Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D,

by Mark C. Zeigler

CHAPTER 1 POST-WAR

The towns surrounding the northern Blue Ridge mountains has had a taste of professional baseball for several years, before the Great World War (known today as World War I) abruptly curtailed the 1918 season just three weeks into the season, and the effects of the deadly Spanish Influenza, and lack of financial support wiped out professional baseball in the region in 1919.

Baseball had been strong focal points for the participating communities that organized teams in the Class D, Blue Ridge League. This was a time when the trolley was the main source of transportation, and the vehicle of choice was a Maxwell. Radio was just in its infant stages, and television was not even heard of for almost another twenty years. By 1920, the 20th and 21st amendments allowed women the right to vote, while Prohibition was in full force throughout the country. The nation’s attitudes were changing, but one constant was baseball.

People were reenergized after the war effort had ended, and were looking for new things to do in their spare time. Baseball offered them a few hours of distraction from their daily lives, and chance to support their community by “rooting for their home team.”

The remnants of the war, and the Spanish Influenza of latter part of 1918 played a significant influence in lack of interest, and financial support of professional baseball in Blue Ridge League towns of Cumberland, Hagerstown and Frederick, , Martinsburg, West , and the Townships of Chambersburg, Hanover and Gettysburg in 1919. The only opportunity for many former players to play in this area were in the Industrial League towns of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, Hagerstown, MD, , MD, or the Pennsylvania Steel Leagues in Harrisburg, or other towns located near the railroads. Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

CHAPTER 2 BASEBALL RETURNS TO THE BLUE RIDGE

League President James Vincent Jamison, Jr., brought back the idea of returning the Blue

Ridge League to its former organization, and scheduled a meeting on February 10, 1920, officials from interested towns to meet in Hagerstown. Representatives from Hagerstown-MD, Frederick-MD, Chambersburg-PA, Martinsburg-WV, Cumberland-MD, Piedmont/Westernport, Gettysburg-PA, Hanover-PA, Waynesboro-PA, and Carlisle-PA were invited to attend. With the backing of several local newspapers, Jamison and the interested town representatives discussed concerns with expenses and travel, and the possibility to reduce the league from six to four clubs.

According to newspaper reports at the time, the former BRL towns of Hagerstown, Frederick and Chambersburg seemed clear cut favorites, but there was some concern whether Martinsburg would field a team. In addition, representatives from Waynesboro, PA also expressed a strong interest in joining the league.

The Hagerstown club was represented by Richard Hartle, who a number of years previously had managed the Hagerstown team in the old Sunset League, who had taken an active interest in baseball, and was recently elected Team President and General of the new Hagerstown franchise. Hartle replaced the late Colonel Joseph C. Roulette, who led a group to purchase the Hagerstown club from Charles Boyer at the end of 1916. Roulette died in 1919 from a lengthy illness, which came from the effects of the influenza epidemic the previous fall. The Hagerstown Baseball Association also elected George E. Roulette as first vice-president; H. J. Crosson as second vice- president; Thomas P. Smith as third vice-president; Carl S. Lane as treasurer, and Gordon Lugenbeel as secretary. Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

The Frederick club, which dropped out prior to the 1918 season, reorganized under the guidance of Dr. David Goodell, appointed six men to represent the city at the league organizational meeting, which included Frank K. Schmidt, Guy K. Motter, Michael Passaro, Frank Shapiro, Frank Staub and LeRoy Wachter. Re-establishing the Frederick Baseball Association, they formulated plans to raise money for the ball club, including organizing a series of dances and other forms of entertainment.

The Blue Ridge League became a reality, as 26 men, representing five towns participated, declaring that baseball could be made financially possible. Considered one of the most enthusiastic baseball confab ever held in the circuit, the league was accepted almost unanimously by all of the previous representatives of each of the league towns.

Representatives from Hagerstown and Frederick, five from Waynesboro, three men represented Chambersburg, including Club President, Clay Henninger, Sr., and two from Martinsburg. Hanover was not represented, as Club President, J. E. Meisenhelder was unable to attend. The Waynesboro club elected George Henderson has team president, and Doc Morrison was elected team president of the Martinsburg club.

