Tennessee State Library and Archives JOHN B. GOOCH BASEBALL

Home , Glenn Wright, Johnny Gooch, Nashville Vols, Percy Crosby, Pie Traynor

State of Tennessee Department of State Tennessee State Library and Archives

JOHN B. GOOCH BASEBALL COLLECTION 1897-1993

COLLECTION SUMMARY

Creator:

Gooch, John Beverley, 1897-1975

Inclusive Dates:

1897-2020

Scope & Content:

Consists of photocopied and original materials: photographs, membership cards, baseball game passes, souvenir programs, team schedules, newspaper clippings, and birth and death certificates.

The photographs consist mainly of photocopies, though there are some fine originals including a Thuss portrait of the Gooches’ first son, John Claiborne, called “Skippy.” Others (excluding photocopies) include Johnny in the catcher’s position, wearing his Talladega uniform, sitting with Governor Winfield Dunn at the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (TSHF) induction banquet, posing with wife Mary Virginia Omohundro on their 1922 wedding day, some reproduction picture postcards, a three-part panorama of Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field, and a hand-colored portrait of Mary. The remaining images and photocopies include one of Honus Wagner and Pie Traynor standing with the Gooch family. The photocopies and some negatives represent images sold at auction in 1993.

The oversize boxes and folders (OV) feature mostly newspaper clippings, particularly sportswriter Fred Russell’s columns. Newspaper clippings follow Johnny’s career and, along with the photographs, track the life of a substantial major league baseball player.

Additional items—two metal branding plates (“Genuine Airized 35” and “Official Softball”), one wooden stamp handle labeled “Gooch TV Service” and its rubber

address cushion, correspondence, clippings, photographs, photocopies, copy prints, and an obituary—round out the collection.

Sports enthusiasts, scholars, and teachers should recognize the value of this collection as a contribution to the baseball literature.

Physical Description/Extent:

4.5 cubic feet

Accession/Record Group Number:

1997-026; 2020-224

Language:

English

Permanent Location:

ASRS, M-16-15

Repository:

Tennessee State Library and Archives, 1001 Rep. John Lewis Way N., Nashville, Tennessee 37219

Administrative/Biographical History

Baseball knew John Beverley Gooch as Johnny. Called “the greatest young catcher in the National League” at the end of the 1921 season, Johnny Gooch (1897-1975) grew up in Smyrna, Tennessee.

The Pittsburgh Pirates called up Johnny from the minor leagues in 1921, and he played for the club until 1928. During that time, he caught in two World Series. Pittsburgh won the world championship in 1925 against the Washington Nationals, but lost the 1927 title in a sweep by the New York Yankees. Between 1928 and 1937, Gooch played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Nashville Vols, and the Boston Red Sox.

In 1936 Johnny managed and caught for Cincinnati’s farm club, the Durham Bulls. There he tutored Johnny “Vandy” Vander Meer to steady his wild pitches. The Reds called up Vander Meer the next year, and he pitched a still unbroken record of two consecutive no-hitters. He credited Gooch with making him a winner.

Years later, Gooch spoofed listeners with a story about Vander Meer’s untamed pitching. As he told it, “Vandy has always (pitched) wild high and inside to righthanded hitters. Not long after he arrived in Durham, I slipped out to the ball park about 2 o’clock one morning, dug up home plate and moved it over three 2

inches. That remedied his problem” (Sportswriter Fred Russell, Nashville Banner, June 14, 1978). Russell, “The Dean of Drollery,” regarded Gooch as “one of the wittiest adults in a profession that required knee-pants and a cap.” See the oversize box for numerous Russell columns.

Johnny and Mary Virginia Omohundro married in Nashville in 1922, and she delivered John Claiborne Gooch in 1925. The boy arrived the summer before the Pirates played in the World Series, and the team made him team mascot. His nickname, “Skippy,” was derived from a wildly popular comic strip of the time by Percy Crosby. Living in Cincinnati four years later, Skippy cut his chin when he fell against a lamp post. A doctor gave him a tetanus serum, and he died from an allergic reaction. The Gooches later welcomed a son and a daughter, Beverley Randolph (1932) and Mary Virginia (1935). Beverley invented numerous electronic machines, one of which appears to be a forerunner of the videocassette recorder (VCR). Mary Virginia (Ginny) Watson keeps active in museum, archives, and genealogy milieus.

Johnny Gooch earned the description of having a “great throwing arm” which made him an outstanding catcher. He threw far and accurately. Players and sportswriters knew him for his “peg to second base” that denied many stealers and runners an advance.

Johnny and Mary Virginia Gooch returned to Nashville in 1942 where Johnny began manufacturing baseball and softball bats. The Gooch Manufacturing Company survived the war as the only bat maker in the U.S., but the building burned in 1947. After a relaunch, the factory burned again, so Gooch sold the business and lot in 1950. He turned his knack for wood making into a business in 1953 and ran it until his death in 1975.

