MEDINA BUGLE

A Publication of the Medin a Historical Society Spring 2012

President’s Message

Spring is here and our thoughts turn toward flowers, lawns, gardens and of course Baseball. Below are two great articles with Next Monthly Meeting regards to and Medina.

I have some exciting news our roof Monday 4/30/2012 was in need of repair and with the 7:00PM help of Craig Lacy and the Lee-Whedon Memorial Ridgeway town board we have a Library new roof. A special thanks goes to Brian Napoli town board president for making this happen. .

Please mark your calendars for Officers 2012 June 02, 2012 for our first annual President Reinhard Doll show and sale. Georgia Rogowski Thomas has been working hard to Vice President: Craig Lacy make this happen and please let Treasurer: Sandy Tompkins her know if you can help. Secretary: Shane Sia Board: Cindy Robinson, I would like to plan a spring Georgia Thomas, Catherine clean-up on Saturday May 19 as Cooper, Frank Berger our Museum could use a good cleaning inside and out. Your help is needed and if we can arrive Copper around 10:00am we should be done by early afternoon with enough hands.

1 "Ike" Recalls the Babe big shot in the city, but I'm a big shot By Don Cook in the country." Two of Medina's ballplayers who is fast played with Ruth that day are still approaching a fever pitch as the living. They are Eddie Cotriss of North Yanks, A's, Dodgers and Expos all Gravel Road and George Butts of cling to hopes of winning their Prospect Street, Medina. divisions this week and finding The story as it appeared in the themselves ready to do battle in the big 1920 edition of the J-R follows: pot-of-gold, the . Yesterday Medina officially ushered Following the action closely as he out the 1920 baseball season in a has done for probably seven decades, is fitting way. The main attraction of the Walter "Ike" Whittleton of 1402 South day, the famed hitting Babe Ruth, lived Main St., Medina. up to all expectations of the fans and In a chat with Ike yesterday we hit the ball hard and high over all sides found it more interesting to learn of the of the fence. day the great George Herman "Babe" Ruth was in excellent form Ruth visited Medina. yesterday despite the injury to his Displaying a neatly kept scrapbook, wrist. Whittleton recalled the incident with Ruth was accompanied by Vick enthusiasm and pointed out an article Hoffman and Carl Mays, a battery from of the game from a Journal-Register the New York Americans, and Jeff clip dated Oct. 19, 1920. Tesreau, former New York Giant The headlines read "And Along . Came Babe Ruth And Made Good." During preliminary batting practice, Whittleton emphasized baseball Ruth made some of the longest hits of was big in Medina in both pre-World his career, according to members of his War I and post war days. party. (Note: This was still in the dead- "We drew big in those days," he ball era.) recalled, "and had a big crowd in old The game started with Mays and Oak Orchard Park to see the Babe." Hoffman the battery for Medina, and Surprisingly enough, Ruth didn't hit Lewis and Brown for All-Lockport. the first home of the game. That The game was scoreless until distinction belonged to Fenton "Darb" Lockport's half of the third inning Whalen of Lockport. when the first of the day was Whalen was known as an excellent made, and not by Ruth. Fenton ball player and just as well known as Whalen, the pride of the Lock City, the droll comic of Western New York lifted the ball over the left field fence. baseball. According to word passed Ruth in the first inning fanned. along, as Whalen drilled one over the The next time up he hit for three left field fence, he rounded the bases bases, and the next time he did the and called to Ruth, "You may be the trick and hit over the right field fence. 2 Eddie Cotriss relieved Mays in the fifth that when he swings there is a inning and in his five innings of work tremendous force. In practice he he fanned 10 of the 15 men to face electrified the fans not only by the him. length of his hits but also by the altitudes to which he sent some of

them. BABE RUTH LOST A In the game he played first base DOZEN BALLS OVER throughout and dared not pitch because of the sprain to his left THE MEDINA FENCE hand. But the big fellow scoops Lockport Fans Saw Great Star them up cleverly around first Perform In Game Against Jimmy though he had one fumble. Babe’s Mack’s Team good nature was in evidence. The kids rushed him and at one point “Fin” Whalen divided honors he held up the game a moment with the great Babe Ruth in the while a girl from the bleacher Lockport-Medina game yesterday crowd took his picture and that of when Ruth and his compatriots of Whalen. New York, four in number, Mays pitched for the Medina appeared in the Medina lineup. team, Hoffman performed The Lockport star poled a homer beautifully behind the bat and Big in the fourth inning right after Jeff Tesreau romped in center Ruth had fanned in his first time field. The New York four were up before Lewis. Whalen lifted bunched at the top of the Medina one of those bewildering batting order and the crowd was on underhanded inshoots of Carl tip toe when Ruth came up the first Mays’ and sent it soaring far over time. Lewis didn’t appear to left center. “Beat me to it, eh worry. From second base “Fin” Red,” said Ruth as Whalen passed Whalen was yelling ”let him hit first in his trot around. it,” “Make him hit it” and so on. But Ruth gave the crowd a But Ruth couldn’t or didn’t show –some show. Before the connect. He swung one, two, game he “exhibited” at the bat, and three. The crowd was sent 15 hits one after another over disappointed. the outfield fences. “Bing” Cleary In fourth Ruth sent a hard fast finally had to call a halt as Ruth one against right field fence and threatened to lose all the balls the right field fence is some deep in club had in stock. Ruth lifts them Medina grounds. It was tagged for with a mighty power. As he stands three bases and scored Mays. In up to the plate left-handed he has the sixth with one on base Ruth the right foot forward and his body had three and one. The next pitch half turned toward the catcher so was high over Ruth’s head. 3 Umpire Cleary called, “Strike is popular with the Medina fans Two.” He knew the crowd and when introduced at the wouldn’t stand for a pass as they banquet was given a thundering wanted to see Ruth hit. On the reception. Fin told some of his next ball Ruth lifted it with a sharp inimitable baseball stories of crack and it traveled clear beyond league days and had Ruth and the the right field, scoring Mays ahead rest of the crowd in roars. Ruth of him. In the eighth Ruth had a was so amused he asked Whalen to fast single down right field line. write out some of the stories for A number of Lockport fans saw him. “I am called on so much,” he the contest and enjoyed it. The said. “I never know what to say great Ruth is truly a marvel in and could use some of those action. A powerful fellow through stories. Red, you’re a wonder.” the chest and shoulders he gives Others who spoke were W. one the impression that he could Barry Murphy and John Cleary of pull a tree up by the roots. At the Medina, and A.C. Dwyer of same time he is light limbed and Lockport. fast on his feet. Ruth’s left wrist is badly Following the game the New swollen as a result of the sprain he York squad, Ruth and his pals received when sliding a base at were given a banquet by Medina Binghamton. However, he does Council Knights of Columbus. not believe a bone is broken, he Grand Knight David White stated to a Union-Sun and Journal presided. Ruth had to plead he representative. He advised also isn’t a speaker but said he was that he will wind up the happy to have the privilege of barnstorming tour on Sunday and trying to entertain Medina fans and sail then for Cuba for a series of expressed the hope he could come exhibition games for which it is back next fall. He pulled one on understood he will receive Catcher Hoffman whom he $35,000. introduced as a good speaker. Medina paid $2,000 for the Hoffman protested vainly but Babe New York quartette yesterday, but forced him up and Hoffman in Manager Cleary says the gate was attempting to say “I can’t make a $400 short of the amount. speech” nearly swallowed his tonsils. Tesreau and Mays made neat little thank yous to the Medina Knights. The hit of evening was old “Darb” again. He

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