The revised Blue Ridge League did return with some changes. Like in the old Blue Ridge League, the league kept a six-team format. Hagerstown resumed as the league headquarters, and Frederick and Martinsburg returned to serve as the base clubs of the league. Chambersburg, which had lost its franchise in the middle of the 1917 season, returned to the league, as did another Pennsylvania town, Hanover. Gettysburg, which was an original member of the league, did not have adequate facilities to host a team, and gave way to nearby Waynesboro, which had a ballpark, and was eager to participate in the league. There was some discussion of trying to get a team from Cumberland, or Carlisle, PA, but their representatives bowed out due to travel concerns. Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

In March of 1920, the league was formalized, and sanctioned by the National Commission for membership into the National Association of Professional Leagues. The Blue Ridge League’s association with professional baseball would continue for ten more years, until the league as it was known, would disband for good after the 1930 season.

CHAPTER 3 MOWERY AND LOUDEN NEW MANAGERS

Like in previous years, each baseball association, as they were known, was responsible for choosing a manager, and fielding a team, being responsible for payroll, equipment and any expenses relating to their respective club. Each team fielded a 14-man team, with the manager also playing. Because of this most teams only had four pitchers on the roster at one time; they played a 100-game schedule that ran from May 19 through September 10. The six managers selected at the beginning of the season included a couple former Major Leaguers, , a former infielder with Brooklyn club and a Chambersburg, PA native, took the helm of the Hagerstown club, playing third base. , a former infielder with the New York Giants, and a native of nearby Piedmont, WV, managed the Martinsburg club, and played second base. Karl Kolseth, a former player, and once a star player in the Blue Ridge League in 1916 for Chambersburg, took the reigns of the Hanover club. George Washington “Buck” Ramsey managed the Frederick club, and served as a pitcher, while veteran Manager William “Country” Morris managed the new Waynesboro club. Eddie Hooper, who managed in the league in 1916 and part of 1917, returned to manage the Chambersburg club. When Louden went to recruit players for his Martinsburg club, he utilized his resources near his hometown of Piedmont, , and the surrounding Western Maryland area, near Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

Cumberland. There he came up with a 20-year old, southpaw hurler from Lonaconing, Maryland, named Robert Moses Groves. Louden also scoured the Baltimore area and found a named Johnny Neun. Both players later went on to have successful Major League careers, especially Grove, who went on to win 300 games in the Majors and earn enshrinement in Baseball’s Hall of Fame. When the managers had trouble finding players to round out their rosters to start the season, several gave some of the better players from the Industrial League teams an opportunity, and some were the nucleus of a few of the Blue Ridge League teams. Hagerstown, for example, had several former Industrial Leaguers on their roster. Among them were outfielder Tommy Day of Adamstown, Maryland, who was one of the top players in the league, and pitchers Tommy Verecker of Baltimore, Maryland, and Hagerstown native, Wilbur Phillips, who were two of their four mainstays on Hagerstown’s pitching staff.

CHAPTER 4 THE RUTH EFFECT

By the time the league began play on May 19, a phenomenon had taken place in the Major

Leagues, which would drastically effect the direction of how baseball would be perceived by the fans. Thanks to a Maryland born player named George Herman “Babe” Ruth, recently acquired by the , the word “home ” would have a whole different meaning. Ruth, who had established a league record in 1919 with the Boston Red Sox with 29 home runs, was well on his way of breaking another mark. Ruth would an unimaginable 54 homers, almost doubling his record of the year before. His homers would be called after his name, “’s”, and Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