Organization/Arrangement of Materials

Series List for Physical Records

I. Original Collection II. Collection Addition

Conditions of Access and Use

Restrictions on Access:

No restrictions.

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction:

While the Tennessee State Library and Archives houses an item, it does not necessarily hold the copyright on the item, nor may it be able to determine if the item is still protected under current copyright law. Users are solely responsible for determining the existence of such instances and for obtaining any other permissions and paying associated fees that may be necessary for the intended use.

Index Terms

Personal/Family Names: Gooch, John Beverley, 1897-1975 Russell, Fred, 1906-2003 Vander Meer, Johnny, 1914-1997 Wagner, Honus, 1874-1955

Corporate Names/Organizations/Government Bodies:

Cincinnati Reds (Baseball team) Durham Bulls (Baseball team) Nashville banner Nashville Vols (Baseball team) Pittsburgh Pirates (Baseball team) Pittsburgh press Tennessean (Nashville, Tenn. : 1972)

Subjects:

Baseball -- Biography Baseball fields -- United States -- Anecdotes Catchers (Baseball) -- United States -- History -- 20th century No-hitters (Baseball) -- United States -- History -- 20th century Sports journalism -- United States -- History -- 20th century

Geographic Names:

Cincinnati (Ohio) -- History -- Sources Durham (N.C.) -- History -- Sources Nashville (Tenn.) -- History -- Sources Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- History -- Sources

Document Types:

Auction catalogs Birth certificates Clippings (information artifacts) Collective biographies Death certificates Genealogies (histories)

Marriage certificates Membership cards Obituaries Passes (tickets) Photocopies Photographs Rosters Rubber stamps Souvenir programs

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition:

Johnny Gooch’s daughter, Virginia Gooch Watson, donated the collection in 1997. She donated the addition in 2020.

Processing and Administrative Information

Preferred Citation:

John B. Gooch Baseball Collection, 1897-2020, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

Processing Information:

Completed by Susan Gordon, February 2021.

Related Archival Materials:

John Andrew Beazley Papers, 1916-1990, Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Tennessee Professional Baseball Players History Project Papers, 1953- 1994, Tennessee State Library and Archives.

DETAILED COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

SERIES I. – ORIGINAL COLLECTION

Series Scope and Content: Consists of photocopied and original materials: photographs, membership cards, baseball game passes, souvenir programs, team schedules, newspaper clippings, and birth and death certificates.

Series Arrangement: Collection is arranged alphabetically by document type.

CONTAINER LIST

Contents/Item Title Date Box Folder Auction catalogs (Leland’s) -- Doubleheader Live Nov. 20-21, 1 1 Auction 1993 Forms (documents) -- Gooch Manufacturing Co. undated 1 2 Genealogies (histories) -- Omohundro (John undated 1 3 Burwell) family Inventories -- Johnny Gooch inventory of May 15, 1993 1 4 memorabilia Letterheads -- Gooch Manufacturing Co. undated 1 5 Negatives (photographs) -- Gooch Baseball undated 1 6 Collection auctioned items Newspaper clippings -- Omohundro, Mary Nov. 7, 1920 1 7 Virginia, equestrian Newspaper clippings -- Tennessee Sports Hall of 1932-1976 1 8 Fame Newspaper clippings -- Tennessee Sports Hall of Sept. 7, 1971 1 9 Fame nominees Panoramic photography -- Forbes Field, Pittsburgh 1925 1 10 (3 panels) Photocopies -- Autographs -- Barnhart, Clyde L., undated 1 11 Max Carey, Glenn Wright Photocopies -- Birth certificates -- Gooch, John Nov. 9, 1897 1 12 Beverley Photocopies -- Birth certificates -- Gooch, John Aug. 28, 1925 1 13 Claiborne Photocopies -- Birth certificates -- Omohundro, June 29, 1900 1 14 Mary Virginia Photocopies -- Checks (bank checks) -- Pittsburg May 10, 1938 1 15 People’s Trust Company Photocopies -- Christmas cards (including one undated, 1970, 1 16 from Honus Wagner) 1972

