“DEMONS, COLTS, GIANTS and DRYBUGS”

—THE LONG, LOST 1916 CLASS D, POTOMAC LEAGUE

By Mark C. Zeigler

Western has had a long history of organized going back to the late 19th Century.1 Noted for its connection to the railroads to the west, and nearby coal fields, that dotted the region of Allegany County, Maryland, the activity of baseball became the outlet for many young men in the region, as town teams and Athletic Clubs became prevalent during this time period.2 For some, baseball became a way to get out of the coal mines. The most notable, was a young man named Robert Moses Groves from Lonaconing3, who took advantage of his long frame and blazing fastball, and later won 300 games in the Major Leagues, and an enshrinement into Baseball’s Hall of Fame, as “Lefty” Grove.4 The first organized baseball clubs in Cumberland, Maryland date back to 1883,5 mostly amateur or town teams. The local coal mines and railroads started to field organized teams in the mid-1890’s. In 1906, Cumberland was accepted in the Class D, -Ohio-Maryland League (POM), and fielded a team called the Giants. When the Butler, Pennsylvania club folded, the franchise was moved to nearby Piedmont, West , but after three weeks, the franchise moved again to Charleroi, Pennsylvania to finish out the season. After finishing the 1906 season, the Cumberland club was moved to McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Before the start of the 1908 season, the league was disbanded due to financial reasons. 6 The experience left a taste of professional baseball in the region. In 1910, Cumberland organized a new independent club, called the Cumberland Colts.7 Soon other area clubs, like Piedmont, joined in and played against Cumberland and other area teams in Maryland and . After not having grounds to play in 1912, the Cumberland Baseball Club had a “modern baseball park in South Cumberland (built) on the Walsh property, between the N. & G. Taylor Company’s tin mill and the Weber lumber yard” 8 in 1913. In 1914, a local businessman, Colonel Nelson W. Russler, a big baseball enthusiast, became the club’s Business Manager. 9 With his savvy business sense, and knack of signing quality players, Russler was influential with the establishment of the amateur Georges Creek League in 1914. 10 Based primarily in Allegany County, Maryland, the league added teams including Frostburg, Lonaconing, Midland, and the Tri-Towns of Piedmont/Westernport/Luke. The Georges Creek League saw much success in 1914 and 1915, and the Russler-led Colts became local Nelson Russler celebrities at South End Park, with the likes of hometown players like Hugh Markwood, John Marean, 11 Photo from George “Sonny” Geatz, Clarence Schafer and the Lippold brothers, Frank and Charles. Cumberland News article, 1955.