professional baseball, which had been through what we now know as the “Dead Ball” era, was thriving with this new found notion of a slugger of Ruth’s caliber. In the Blue Ridge League however, the home run was still a rarity in 1920, as only two players, Ralph Yordy (12) of Waynesboro and Karl Kolseth (10), who played both Hanover and Waynesboro, hit at least ten home runs, though that would soon change in the next few years. According to the Waynesboro Record-Herald, the league’s newest entry, Waynesboro drew an estimated 1,500 fans in their first ever professional baseball game, defeating the visiting Hanover Raiders, 11 to 9. Hagerstown, under Manager Mike Mowrey, soon became the team to beat. The Champs, as they were known, led or tied for the lead in the league standings for almost the entire season from start to finish. The exception was on June 8, when Frederick took a short-lived lead, but when the Hustlers lost a 1-0 game to Martinsburg, and Hagerstown defeated Waynesboro, 6-4, the Champs took charge, and never trailed. While Hagerstown was ahead of the standings, most of the commotion around the league was about a couple of pitchers from the Martinsburg club. “Lefty” Grove, who was known as Groves, during his Blue Ridge League stint, and a 19-year old southpaw named Cecil Slaughter, were starting to be noticed. On June 16 and 17, Jack Dunn, Jr., and scout Harry Frank of the Baltimore Orioles attended two games in Hagerstown to take a look at the two Martinsburg southpaws. Despite losing 4-2, primarily because his catcher couldn’t handle his 90-plus mile and hour pitches, and finished with a league record 8 passed balls, Groves made a major impression on the two Orioles scouts, and within ten days, the lanky southpaw from Western Maryland was pitching for Jack Dunn, Sr.’s Baltimore club in the .

Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

CHAPTER 5 THE KID NAMED GROVES

Bill Louden was one of the most respected and well-known residents in the coal mining region of the Allegheny Mountains of Western Maryland and Northern West Virginia. A former Major League infielder with the , Louden was known as “Baldy”, during his playing days.

A native of tiny Piedmont, West Virginia, located on the crest of the Potomac River, across from Westernport, Maryland; Louden was a standout athlete during his younger days, playing baseball to get away from the nearby coalfields that surrounded the area. After retiring from playing in 1915, Louden managed several clubs, including Minneapolis-MN in the American Association. When Louden’s hometown tried to reorganize a minor league club in 1918, they tried to acquire his services, but the price the Minneapolis club was offering to allow Louden to break from his contract was too much for the new Piedmont-Westernport club to afford, and his chance to return home to manage his hometown team never materialized. 2 Three weeks into the season, the Class D, Blue Ridge League disbanded due to the war effort, and Piedmont never reappeared on the baseball map.

After the war, Louden was hired to manage the Martinsburg-WV club in the newly reorganized Blue Ridge League in 1920. Scouring the Western Maryland and West Virginia area for talent, he heard about some promising semi-pro ball players while conducting tryouts in Cumberland, Maryland in mid-March of 1920. More than 70 young men tried out that day, including two southpaw pitchers from the coal mining areas west of the Allegheny Mountains. Both were 18- years old and impressed Louden with their raw talent. At the end of the day, Louden signed six Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

players to travel to Martinsburg, West Virginia in mid-April to formally try out for the 13-man club, including pitcher Cecil Slaughter of Clearfield, WV, pitcher Robert Groves of Lonaconing, MD, and an infielder named Robert “Bob” Blair of Midway, MD, a young veteran of the Great War, who according to his family, tagged along to the tryout at his friend Groves’ urging, and was also signed.

Both Groves and Slaughter continued to impress Louden and easily made the Martinsburg club when the season began on May 19. Louden signed both players to Martinsburg contract that was equivalent to $125.00 per month. For Groves, this was a lot of money, as he received $193.00 the previous year pitching 19 games for the Midland-MD semi pro club. 4 The cold weather was not kind to Groves, and Manager Louden decided to wait a week to allow his new recruit to warm up before introducing the young lefthander to minor league pitching.

Groves made his official Minor League pitching debut on May 21 in Martinsburg, West Virginia, losing 4 to 3 against the visiting Hagerstown Champs, despite pitching a complete game, allowing seven hits, walking four, and fanning ten batters. Interesting, pitcher Johnnie Allen, pitched a complete victory for Hagerstown against Groves. Battling lung injuries from being gassed for his decorated service in France during the Great World War, Allen never was able to regain his full form on the mound, according to his relatives, and his victory over the promising Martinsburg southpaw would be his last in the professional baseball.

The lanky lefthander’s next appearance on the mound came in relief on May 28 in a 9 to 4 non- decision loss to the Chambersburg Maroons at Martinsburg’s Rosemont Park. In a six-inning stint, he allowed four hits, three runs, one earned, while walking three, and fanning eight batters.

