Fort Wayne Oldtimer's Association

Volume 3 No. 4 Official Publication of the Fort Wayne Oldtimer's Baseball Association Dec. 2001

HOME PLATE WAS In the course of his umpiring career, Feroen met many great ballplayers ... some on their way up the HIS HOME career ladder and some on their way down. EXCERPTS FROM FARMLAND NEWS "I knew Billy Martin of the Yankees," he says. By Del Gasche And I knew Ewell "The Whip" Blackwell of the Reds, Ned Garver ... a local boy ... and lots of "Yeeeer out!" "Steeee-rike!" "Saaaafe!" others." Each summer for 34 years, those words exploded "When I was umpiring, I'd go anywhere within over and over again from the mouth of Bryan's 500 miles of Bryan. I'd be home for three or four (Ohio) professional umpire, Feroen Betts. days and then gone again for a week or so. Most of "I loved umpiring baseball games," he says. them were daylight games in those days." "I still miss it when spring rolls around ... and all "I worked Swayne Field in Toledo a lot and that through the summer and into the fall." was my favorite ballpark. I was privileged to "And then I spend the winter waiting for opening umpire the last professional game played there ... at Jay so I can start missing it again for another the end of the 1955 season." season." Feroen also umpired high school baseball at the Feroen umpired at all levels of baseball, from high top level... working school up to professional (Triple A), just one level countless sectional below the Major Leagues. and district "I'd pick up my assignments out of a Fort Wayne tournaments. He also office," he says. worked many "When I started umpiring, I got $525 a month. regional tournament And since there were only two umpires working a games and state game, I had to stay on my toes." championship finals. "I worked lots of games for the Fort Wayne Feroen loved Daisies ... a women's professional fast-pitch baseball and he and later baseball team. And I worked lots loved his umpiring of games for the Zollner Pistons, who in those days days. "Of course, had the best fast-pitch softball teams in the world." we'd go nose-to- "I'm the last umpire alive who worked those nose in shouting professional softball and baseball leagues in the late matches with '40s and the'50s." players and "I worked plenty of games with players who managers now and people around here will remember ... Elmer Rohrs, then," he says with Feroen holds a special glove that was given to him at the Bill West, Leo Luken, Elmer McDonald and 1993 All-Star game Tor his contributions to the game of base- hall. Behind him are gloves autographed by well-known a smile. "But we others." players. were all friends "They had a nice display of my old umpiring Feroen Betts afterward." equipment at the Fort Wayne (Allen County) Public "Baseball is a great game and I loved being an Library. It's now on display at the Mose A. Isaac active part of it for a good many years." Field House here in Bryan." FWOBA Officers Well not any more. Today's game has players switching teams almost at random due primarily to President - Colin Lister "free agency." It's mostly about money although VP Marketing Patty Martone playing for a winning team is also a mitigating VP Hall of Fame Parnell Hisner factor for some players. VP Museum Tim Kindler Loyalty to a particular team has, for the most Secretary Don Graham Treasurer Denver Howard part, gone out the window. Cal Ripkin and Tony HOF Committee Colin Lister Gwynn are two recent Patty Martone exceptions to that "rule" but Parnell Hisner they are gone now. Don Graham Of course, the owners are Denver Howard Jack Massucci certainly not angels here. Tony Martone They continue to bid up the Charlie Shipman player salaries all the while Dottie Collins complaining about the system and how they are News Publication being drained financially and losing more and more money with each passing year. Editor Don Graham Associate Editor Tim Kindler The solution? I'm not sure what all that might Associate Editor Denver Howard entail but a good start would be to return the job of Baseball Commissioner to its former status of an Association Office independent authority that commands respect from 6440 Fairfield Avenue #110 both the players and owners alike. Fort Wayne, Indiana 46807 As for the American and MVP's (219) 744-5636 this year, it seems to me that one was deserving and the other not. , Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki did it all including the oft- neglected fundamentals. He hit for a high average, FROM LOYALTY TO MVP'S stole and ran the bases with skill, and played By Don Graham defense in right field like nobody has since the great Roberto Clemente. Maybe it's just a sign of getting older and looking The Giants' Barry Bonds? He hit a lot of home back at what many of us refer to as "the good old runs and had a good average. His other MVP skills? days." No doubt that is part of it but I am also He is a notorious non-team player and infuriates convinced that the grand old game of baseball has fans and teammates alike. He neglects to out fly changed rather dramatically over the years, balls or ground balls. He loafs in the outfield and on especially at the major league level. the bases. As for fundamentals ... forget them. The fences have been moved in, the strike zone is I repeat, one was deserving, the other I think not. smaller, the ball has more bounce to the ounce, the mound is now a shadow of what it once was, expansion has spread the talent thinner and the fundamentals of the game have largely become a Quotes and more Quotes thing of the past. But all that is fodder for a future article. The two Wrhen you're through learning, you're through. issues I will be touching