When the Class D, was formed in 1915, including a team in Russler’s hometown of Martinsburg, he took great interest in trying to get Cumberland admission into the league. However, due to travel distance from the Pennsylvania clubs in the circuit, and Sunday Baseball, which was allowed in Allegany County at the time, but not in any of the current league towns, their bid went for naught. 12 Despite the setback, Russler was determined to get Cumberland a professional baseball club in 1916. With the help of Charles Boyer, the Blue Ridge League President, Russler spearheaded a group of businessman to garner interest in bring professional baseball to the region. Soon the Piedmont club, and a newly organized team in Frostburg, Maryland applied. The minimum number of clubs to be considered was four clubs, so Russler extended invitations out to towns in Pennsylvania and Western Maryland, but without no success. Midland from the Georges Creek League, was too small to draw from, but the businessmen from nearby Lonaconing gathered funds to fix up their ballfield to become the fourth club of the newly minted, Class D, Potomac League, calling their club, the Giants. 13 Despite the challenges to field four financially solvent teams, and the advent of a World War a continent away, Russler, and Cumberland attorney Fuller Barnard, Jr., who was elected the league’s President, 14 got the groundwork started to organize the Class D, Potomac League in February of 1916. With much fanfare and Cumberland as its base of operations, former Georges Creek League clubs from nearby Frostburg and Lonaconing, Maryland, and Piedmont, West Virginia officially joined the league, which started play May 3. 15 The Colts had a rocky start before the season began, as Russler’s first pick as Manager of the Cumberland club, Herbert Lewis, didn’t past the strict Colonel’s muster, and was released two weeks before the season began. 16 Russler quickly found a replacement in Harry Deal of Bedford, Pennsylvania, and the Colts under his guidance as Team Captain quickly took shape at South End Park. 17 Russler, who maintained the title “Manager”, kept a mainstay of Colts from the previous season’s Georges Creek League club, with Geatz at third base, Schafer, John Marean and newcomer Mike Koroly in the outfield, Frank Lippold behind the plate, and his brother, Charley Lippold at second base, and pitcher Jonny Stafford on the mound. Adding pitchers Eddie Price, Johnny East and Merle Tannehill on the mound, Deal at first base, and 18-year old local boy named George “Brindle” Long at shortstop, Russler’s club was ready for Opening Day. 18 However, after a nine-game losing streak, and never satisfied, Russler had a revolving door of players throughout the season, until he found a line-up he was satisfied with. Among the players he was able to add to the Colts roster were pitchers Charles Dye, of nearby Barton, MD, John “Lefty” Fike, and Virginia native, Kirk Heatwole. Dye started the season with Toronto of the , but a hand injury led to him requesting his release, and he soon signed with the Colts. 19 Heatwole, a rangy southpaw, came from the Charlottesville, Virginia area, and combined with Dye to give the Colts a competitive boost. 20 Only Geatz, Schafer and Marean finished the league season on the Colts roster. The Lonaconing Giants featured a local left-handed pitcher named Frank “War Horse” Muster. Muster broke most of the pitching records in the Georges Creek League in 1915 21, and led the Giants contingent, which featured popular minor league veterans Roy “Shotgun” Keener and Joe Phillips, and newcomers Joe (Serafin) Cobb and Kenny (Mike) Knode, who both reached the Major Leagues. 22 23 James McGuire started the season as the Lonaconing Manager, and after losing their first five games, led the Giants to the best record, until he suddenly resigned on June 10, due to conflicts at his regular job. 24 Keener, a West Virginia native, was soon tapped to replace McGuire, and led the helm of the Giants until they officially disbanded on July 23 due to financial reasons. 25 Other notable Giants players were infielders Owen Flynn and John Nagle, and a local boy, pitcher John “Stub” Brown. The Lonaconing club was one of the best clubs in the league, vying for the lead with rival Frostburg Demons. Among the young Lonaconing fans was a promising 14-year old, who idolized Muster. 26 They knew him as Bobby, Robert M. Groves. Frostburg’s club featured one of the league’s better pitchers, with Somerset, Pennsylvania native, R, S, “John” Baylor 27, and the controversial, Bill Stair leading the pitching corps. Stair had the league’s best win percentage, but was ran out of Frostburg, after he was arrested, and found guilty of chasing after and punching a fan, who was a respected local businessman, on the street, who did not talk kindly about the feisty Demon pitcher. 28 The Demons were managed by Pat Brophy, who led his club through the loss of one of his star pitchers, to still finish the season with the best overall record when the league disbanded on August 18. 