Groves made his next start on the mound for the Mountaineers at home on June 3, pitching against Harold Ludwig of the visiting Waynesboro-PA Villagers. Groves allowed just three hits, Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

walking four, and fanning 11 batters, but lost the game 3 to 1. Ironically, it would be Ludwig’s only victory in the league, and was released by the Waynesboro club two weeks later.

On June 8, Groves made his only non-pitching appearance on the Class D level, when he pinch-ran for George “Reggie” Rawlings in the first inning of a contest against the Frederick Hustlers, in a game which the Mountaineers won, 1 to 0.

His next appearance would begin to turn heads in the league, and start to gain the attention of officials and managers from the higher leagues. On June 11, Groves tossed a complete game, five- hitter against visiting Hagerstown in a 3 to 1 victory at Rosemont Park, earning his first of what would become, many minor league wins. Groves’ outstanding effort caught the attention of several opposing players on the Hagerstown club, which started a buzz around the baseball circles in the region of the talented southpaw from Martinsburg.

Though it is unclear which player was really responsible for bringing Groves’ attention to Jack Dunn, Sr. of the Baltimore Orioles, though veteran opposing pitcher Hanson Horsey took some of the credit, it was reported that Dunn’s son, Jack, Jr. and scout, Harry Frank, were sent to Hagerstown to see some of the talent on the Martinsburg and Hagerstown clubs. On June 16 and 17, Dunn, Jr. and Frank traveled to Hagerstown, Maryland to attend a two-game series at Willow Lane Park between Hagerstown and Martinsburg, who were at the time the league leaders, and battling for first place. It was reported by one of the town newspapers that Dunn, Jr. was there to see Martinsburg southpaws Groves and Slaughter in action.

On June 16, Slaughter pitched, and lost a heartbreaking 10 inning contest, 3 to 2 to the Champs. The next afternoon, Groves took the mound at Hagerstown’s Willow Lane Park. His regular catcher, Charles S. Hoffman, had been injured the previous day’s game, and Martinsburg Manager Louden had to replace him with a back-up named “Pa” Blanchard. Despite allowing six Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

hits in another complete game outing, and fanning nine batters, the Mountaineers lost, 4 to 2. Blanchard, the catcher, spent most of the game chasing Groves’ fastballs, setting a league record with eight passed balls, which led to three of Hagerstown’s scores. Despite Groves losing his third game of the season, Dunn, Jr. was ecstatic that he may have found his “diamond in the rough” with the lanky southpaw from Western Maryland.

Interest in Groves was quite evident when he made his sixth mound appearance. On Monday, June 21, the Martinsburg club traveled to Frederick, Maryland to face off in one of the most anticipated pitching duels of the season, against one of the league’s top pitchers, “Farmer Bill” King and the Frederick Hustlers at Agricultural Park. 8

The fans present were not denied a great game, as Martinsburg took a 1 to 0 lead in the first inning, thanks to a run scoring double by future Major Leaguer, Johnny Neun. Frederick came back in the first , taking advantage of Groves’ early jitters when he walked two men, and a timely base hit by Bill Phoenix, scored another future Major Leaguer, Ray Gardner with one out to knot the score at 1 to 1.

Groves led off the second inning with a base hit, but a fielder’s choice forced him at second. Two free passes by King loaded the bases, and George “Reggie” Rawlings scored Bill McGuire with Mountaineers second run.

Both pitchers settled down after that, Groves allowing only three hits on the day, fanning 10 batters, while not walking any batters after the first inning. The final score was 2 to 1, and set in motion a change of events that would change the face of the league forever.

As interest in Groves increased every game he pitched in the Blue Ridge League, more and more scouts from various higher minor leagues and a few Major League clubs wanted to see the Martinsburg’s lanky lefthander in action. Dunn, Sr., and his Orioles staff realized that they may have Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

stiff competition in signing their “diamond in the rough”, when scouts from the Chicago White Sox and , among other Major League clubs started calling. Dunn, Jr., who played in the Blue Ridge League for Frederick in 1916, was still familiar with many of the veteran players of the league, and according to some local newspaper reports used those connections to gain an advantage in the negotiations with Martinsburg club officials, and their Manager, Louden.

