.com/obituaries/article_f9639322-0119-56a4-b6... (Photo included in citation)
Only once was it my privilege to speak with Robert Grove but he was a fascinating man. He was a great conversationalist with interesting stories to share. He spent less than a month as a catcher for the 1949 Ponca City Dodgers. As the obituary indicates his time in the KOM league is not mentioned.
Thanks to Jack Morris who included me on his list for passing along this obituary.
TEXAS CITY, TX — Robert Anson Grove (Bob), 90, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 2, 2021.He was born on September 12, 1930 in Norfolk, Virginia to Donald M. Grove and Deloris Bridget Grove. After graduating from Ball High School in Galveston, TX Bob tried out for the Brooklyn Dodgers and was the catcher for their farm team in Sheboygan, WI. until he was drafted into the Army in 1953.
Bob married his high school sweetheart Mary Ellen Pierce on September 26, 1952. During their 66 years together, they were blessed with 3 daughters. In addition to being a loving husband and father he worked for the same family, Eugene B. Smith, at Moody Compress in Galveston, TX. He was an active member of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Texas City, TX where he served many years as the Finance Committee Chairman. Bob was also a ham radio operator (WB5FGD) and used this talent to serve others through the Shriners Burns Institute in Galveston and emergency preparedness during hurricane season. He was an outstanding golfer, tennis player and a master Easter Egg Hider.
He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ellen Grove, his parents, brothers Don Grove Jr., Joe Grove, George Grove, Jack Grove, sister Zoe Anne Dundee (Mick) and son in law Kenneth Beasley.
He is survived by his sister Zoe Belle Calaway, his daughters Janet Grove Gonzales, Jo Ann Grove Konecny and her husband Larry, Jill Grove and her partner, Dianna Jarvis; grandchildren Brian Gonzales and wife Layla, Brandon Gonzales and wife Jackie, Bobby Gonzales and wife Crystal, Larry Konecny Jr. and wife Daniela, Candice Maintz and husband Bill, Laura Williams and husband Kyle, Andrew Konecny and wife Victoria and Gryffen James-Grove along with 14 great-grandchildren and other extended family members who he held dear.
Ed comment:
With the passing of Bob Grove there are six surviving members of the 1949 Ponca City Dodgers. They are Daniel Chepkauskas, Loren Doll, Dick McCoy, Theodore James Dean, John Nixon and Dean Antonson. Chepkauskas worked in the space industry, Doll and his partner Isrig operated huge cattle and grain operation in Western Kansas, Dean was in the production side of the movie industry. McCoy spent many years with the Omaha, Neb. Fire department and the readers can flunk me on Nixon and Antonson since I don’t recall their post-baseball careers. However, I know where both live and can put anyone in touch with those guys if they are curious about their means of support subsequent to their baseball career.
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Bye—This concludes yet another effort to recall and report something from the past. These reports are akin to bond fires. First there is a need for fuel then a spark to create a flame to get things going. Sometimes there isn’t the fuel or the spark to create a Flash Report and when that happens long periods exist between their production.
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