on here are player loyalty -Vernon Law and the 2001 Most Valuable Player Awards. With the advent of a wholesale type of "free The future isn't what it used to be. agency" player loyalty has become a virtual thing of -YogiBerra the past. When we were kids, we could name most I every player on our favorite team from memory. There comes a time in every man's life, and I've And we could do so year in and year out with but had plenty of them. few changes in the team roster to trip us up. -Casey Stengel You never have to wait long, or look far, to be sponsorship in July of that year. The team did enjoy reminded of how thin the line is between being a a winning season and defended its National Title at hero or a goat. Wichita, Kansas, -Mickey Mantle their fourth straight such title in a row. I never had a job. I always played baseball. They then went to -Satchel Paige Japan and won the first World Semi- Do not alibi on bad hops. Anybody can field the Pro baseball title. good ones. Jack would play -Joe McCarthy his last year, 1951, for Dick McComb's The best thing about baseball is that you can do Construction team. something about yesterday tomorrow. He was inducted into -Manny Trillo the Fort Wayne Baseball Hall of Fame on April 28, Jack Hornberger 1989. Jack Hornberger Old Time Baseball Player By Denver Howard ? ? ? MORE TRIVIA ? ? ? If you ask Waynedale resident Jack Hornberger what his athletic endeavors are now, he will state 1). How did the Hargrave brothers, Pinky and bowling and golf. He will also admit he retired from Bubbles, get their nicknames? 5low pitch softball at the age of 72. However, John G. "Jack" Hornberger played a lot of baseball as 2). What Baseball was played in the late as 60 years ago. same ball park (a subway series it was not)? This South Side H.S. graduate started playing baseball in the area for P.L. McCormick's City 3). What was Fredrick "Cy" Albert's real Light team in 1939. He played for them for three nickname? years and played spring baseball in 1941 with 4). What Fort Wayne Baseball Hall of Famer played Illinois Weslyan College at Bloornington, Illinois. in the 1938 American Association All-Star Like many baseball players at that time, he was Game because Dick West (1969 Fort Wayne drafted into the Army in October, 1942 after Hall of Fame inductee) was injured? playing for the Fort Wayne Shamrocks that year. He came home on leave in February of 1943 to ANSWERS marry his college sweetheart. That year, he also played for the Fort Campbell baseball team. 1). Pinky had red hair and when Bubbles was Back from service, he played for the Shamrocks little, he was always blowing bubbles. in 1946-47, Benton Harbor House of David in 1947 and the Decatur American Legion team in 1948-49. 2). The 1944 World Series featuring the St. Louis Then came 1950, the year of all years. The Fort Browns and St. Louis Cardinals. All games Wayne Semi-Pro team under John "Red" Braden were played at Sportsman Park, the then decided to operate independently and call home park for both teams. Cardinals in six. themselves the "Kekiongas" commemorating Fort Wayne's first entry in organized baseball. That team 3). "Cyclone." He was inducted into the Fort included Jack and such players as Sal Madrid, Serge Wayne Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970. Schuster, Luke Majorski, Pat Scantlebury Charlie Shipman, Bill Brandt and Scott Cary. 4). Bob Arnold (inducted into the Fort Wayne The team, suffering financial losses, induced the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971). Capehart-Famsworth Company to assume The Fun Is In The Cards After 1920, most cards were produced by candy By Tim Kindler and gum distributors. Few tobacco companies ever produced cards again, with the exception of Red American boys and girls have been collecting Man Chew during the 1950's. This trend continued ( their favorite baseball player's pictures on pieces of into the thirties and collecting experienced a surge cardboard and paper almost as long as baseball has in popularity because of the many stars of the time existed. Although first targeted at adults, baseball like Ruth, Gehrig, Grove, Foxx and Hubble, just to cards soon became treasured and sought after name a few. possessions of children of all ages. This popularity seems odd because of the horrible During the 1880's, 1890's, and the first decade of economic conditions that the country was in the twentieth century, baseball cards were primarily because of the Great Depression. Maybe the 1 cent obtained only through the purchase of tobacco price tag on a products. Manufacturers of cigarettes, cigars, and pack of cards scrap tobacco sought to gain fortune by including had something pictures of ballplayers in their products. Their to do with it. marketing thoughts were that adults would come in This price droves to buy their products because of the surge in still allowed popularity of the new "National Pastime." The children the tobacco companies did experience some success chance to buy with this approach but the true group of consumers the cards of that craved the cards was left out of the mix. Of their heroes. course, I am talking about the baseball mad boys The 1940's and girls everywhere in our nation. saw few cards being made or produced because of the war and the country's shortage of raw materials. Sacrifices had to be made by all Americans and the baseball world was no different. Some great players of this time period never had a card produced of them because of the war. Also disappointing for baseball fans and collectors of today was the fact that cards of players who played in the Negro leagues and the All-American Girls League were never produced