A recent severe spring storm in the Martinsburg area had uprooted most of the new outfield fence at Rosemont Park, and the Martinsburg club was not in a position financially to replace the fencing around the park. Finding this inside information was instrumental for Dunn, Jr., who used this as part of their negotiation with the Martinsburg club, and offered to cover the costs of replacing the fence, in return for the services of Groves. Though the exact amount varied between $2,000 to $3,500, depending on the various newspaper accounts, it generally believed that the Orioles received Groves for $3,000, which included the $2,400 the Martinsburg club owed to cover the costs of the repairing the outfield fence and grandstand, and a bag of new .

With a verbal commitment in hand, Groves pitched his final game for Martinsburg on June 25 at Rosemont Park against Hagerstown. Groves pitched a masterful game, shutting out the Champs on two hits, fanning six batters, while walking four, as the Mountaineers won easily, 5 to 0.

On June 28, Groves’s contract was officially sold to Jack Dunn, Sr. of the Baltimore Orioles in the Class AA, International League. According to several sources, Dunn deleted the “s” in his contract with Baltimore to “Grove,” and he was always known by that last name thereafter. Two days later, “Grove” made his International League debut for the Orioles against the Toronto, Ontario club in Canada. This marked the beginning of a five-year stint with the Orioles, who won the International League pennant every year Grove was on their roster. In 1925, Dunn sold Grove’s contract to of the Philadelphia Athletics for a then record $100,600.00. He went on to Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

win 300 Major League games with the A’s and Boston Red Sox, and pitched in three . Grove was unanimously elected in Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1947.

2 “Piedmont Trying to Sign Louden,” Cumberland Times, May 18, 1918. 4 “Groves Pitched Season For $193…Lefty Going Strong in International; Expected to Remain in Big Show,” The Frederick Post, July 7, 1920. 8 “Pitching Battle in Favor of Visitors: Locals Get Three Hits…Two One-Game Breaks Against Hustlers: Mountaineers Led to Victory By Groves.” The Frederick Post, July 7, 1920.

CHAPTER 6 LIFE AFTER “LEFTY”

When Grove pitched his last game in the Blue Ridge League on June 25, the Martinsburg club was one of the strongest in the circuit. When Groves tossed a two-hitter against Hagerstown in a 5-0 win, and it looked like the Mountaineers could be a cinch to battle for the league crown. However, Groves’ departure left a sudden void, and his replacement on the Mountaineers roster, a pitcher named Matt Bahr, sent by Baltimore’s Jack Dunn, Sr., didn’t measure up to Lefty’s standards, and caused some dissatisfaction among the rest of his Martinsburg teammates, officials, and fans.

As the weeks went on, the confidence of the Martinsburg club seem to slip from their grasp. Internal problems between players and officials, and injuries of key players plagued the club during the latter half of the season, as the Mountaineers slipped to fourth place to end the season. Their woes were evident between August 21 to August 26, when the Mountaineers went a league record 39 2/3 innings without scoring a run, after being shutout twice each by Hagerstown and Waynesboro.

One of the players who was most effected by Groves’ departure from Martinsburg was his catcher, Charles Hoffman. According to reports, the catcher’s attitude changed, and his play and Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

batting average dwindled. On July 23, Hoffman’s frustrations evidently showed when he was engaged in a verbal confrontation with a fan during a game, and dared the man to come on the field, before a policeman came in to quell the disturbance. On August 14, Hoffman abruptly quit during a game vs. Frederick, after pitcher Bahr repeatedly threw pitches before the catcher had signaled for him to throw the ball. Hoffman’s unruly actions prompted Manager Louden to suspend him for 30 days for his actions, and release the player shortly thereafter. On August 19, club officials noticed that the one of the club’s two catcher mitts, that were used to catch Groves’ fastballs, was missing, and was reportedly taken by the recently suspended catcher. Martinsburg club officials reported the mitt as stolen property, and had a search warrant out for Hoffman, who was still living in Martinsburg at the time, and reportedly escorted him to the local police station. After denying the charge, Hoffman offered his own mitt, and was officially released by the club after returning the catcher’s mitt, and before returning to his home in Latrobe, PA.