Photocopies -- Correspondence -- Crosby, Percy, June 1929 1 17 to Mr. & Mrs. Gooch, on the death of Skippy Photocopies -- Death certificates -- Gooch, John May 15, 1975 1 18 Beverley Photocopies -- Marriage certificates -- Gooch, John Nov. 2, 1922 1 19 Beverly (sic) and Mary Virginia Omohundro Photocopies -- Membership cards 1928-1941 1 20 Photocopies -- Newspaper columns -- Russell, Fred undated 1 21 -- “Bury Me in an Old Press Box” Photocopies -- Obituaries -- Gooch, John Beverley 1975 1 22 Photocopies -- Obituaries -- Gooch, Mary Virginia 1995 1 23 Omohundro Photocopies -- Photographs -- Forbes Field, 1925 1 24 Pittsburgh Photocopies -- Photographs -- Gooch, John B. -- 1925 1 25 Pittsburgh Pirates uniform Photocopies -- Photographs -- Gooch, John B. -- 1939 1 26 Pittsburgh Pirates uniform Photocopies -- Photographs -- Gooch, John approximately 1 27 Claiborne, “Skippy” as toddler 1926-1929 Photocopies -- Photographs -- Gooch, Johnny and Nov. 2, 1922 1 28 Mary V. Gooch on their wedding day Photocopies -- Photographs -- Pirates, 1925 World 1951 1 29 champs Photocopies -- Photographs -- Pittsburgh Pirates 1937 1 30 players (Johnny, Pie Traynor, and Honus Wagner) with children Photocopies -- Photographs -- Pittsburgh Pirates 1923, 1939 1 31 team pictures Photocopies -- Pittsburgh Pirates’ Golden Jubilee 1925 1 32 score card cover Photocopies -- Poetry -- Gooch, Mary Virginia -- undated 1 33 “The Girl by the Creek” Photocopies -- Press releases -- TSHF induction Jan. 26, 1972 1 34 banquet Photocopies -- Souvenir programs -- Birmingham undated, 1949 1 35 Barons Photocopies -- Statistics -- Gooch, John B. undated 1 36 (Johnny) baseball league record, 1919-1932 Photocopies -- Telegrams -- Herron, J.A., to John July 24, 1974 1 37 Gooch Photographic postcards -- Gooch, Johnny 1922-1930s 1 38 Photographs -- Gooch and Watson families 1972 1 39 Photographs -- Gooch, John, with Tennessee Feb. 11, 1972 40 Sports Hall of Fame (TSHF) induction plaque Photographs -- Gooch, John, and Mary May 16, 1959 1 41 7

Photographs -- Gooch, John, and Mary dressed for Feb. 11, 1972 1 42 TSHF induction banquet Photographs -- Gooch, John, and Mary on 50th Nov. 5, 1972 1 43 anniversary Photographs -- Gooch, John B. -- Pirates uniform 1939 1 44 Photographs -- Gooch, John B. -- Talladega Tigers, 1921, undated 1 45 Birmingham Barons, and Pittsburgh Pirates uniforms Photographs -- Gooch, John B. with Gov. Winfield 1972 1 46 Dunn, TSHF induction event Photographs -- Gooch, John Claiborne (Skippy) as 1926 1 47 toddler -- Thuss Studio Photographs -- Gooch, John Claiborne (Skippy) 1929 1 48 with catcher’s mitt, ball, and bat Photographs -- Omohundro, Mary Virginia 1920 1 49 Photographs -- Passes (tickets) -- Gooch, Johnny -- undated 1 50 Baseball Major Leagues lifetime pass Photographs -- Watson, Virginia Gooch, and 1972 1 51 brother Beverley R. Gooch Photographs -- Watson, Virginia Gooch, and 1972 1 52 husband, George Franklin Watson Souvenir programs -- Forbes Field 1934 1 53 Souvenir programs -- TSHF induction banquets 1972, 1973, 1974 1 54

Newspaper clippings -- Variety of clippings and approximately OV 1 programs 1915-1970s

SERIES II. – COLLECTION ADDITION

Series Scope and Content: Consists of photocopied and original materials: photographs and copy prints, newspaper clippings, photocopies, correspondence, and sketches added after initial processing.

Series Arrangement: Collection is arranged alphabetically by document type.

CONTAINER LIST

Contents/Item Title Date Box Folder Biographical sketches -- Gooch, John B. 1993 2 1 Correspondence -- TSHF to John B. Gooch Feb. 1, 1972 2 2 Newspaper clippings -- Granny White Park history Feb. 21, 2007 2 3 Newspaper clippings -- Johnny Gooch career 1922-1951 2 4 Obituaries -- Lallemand, Eugene A. 1954 2 5

Photocopies -- Historic Brentwood (Little and 1985 2 6 Brachey) Photographs -- Auction of Johnny Gooch materials Nov. 21-23, 2 7 1993 Photographs -- Gooch, John B. 1920-1940 2 8 Photographs -- Gooch, John Claiborne (Skippy) 1926 2 9 Photographs -- TSHF Gooch family gathering Feb. 11, 1972 2 10 Printouts -- Society for American Baseball Dec. 7, 2020 2 11 Researchers (SABR) 2020 donation drive Sketches -- Gooch Manufacturing Company 1993 2 12 Artifacts -- Metallic stamps and rubber stamp 1950-1965 3 13 Copy prints -- Board-mounted, “Pittsburg Pirates, 1925 OV 1925 World Champions” Panoramic view 2 of Forbes Field -- Pirates vs. Reds Copy prints -- Board-mounted, 1927 World Series, 1927 OV 3 Pirates vs. Yankees (3 photographs)