while the leagues were in existence. Fortunately today, you can purchase commemorative sets produced during the 1990's The popularity of baseball cards boomed starting displaying some of the great stars of these in 1910 with the release of numerous card sets in outstanding, but forgotten leagues. products other than tobacco, such as gum, candy, Baseball cards became a true piece of Americana and caramel. These sets were targeted at children as during the 1950's. Companies such as TOPPS and well as adults. An historically interesting aspect of BOWMAN began producing cards strictly for the cards during this time period is the fact that entertainment instead of just using them for many sets included players that played on minor advertisement purposes. Each pack contained cards league teams. During this period of baseball history, and a stick of gum which most American adults semi-pro teams were everywhere. In fact, some from the 50's, 60's, and 70's remember chewing teams and some players were just as good or better sometime during their childhood. TOPPS eventually/ than those players who were fortunate enough to be crushed most of their competitors during the 60's in the big leagues. and became "The Force" in the baseball card world. At 1 cent or 5 cents per pack, depending on the pack w o B size, cards were still very affordable. As expanded during the The players are listed as Atkins and Burke. I have late 60's been unable to locate any biographical history on and into either player, but I have been able to locate and .he 70 's, so purchase the card of Burke (See picture below). did the number of cards TOPPS produced in their yearly sets. The number of players and cards put into a Second, since set neared becoming a 800. This member of number is FWOBA, I still the have really norm today. worked hard During to find items the 1980's, Ned Garver related to TOPPS 1961 TOPPS Fort Wayne's lost its monopoly that it held in the world of baseball baseball cards. Other companies such as FLEER, history for my 30NRUSS, PACIFIC, SCORE, and UPPER own collection. DECK joined the mix to flood the market with I also have thousands of cards and many sets were produced located the each year. Overall, most cards were still affordable existence of with a price tag from 25 cents to $ 1 per pack. Bill "Pinky" Hargrave many cards During the 80's and the 90's, collecting baseball 1933 GOUDEY which depict cards became as much of an investment as it was a members of the means for entertainment and enjoyment of the Fort Wayne game. This really is an unfortunate fact because this Hall of Fame has driven the price of today's cards through the Such as Ned roof. Packs of cards range from $1 to as high as $20 Garver, Everett per pack for some so called "limited editions." Scott, Rollie Children and most adults today cannot afford to buy Zeider, and cards and cannot relate to their heroes anymore. many others. I **** F00tnote: I didn't want to end my article on a have included sad note, so I wanted to share with you a couple of pictures of a super baseball card facts that relate to Fort Wayne's few which I history. First, after doing some extensive research, I have recently have come to the conclusion that there are only two located. vintage cards that exist that have the team name Collecting "Fort Wayne" on the front of their cards. By vintage and doing I mean, not a specially produced commemorative research on .>s3. •..EVERETT SCOTT:., "38-^; jet such as the AAGPBL set produced in the 90's or ,•>£."S.S.-Boston Red SQX^&J vintage cards Fort Wayne Wizard cards, but a card actually proves there is produced in a major set that contained both major still fun in the and minor league plavers. The two cards come from Everett Scott cards. the 1909-1911 COLGAN'S GUM baseball card set. 1921 NATIONAL CARAMEL "DEMBUMS" ARE BACK "K's" Exhibit UP & Ready By Don Graham By Don Graham

The year 2001 saw the return of baseball to the Although it took a bit longer to set up than had ( borough of Brooklyn, New York for the first time been expected, the Fort Wayne Komets 50* year since September 24, 1957. It was on that date that commemoration exhibit at the Allen County Public the Brooklyn Dodgers played their last game at Library downtown is now completed. before owner Peter O'Malley moved My sincere thanks to the more than twenty former the team to Los Angeles. And to this day, fans rank players, coaches, owners, fans and others who O'Malley with Hitler and Stalin as one of the ten contributed to the cause. While some of my own worst men who ever lived. personal collection is included in the exhibit, the Known now as the Brooklyn Cyclones, a bulk of the exhibit is made up from memorabilia affiliate of the , they play in a brand and collectibles provided by the folks mentioned new $39 million ballpark in Coney Island. The team above making this the largest (among 5) exhibit yet. name was derived from an old-fashioned wooden The exhibit will roller coaster, the Cyclone, that still clatters and be up through the soars beyond the left field fence. end of February, In place of "Dem Bums", the ever faithful 2002. Several Dodgers fans, both young and old, have already player autograph blessed the new team with three nicknames to date: sessions are in the "Da Brooks", "Da 'Clones", and "Da Psychos." planning stages "Brooklyneeze" lives. Don't ya just love it? for the coming weeks ahead (no dates set as yet). It's 50 years of local sports history. Don't miss it!

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1950 Fort Wayne Capeharts (National & World Semi-Pro Champions) Pitchers L to R: Bill Brandt, Pat Scantiebury, Charlie Shipman, Jim LaMarque, Scott Car)/