CHAPTER 7 THE UMPIRES

Despite all the positives, the league did have a few negatives which affected the clubs. Good umpires were scarce around all of the Minor leagues, and the Class D, Blue Ridge League was no exception. President Jamison went through over 18 umpires during the course of the 1920 season, whereas in 1917, when he had future Hall of Fame , Bill McGowan, he went through seven umps. The umpires that did officiate may not always have been as good, and their arbiting skills went in question with the players and fans on many occasions. Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

In a couple instances, the umpires left the grounds between doubleheaders, and refused to arbiter the second game because of a safety concern, or refused to show up to a town, because a lack of police protection. On July 9, the second game of a doubleheader between Hanover and Hagerstown at Willow Lane Park was cancelled when Umpire Finney Kelly left the grounds after the first game, and did not return, later stating he had no police protection against the unruly fans, several of which were arguing face-to-face with the umpire in the first game. Umpire Fred Marks refused to return to umpire a game in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania on August 6, fearing his safety.

During a heated game at McAllister Park in Hanover, Pennsylvania on June 15, between the Raiders and Frederick Hustlers, an umpire named Wessels was slugged in the face by Raiders pitcher “Mike” Keenan, during the latter half of the 6th inning. Keenan reported he was provoked after he disputed several of the umpire’s calls, and when the umpire knelt down to scoop a cup of water from a bucket between innings, an upset Keenan surprised him with a swing to the face, and he was rendered unconscious during the game. Frederick won the game, 9 to 1, after a player from each club agreed to umpire the remainder of the contest. Though Keenan apologized for the incident, the player was initially suspended by League President Jamison for the remainder of the season, and fined $100.00 for the incident, however, at the request of new Hanover Manager, Bert Weeden, was allowed to come back on August 27 after serving over two months of his suspension.

The umpires also had to deal with time management and transportation issues, as was the case during a game, July 5 in Frederick. Scheduled as a morning / afternoon doubleheader hosted by clubs, the Martinsburg and Frederick’s club played a morning game at Agricultural Park in Frederick. The afternoon game was scheduled for Martinsburg’s Rosemont Park. Since transportation to Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

Martinsburg was by railroad, both clubs agreed to stop play no later than 12-noon, so both clubs could catch the train to Martinsburg in time for the afternoon contest. With the game tied in the bottom of the 9th inning, and agreed upon deadline fast approaching, several Martinsburg players tried to stalling to delay the game to get it called. Their tactics backfired when pitcher Bahr walked in the winning run at 11:59 am, one minute before the game would have been stopped.

CHAPTER 8 DYSERT SETS MARK ON THE BASEPATHS

Several other players highlighted play during the 1920 season, some setting new league records in the process. On the base paths, Hagerstown outfielder Charley Dysert stole a league record five bases in one game against Hanover on June 21. Dysert would set a league record 48 stolen bases during the 1920 season for the Champs, a mark that would not be surpassed in the league’s history. After Groves’ departure, several other pitchers started to show their dominance around the league. While Hagerstown had a solid pitching staff with Tommy Verecker, Wilbur Phillips and Chalkey McCleary, their fourth starter turned out to be the best of them all. Another Western Maryland native, from the Cumberland area, Charles Dye didn’t join the club until May 30, but would eventually lead the entire league at the end of the season with 18 victories. Another star pitcher would be Frederick manager “Buck” Ramsey”. Ramsey, who at 41, was the oldest player in the league, helped the Hustlers win 14 of their last 18 games, and give Hagerstown a scare the last week of the season, before finishing percentage points ahead of Waynesboro in second place. Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