29 Many of the players who were in the league came from the Baltimore, Maryland – Washington, D.C. region. One was Frostburg outfielder John Salb. Salb, a Washington, D.C. native, had played previously for the Midland club in the old Georges Creek League from 1911 through 1915, and married his Manager’s daughter, Dorothy Dillon. 30 The Demons also featured infielders John “Shuck” Doyle and Fay Anderson, and catcher John “Sammy” Morgan. The Piedmont club was known as the “Drybugs”, and though it’s offices were on the West Virginia side of the Potomac River in Tri-Towns section of Luke, they played their games on a little island on the Maryland side of the Potomac River, near Westernport, called Potomac Park. 31 The Drybugs were managed by Baltimore native, Owen Harris 32, and featured the league’s best pitcher, Ben Schaufele, another Baltimore native, who won 14 games. 33 The nucleus of the Drybugs roster were from the Baltimore, Maryland area, including shortstop Arthur T. Smith, outfielders Frederick “Jake” Zinnell, G. C. Plaxico, and Porter Cumberland infielder, Wamsley, catcher Leroy Bruff, and pitchers Tommy Verecker and E.L. George “Sonny” Geatz. Morseberger. Only outfielder Don Whitworth was a regular home grown player from the Piedmont/Westernport area on the Drybugs roster throughout the Photo credit – author collection. season. 34 The league, however, never prospered, with Cumberland the only club, able to come close to any profit financially. Lonaconing, despite having the best record, was forced to disband on July 23, leaving the league with only three clubs. 35 Despite rearranging the league schedule, the Frostburg club suffered the same fate as Lonaconing, and by August 18, had also disbanded, leaving only two clubs standing, Cumberland and Piedmont, and forcing the Class D league to disband for good. 36 The Cumberland Colts and Piedmont Drybugs continued to field their clubs and played an independent schedule. 37 On September 24, the Piedmont Drybugs played an exhibition game at Potomac Park against the ’s Cincinnati Reds, which featured Piedmont native, Bill “Baldy” Louden. The game featured an appearance by future Hall of Famer, Christy Matthewson, which drew the largest crowd to date by the Piedmont club. 38 In keeping his Cumberland club together through mid-September by playing an independent schedule, Russler found the club losing money for the first time, some in part of the extra salaries he paid to bring in the best players from the Lonaconing club after they disbanded in July, which included Keener, Phillips, Knode, and Cobb. 39 This dismayed the club’s stockholders, and by the end of the season, all but two sold out their shares of the club, leaving Russler, and George E. Jordan as sole owners. 40 Cumberland, still itching to return to professional baseball, again applied for entry into the Class D, Blue Ridge League for the 1917 season. 41 Three towns vied for the struggling Gettysburg, Pennsylvania franchise, but the league decided to keep the franchise in the Gettysburg as is. 42 Despite their application being denied again, Russler and Colts patience would soon pay off, as the Chambersburg, Pennsylvania franchise, the defending league champions, failed to pay their Franchise Fee by their league deadline of May 30, and President James Vincent Jamison, Jr. transferred the Chambersburg franchise to Cumberland, Maryland. 43 Russler and the Colts were back in business, and they quickly got South End Park ready for play, and professional baseball was back in business in Cumberland. After completing the 1917 schedule, Cumberland prepared for the 1918 season, but by that time, World War I had entered into American homes, and interest and finances dwindled in many towns in the region. Most league disbanded, but thanks to Russler and Cumberland’s persistence, the Blue Ridge League was able to field four clubs to start the season, as the only Class D club to play that year.44 However, the Frederick club bowed out a week before the season was to begin, 45 threatening the league to disband, until Cumberland’s rival, the Piedmont Drybugs came forward, and quickly fielded a team, as the fourth club, 46 Piedmont tried to bring in hometown former Major League infielder, to manage, but he was still under contract with the Saint Paul, Minnesota ball club, instead they hired their shortstop from the 1916 team, Arthur T. “Shorty” Smith as Manager. 47 Smith, a Baltimore, Maryland native, recruited many players from the Baltimore area, including a former Drybugs teammate, Ben Schafeule. 48 Like Piedmont’s first entry into professional baseball in 1906, their stay in the Class D, Blue Ridge League only lasted three weeks in 1918, as the league disbanded on June 16 due to the war effort and lack of interest and finances among the other clubs. 49 Neither Cumberland or Piedmont ever played in the Blue Ridge League again, though Cumberland did field a Class C, Mid- Atlantic League club from 1925 to 1932. 50 * * *

SOURCES 1. Cumberland’s Proposed Army Reunion, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Friday, June 13, 1884, Page 1. Former Cumberland Star Visits Old Battlefield, The Baltimore Sun, Sunday, September 12, 1915, 31. 2. Jim Kaplan, : American Original (Cleveland: Society of American Baseball Research, 2000), 44. 3. Kaplan, Lefty Grove: American Original,30, 39. 4. Kaplan, Lefty Grove: American Original, 275. 5. The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Saturday, August 25, 1883, 4. 6. Pennsylvania-Ohio-Maryland League, BaseballReference.com. Accessed January 18, 2020. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Pennsylvania-Ohio-Maryland_League 7. Won 1910 Steinweg Cup, Cumberland News, Cumberland, Maryland, Thursday, April 26, 1956 8. Will Build New Ball Park, The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., Sunday, March 2, 1913, 2. 9. Colonel Russler Will Lead Cumberland Ball Team, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Wednesday, January 14, 1914, 9. 10. C. V. Burns, Sports Slants: Colts Birthplace, et al…, The Cumberland News, Cumberland, Maryland, Tuesday, September 12, 1967, 10. 11. The Aces of 40 Years Ago, The Cumberland News, Cumberland, Maryland, Thursday, May 12, 1955, 47. 12. Public Opinion, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Thursday, January 13, 1916, 1. 13. Organize Baby Circuit at Cumberland Meeting, The Evening Sun, Hanover, Pennsylvania, Thursday, February 24, 1916, 3. 14. The Evening Sun, “Organize Baby Circuit”, 3. 15. Potomac League Season Opens Tomorrow with Parade and Speeches, Cumberland Evening Times, Tuesday, May 2, 1916, 8. 16. Manager Lewis Given His Release – Yannigans Trims Regulars 2 to 1, Cumberland Evening Times, Tuesday, April 18, 1916, 6. 17. Deal Arrives for Practice, Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, Tuesday, April 25, 1916, 10. 18. Mayor Koon to Toss Out First Ball at Opener, Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, Tuesday, May 2, 1916, 8. 19. Dye Signs with Russler’s Colts, Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, June 27, 1916, 5. 20. Heatwole Gets a Job, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Tuesday, May 9, 1916, 10. 21. Frank Muster, Now 90, to be Honored June 16, Cumberland News, Tuesday, June 6, 1972, 12. 22. Joe Cobb, Minor League and Major League Statistics, BaseballReference.com, https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cobb--005jos 23. Mike Knode, Minor League and Major League Statistics, BaseballReference.com https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/knodemi01.shtml 24. Jim M’Guire Resigns…, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Sunday, June 18, 1916, 29. 25. Lonaconing Quits, The News, Frederick, Maryland, Saturday, July 22, 1916, 3. 26. J. Suter Kegg, Tapping The Sports Keg, Cumberland Evening Times, Tuesday, January 12, 1960, 12. 27. Baylor Throws Colts into White Kalsomine, Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, Monday, May 29, 1916, 6. 28. Bill Stair Found Guilty of Assault, Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, June 27, 1916, 5. 29. Lloyd Johnson and Miles Wolff, The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, Baseball America, Inc., Durham, , 2nd edition, 207. 30. J. B. Salb Weds Miss Dillon, of Frostburg, The Washington Times, Washington, District of Columbia, Wednesday, July 26, 1911, 12. 31. Robert P. Savitt, The Blue Ridge League, Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, South Carolina, 2011, 37 32. Cumberland President is Busy Signing Players, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Monday, March 13, 1916, 10. 33. Piedmont Signs Schaufele, The Baltimore Sun, Saturday, March 25, 1916, 11. 34. Donald P. Whitworth, World War I Draft Registration Card, 1917. 35. Lonaconing Quits, League Continues, Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, Monday, July 24, 1916, 8. 36. Potomac League Will Not Finish Seasons Second Half, Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, Monday, August 14, 1916, 9. 37. Two Teams to Stick: Cumberland and Piedmont of the late Potomac League to Play Independent Ball, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Sunday, August 20, 1916, 26 38. When the Reds Play Piedmont, The Cumberland Evening Times, September 19, 1918, 5. 39. More Chances to Sell Ball Club: Three Towns are now after births in the Blue Ridge League, The Gettysburg Times, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, December 20, 1916, 1. 40. Blue Ridge League Spent About $70,000 in Season, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Monday, December 18, 1916, 8. 41. Blue Ridge League Spent About $70,000 in Season, The Baltimore Sun, December 18, 1916, 8 42. More Chances to Sell Ball Club, The Gettysburg Times, December 20, 1916, 1. 43. Franchise is Switched: Cumberland Gets Chambersburg’s Berth in Blue Ridge, The Baltimore Sun, Sunday, July 1, 1917, 25. 44. Lloyd Johnson and Miles Wolff, The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, Baseball America, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, 1st edition, 148. 45. League Sure to Continue, Says Jamison”, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Sunday, May 12, 1918, 24 46. Opening of Blue Ridge League Season Postponed Four Days, Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, Wednesday, May 15, 1918, 8. 47. Must Take a Back Seat: Bill Louden Cannot Manage Piedmont Unless He is Released, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Sunday, May 26, 1918, 24. 48. Piedmont Pilot in Balto. After Players: Manager Smith Endeavoring to Land Pitcher Schaufele and Klingenhoffer, Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, Friday, May 24, 1918, 5. 49. Blue Ridge League Closes Season Sunday, Cumberland Evening Times, Saturday, June 15, 1918, 4. 50. Johnson and Wolff, The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, Baseball America, Inc., 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 176, 178, 180.