Waynesboro’s pitching corps was led by former Martinsburg southpaw, Alan “Lefty” Clark, who came to Waynesboro with Red Birds Manager William “Country” Morris at the beginning of the season. Clark led all pitchers with 150 strikeouts, walking 63, and winning 14 of 22 contests. Clark fanned 15 batters in one game in a win at Martinsburg on May 31. James Fox (10-6, 70 K’s, 3 ShO), complimented Clark on the mound for the Red Birds. “Ralph” Yordy led the Red Birds at the plate, leading the league with seven triples and 12 home runs, while batting .326 in 89 games. Johnnie Blair batted .302, and scored 61 runs, while Karl Kolseth batted .322 during the final month of the season. Kolseth batted .338 in 70 games as Player/Manager for Hanover, and combined for 10 home runs between the two clubs. One of the top hitters in the league was Chambersburg first baseman, Bill Satterlee, who tore up the league with a .351 batting average, also leading the league with 122 hits and tied Yordy with seven triples. Martinsburg’s George “Reggie” Rawlings led the Mountaineers with a .303 batting average, leading the league with 98 games played with teammate Bill McGuire. Rawlings belted 18 doubles and nine home runs, and was responsible for league-high 61 runs batted in. On August 3, all three league contest’s ended in a shutout, the first time recorded in the league’s history. Chambersburg’s Charles Raab tossed the league’s only no-hitter during the 1920 season, out dueling Wick Winslow, and blanking Waynesboro, 1-0 in the first game of a doubleheader in Chambersburg on August 22. On the same day, Ramsey pitched both ends of a doubleheader against league leader Hagerstown, and won both games to cut the Champs lead to 6 games. Several players signed with higher organizations during the end of the 1920 season. Among them included Chambersburg catcher, Marion “Jack” Staylor, a Baltimore, Maryland native, who signed with the of the American Association. Frederick infielder Ray Gardner was signed by the Birmingham Barons of the Southern Association late in the season Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

CHAPTER 9 WAYNESBORO CAN’T BUY A PENNANT

Waynesboro and Martinsburg battled to stay in contention during the second half of the season. In trying to strengthen their club, Waynesboro made a blockbuster trade on August 9, the first of its kind in the Blue Ridge League, when they traded pitcher Walt Harrell, infielder Ralph Robinson, and a pitcher Warren Heller for slugging infielder, Karl Kolseth of the Hanover club. Kolseth had the distinction of being the only Manager who did not finish the season, when he was replaced by Bert Weeden midway through the season. Despite a salary cap agreed upon by the all the clubs in the league before the season, Waynesboro brought in some higher salaried players during the last month of the season in an attempt to win the pennant. When the Hagerstown Herald reported that Waynesboro’s newly acquired star pitcher, Wick Winslow was paid under the table, it caused much skepticism around the league. Winslow, who played in the league for Hagerstown and Frederick in 1916 and 1917, had spent most of the 1920 season in the Canadian League, before asking for his release to return closer to home. According to the Hagerstown Herald, Winslow was paid a $1,000 signing bonus by the Waynesboro club, which was not reported in the club’s salary cap. Though an inquiry was held by League President Jamison, no substantial evidence was found to support the accusation. In order not to continue the controversy, Winslow was released by the Waynesboro club, however it already had caused a disruption within the clubhouse, resulting in a few of their star players to quit in dispute over their salary. Second baseman Luke Kaunas, who was one of the lowest paid players on the club, quit the club after confronting league officials, and All-Star outfielder “Ralph” Yordy joined him in Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

the dispute. Yordy did return to the club, but the damage had already been done, dashing the Red Birds pennant hopes.

CHAPTER 10 CHAMPS TAKE THE PENNANT

When Waynesboro and Hanover made their blockbuster trade, four of the six clubs in the circuit were battling each other for the pennant. Hagerstown was in the driver’s seat, having lead the league standings for over the past two months, trailed by rivals Waynesboro, Martinsburg and Frederick. The Hustlers went on a tear during the final three weeks of the season, winning 14 of their last 19 games, including a tie, to overtake the Red Birds and Mountaineers in the standings during the last week of the season. On September 7, the Hagerstown Champs and Manager Mike Mowrey finally clinched the pennant at Willow Lane Park with a 4 to 0 whitewash of the Hustlers, behind the pitching of Tommy Verecker, who according to newspaper reports, pitched one of the best games of his career. Hagerstown won 56 games, losing 39, for a .539 , to take the league pennant in 1920 by a two-and-a half games. Frederick finished second with a 52-40 mark, and Waynesboro was right behind the Hustlers in third with a 52-41 record. Early season favorite, Martinsburg finished fourth with a 48-47 record, as four of the six clubs finished over the .500 mark.