TOP PLAYERS FROM THE 1916 CLASS D, POTOMAC LEAGUE Batting Average Earned Run Average Joe Phillips, Lonaconing/Cumberland .367 Ben Sch aufele, Piedmont 1.66 Runs Scored Games Pitched Roy Keener, Lonaconing/Cumberland 51 Ben Sch aufele, Piedmont 29 Hits Wins Roy Keener, Lonaconing/Cumberland 82 Ben Schaufele, Piedmont 14 Home Runa Innings Pitched Joe Cobb, Lonaconing/Cumberland 6 R. S. “John” Baylor, Frostburg 207

Stolen Bases Strikeouts Jake Zinnell, Piedmont 25 R.S. “John” Baylor, Frostburg 114 Games Played Win. Pct. Joe Phillips, Lonaconing/Cumberland 52 Bill Stair, Frostburg (8 won, 1 lost) .889

Fielding Percentage Total Chances Owen Harris, Piedmont .989 Harry Deal, Cumberland 616 Putouts Assists Harry Deal, Cumberland 578 Arthur T. Smith, Piedmont 153

Errors Arthur T. Smith, Piedmont 30

Sources: Lloyd Johnson and Miles Wolff, The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, Baseball America, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, 2nd edition, 207; Fielding Statistics from Final Fielding Leaders, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Sunday, August 20, 1916, 26; additional league leaders, including pitching statistics from author’s extensive research on the 1916 Class D, Potomac League.

1916 CLASS D, POTOMAC LEAGUE STANDOUTS

1st Baseman Owen Harris, Piedmont Pitcher Ben Schaufele, Piedmont

2nd Baseman John “Shuck” Doyle, Frostburg Pitcher John Baylor, Frostburg

3rd Baseman George “Sonny” Geatz, Cumberland Pitcher Bill Jamison, Lonaconing

Shortstop Arthur T. Smith, Piedmont Pitcher Frank Muster, Lonaconing/Frostburg

Left fielder Ray Keener, Lonaconing/Cumberland Utility John Salb, Frostburg

Center fielder Don Whitworth, Piedmont Manager Pat Brophy, Frostburg

Right fielder Joe Phillips, Lonaconing/Cumberland Umpire Doll Derr

Catchers Joe Cobb, Lonaconing/Cumberland; Leroy Bruff, Piedmont/Cumberland (tie)

Honorable Mention: Bill Stair, Frostburg, P; Sammy Freeney, Frostburg, 1B; John Morgan, Frostburg, C; John Brown, P, Lonaconing/Frostburg; Tommy Vereker, Piedmont, P; Harry Deal, Cumberland, 1B; Charles Dye, Cumberland, P; John Herbert, Frostburg, P; Jake Zinnell, Piedmont, OF; Porter Wamsley, Piedmont, OF; Clarence Schafer, Cumberland, OF; and Mike Boyle, Frostburg, SS. IN MEMORIUM – LEROY J. BRUFF (1895-1918) From Baseball to War: HERO SOLDIER GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY

The advent of World War I, saw many players from the Potomac League sign up to serve their country. None more than catcher Leroy J. Bruff of Baltimore, Maryland. An outstanding prep multi-sport athlete, Bruff was catching for the St. Patrick’s Catholic Club, with his battery mate Ben Schaufele, when both signed with the Piedmont club of the new Class D, Potomac League in March of 1916.1 Making his professional debut with the Drybugs, Bruff caught every game until he was released on July 24, in favor of veteran catcher, Patrick “Dutch” Kane.2 Immediately signed by rival Cumberland,3 Bruff caught the next game versus his old club, and finished out the Potomac League season with the Colts until the league disbanded for good a month later. Bruff returned to Piedmont, who was playing an independent schedule through September, an played in an exhibition game versus the National League’s Cincinnati Reds at Piedmont’s Potomac Park, where he caught former Colts battery mate, Charlie Dye, batting 1-for-3, and scored a run in a 7 to 4 loss to the Reds.4 Following his good friend, and Drybugs teammate, “Jake” Zinnell, he signed with the Frederick Hustlers to start the 1917 baseball season in the Class D, Blue Ridge League.5 A respected defensive player, Bruff struggled at the plate with Blue Ridge League pitching, batting .149 in 20 games, and was released in June.6 With his friends and former teammates signing up to join the Army, Bruff enlisted with the Company D, 313th Division at Camp Meade, Maryland.7 Still playing baseball with his Three Thirteenth Division team, 8 Bruff attained the rank of Sergeant, and was sent overseas to France, where he led his Machine Gun Division into the Argonne Forest in late September of 1918.9 Though it would not be known for several months later, Bruff was killed in action defending his post, in the Argonne Forest in France on September 29, 1918.10 Initially buried in France, his body was removed, and sent back to the United States in 1921. He is buried in the Baltimore National Cemetery in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.11

Sources: Gary Bedingfield, Baseball’s Greatest Sacrifice Through the Years: World War I, www.baseballsgreatestsacrifice.com; http://www.baseballsgreatestsacrifice.com/biographies/bruff_leroy.html;

1. To Play Rex Club Nine, The Baltimore Evening Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Thursday, March 30, 1916, 6. 2. Harris Again Heads Drybugs: B. Harris and Raab Released By Piedmont Last Night. Bruff Also Let Out., Cumberland Evening Times, Tuesday, July 25, 1916, 9. 3. Old Man Good Luck On Piedmont’s Side, Cumberland Evening Times, Wednesday, July 26, 1916, 9. 4. Christy Mathewson Reds Delight Two Thousand Fans: Cincinnati Trims Piedmont in Last Game of Season, 7 to 4 – Bill Louden Presented Gun and Matty Gets Flowers, Cumberland Evening Times, Thursday, September 28, 1916, 8. 5. Jake Zinnell, Baseball-reference.com, https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=zinnel001fre 6. Leroy Bruff, Baseball-reference.com, https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=bruff-001ler 7. Maryland in the World War 1917-1919: Military and Naval Service Records, Volume 1, A-J, Maryland War Records Commission, Baltimore, Maryland, 1933, 260. 8. Mackmen at Camp Today: Meade’s Baseball Team to Tackle Big Leaguers…, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Sunday, May 5, 1918, 26. 9. Maryland in the World War 1917-1919, Volume 1, A-J, 260. 10. Ex-Blue Ridge Player Falls on Battlefield: L. J. Bruff Won Spurs on Frederick Diamond, Gives Life for Democracy, The Frederick Post, Saturday, January 18, 1919, 1. 11. Gary Bedingfield, Baseball’s Greatest Sacrifice Through the Years: World War I, http://www.baseballsgreatestsacrifice.com/biographies/bruff_leroy.html;

IN MEMORIUM – SAMUEL WESLEY FREENY (1986-1944) Served in Two World Wars A P.O.W., HE WAS THE EPITOME OF A MARINE TO THE BITTER END