Led by outfielders Day (.331 BA, 21 2B, 5 HR, 23 SB), Charles Dysert (.259 BA, 58 R, 49 SB) and Charles Miller (.249 BA, 5 HR, 16 SB), infielders Mowrey (.327 BA, 16 2B, 19 SB), John Layne (.257 BA, Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

21 SB), Charles Stratton, Mike Dunn (22 SH), and Leslie Reynolds, catchers Johnny Mace and George Russell, and a strong pitching quartet of Dye (18-7, 121 K’s), Verecker (14-9, 122 K’s), McCleary (13- 10. 100 K’s) and Phillips (9-10, 84 K’s), the Champs truly earned their nickname with their steady and consistent play, day in and day out.

The league saw several future Major Leaguers play during the 1920 season, in addition to Groves and Neun. Frederick had two budding stars in 19-year old, Ray Gardner, and pitcher/outfielder Clarence Blethen. Several Major League scouts had their eye on the Hustlers third baseman, but Gardner’s contract was sold to Birmingham of the Southern Association in September, thanks to the influence of the Barons Manager, Carlton Molesworth, who was a Frederick native.

Hanover had a pitcher/outfielder named Byron “Rube” Yarrison whose contract was sold to Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics during the season, and an outfielder named Charlie “Dutch” Mullen, who along with Hagerstown’s McCleary was sold to Milwaukee of the American Association at the end of the season. It was also reported that Champs outfielder, Charles Miller’s contract was sold to the St. Louis Cardinals.

The league as a whole under President James Vincent Jamison, Jr. was a success. According to newspaper reports, each club made a profit, and the league itself had paid all bills by July 31, and had $1,500.00 in its treasury. The Hagerstown franchise, under the guidance of President Richard Hartle, reportedly made over $6,000 during the course of the season, which was the first time that Association had made a healthy profit, since forming during the 1916 season. The three Pennsylvania clubs initially struggled financially, but improved as the season went along. According to a story from T. Leo Doyle of The Baltimore Sun, the Hagerstown franchise led the league in attendance, with Swinging for the Fences, and the Kid from Lonaconing

1920 Season - Class D, Blue Ridge League

by Mark C. Zeigler

the new Waynesboro franchise finishing a close second. Though no attendance figures were reported, it was estimated that the Hagerstown club averaged at least 1,000 fans per home game.

After the season, the pennant winning Hagerstown club scheduled a tour of the Eastern Shore to play a few post-season games before disbanding for the season. Mike Mowrey led the League champs that featured catchers John Mace and George Russell; infielders Charles Stratton, John Layne, Leslie Reynolds, and Mikey Dunn; outfielders Charles Dysert, Tom Day, and Charles Miller; and pitchers Charley Dye, Chalkey McCleary, Tommy Verecker, Wilbur Phillips and Johnnie Knecht. Hagerstown lost to host Salisbury, 3 to 1 on September 16, but rebounded to defeat Cambridge, 5 to 0 the next day, on a three-hitter by Charley Dye.

As an end the season highlight for the local fans, as a group of Blue Ridge League All-Star players played an exhibition against the International League champion, Baltimore Orioles, and former Martinsburg pitcher, Robert “Lefty” Groves at Waynesboro’s E-B Park. The game was called because of darkness with both teams tied, 5 to 5. Waynesboro’s “Lefty” Clarke pitched for the Blue Ridge Leaguers against the Orioles’ Groves. Waynesboro catcher John Fitzgerald’s solo home run over the fence in the 8th inning, tied the score for the hosts. Chambersburg shortstop Mike Fuhrey and Martinsburg outfielder “Reggie” Rawlings were also mentioned for their defensive play.

Many challenges still laid ahead for the Blue Ridge League in the coming year, but for many of the players and fans, it was good to be back.

For more information on the Class D, Blue Ridge League or the Class D, Potomac League, you may e-mail Mark C. Zeigler at [email protected] or [email protected]. For more information on the early years of the Class D, Blue Ridge League, visit our website at www.blueridgeleague.org.