Another former Class D, Potomac League player whose Military duty stood proud was Eastern Shore Maryland native, Samuel Wesley Freeny of Hebron. 1 Freeny attended St. Johns College in Annapolis while making his professional baseball debut as a first baseman with the Class D, Blue Ridge League’s Hagerstown Blues in 1915.2 He played a few games with the Hanover Raiders of Blue Ridge League at the beginning of the 1916 season, before being released. Freeney was picked up by the Frostburg Demons in June under the name Sammy Freeney 3, and was of the top hitters in the league, batting .333 in 40 games.4 When the league disbanded in late July, Freeny returned to Hagerstown, and signed on with the Hagerstown Terriers of the Class D, Blue Ridge League. 5 A standout athlete, Freeny graduated from St. Johns College in 1917 6, and joined the Marines, spending most of the rest of World War I in Cuba and the southern Atlantic. 7 During the 1920’s, when the nearby Class D, was in operation, Freeny would play professional baseball for the Salisbury Indians during his medical leave, under the pseudonym, Samuel Wilson. 8 A Marine Recruiter at time, Freeney moved to other stations in Baltimore and Philadelphia. 9 He had attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, 10 and was stationed in Shanghai, China, serving as company Athletic Director. On May 6, 1942, Freeny’s unit was captured by the Japanese 11, and despite being wounded, survived the brutal conditions walking in the Bataan Death March. 12 In 1944, as a Prisoner of War, Freeny was housed with 1,300 prisoners, where he survived the bombing of the ”hell ship” Oroyoku Maru after it was bombed by the Allies on December 15, 1944. 13 A week later, Freeny, who was badly wounded in the bombing, was one of 14 American prisoners, and only Marine, selected to be taken to a hospital in Manilla for treatment. They were driven in a large covered truck by their Japanese captors, to a cemetery at San Fernando, Philippines. Unbeknownst to them beforehand, each was dragged to a large pit, then decapitated and bayonetted into the hastily dug pit. 14 It would be almost three years later before his story would be told. 15 Of the 15 prisoners executed that day, only eight were able to be identified, 16 including Freeny, through dental records. Lt. Col. Samuel Wesley In April of 1948, a memorial plaque was installed at his hometown church, St. Mark’s FREENY Episcopal Church in Laurel, . 17 1896-1944 Lieutenant Colonel Samuel W. Freeny’s remains were eventually re-interred next to his wife, the former Bertha Obery (1892-1980), at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland. 18 His portrait hangs today at St. John College in Annapolis. 19

Sources:

1. Samuel W. Freeny, Hall of Valor, https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/51912 2. 1915 Hagerstown Blues, https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Hagerstown_Blues 3. Rain Chief Obstacle: Each Blue Ridge League Club Has Five or Six Postponed Games, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, 29. 4. Final Class D, Potomac League Batting Statistics, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Sunday, August 20, 1916, 26 5. Baylor and Freeney Join Blue Ridge League Teams, Cumberland Evening Times, Friday, August 18, 1916, 9. 6. Marine Baseball Star Transferred: Capt. Samuel W. Freeny Known Throughout State for Diamond Ability, The Evening Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Saturday, September 15, 1928, 13. 7. Maryland in the World War 1917-1919: Military and Naval Service Records, Volume 1, A-J, Maryland War Records Commission, Baltimore, Maryland, 1933, 702. 8. Former Shore Leaguer ‘Missing in Action’, The Daily Times, Salisbury, Maryland, Thursday, May 28, 1942. 9. Marine Baseball Star Transferred, The Evening Sun, September 15, 1928, 13 10. Hebron Man Promoted to Marine Lieut-Col., The Salisbury Times, Thursday, November 27, 1941. 11. Bataan Death March, History Channel, https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march 12. Wicomico Native Decapitated, War Atrocities Charges Show, The Daily Times, Salisbury, Maryland, Thursday, February 27, 1947, 3. 13. Wicomico Native Decapitated, The Daily Times, February 27, 1947, 3. 14. Wicomico Native Decapitated, The Daily Times, February 27, 1947, 3. 15. Will Return Body of Col. Freeny Here for Burial: Marine Officer’s Body Found in Mass Grave in Philippines, The Capital, Annapolis, Maryland, Thursday, September 2, 1948. 16. Marine to be Honored Sunday, The Daily Times, Salisbury, Maryland, Thursday, April 22, 1948, 5. 17. LTC Samuel Wesley Freeny, findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75148018/samuel-wesley-freeny 18. Samuel Freeny, Wicomico Civic Center, Salisbury, Maryland, http://www.wicomicociviccenter.org/_Assets/pdf/WWII.pdf * * *

CLASS D, POTOMAC LEAGUE FUTURE MAJOR LEAGUERS Joe Cobb (born Joseph Serafin), OF – (AL), 1918 Kenny “Mike” Knode (born Kenneth Thomson Knode), INF – St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 1920 Doll Derr (born Luther D. Sahm), Umpire – National League Umpire, 1923