KOM Flash Report for September 3, 2017

The KOM League Flash Report for Week of Labor Day This report CAN’T be found on Flickr at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/36773262802/ The only thing there is the photo, so check it out. Consequently, the entire report is being sent by e-mail. But, PLEASE click on the aforementioned site so that I’ll know the report made it to you.              

Most of what little time I spent on preparing this report was done before I received a note from a reader in Shelbyville, Illinois that another former KOM leaguer had hung up the spikes and left this earthly domain. This is the way Seth Moeller passed on the sad news. “Hey John, I hate to be the one to bring you the terrible news, but Dean Rothrock passed away this morning. The world lost a wonderful man. Just wanted to let you know so you don't find out later. I can forward you an obituary when it is published. Good day John.” 

 Two weeks ago there was a listing posted of the former KOM leagues who were 90 years of age, or older. When I posted that segment I asked myself “Self, who will be the first one on this list to leave?” Just ten days later I had my answer. Since making that list of guys over 90 one fellow had been on my mind. He crossed my mind a number of times on August 29 and shortly after midnight on August 30 he was gone. For as long as the KOM league reunions were held you could depend on Doris and Dean Rothrock to be in attendance. When learning of his passing the members of the 1949 Iola Indians, still living, were contacted. Dick Getter summed up Rothrock in these few words “Sorry to hear this. He was a good guy.” 

Another thing Dean and Doris did was support the initial efforts of keeping the memories of the KOM league alive and they contributed generously, each year, to keep the newsletter alive. When it went from paper to computer the contact dwindled in frequency but they were still appreciative of the reunions when Dean could join his former buddies at those events. He never missed one. 

Back in 2005 I was attending the funeral of Mike Witwicki, a former Brooklyn Dodger minor leaguer, in Mattoon. Illinois. When I started scanning the crowd at the funeral, there was Dean and his wife. Rothrock came upon the KOM scene at the advanced age of 24 for a class D rookie. 

 At that age he had very little hope of being a major leaguer. So he had his "major league" experience in Class D baseball performing against such future big leaguers as; Bob Speake, Lou Skizas, Bob Wiesler, Mickey Mantle, Harry Bright, Steve Kraly and a teammate, Bill Upton who had s stint as a major league pitcher. 

At KOM reunions Dean was often asked by former Chicago Cub minor leaguers about his younger brother, Darrell.  Like Dean, Darell was a hard throwing lefty. Back in that era guys were said to being seed or aspirin throwers because of the velocity of their pitches. During my "baseball career," as batboy, I played catch with a lot of Chicago Cub minor leaguers and some threw pretty hard. 

However, at a reunion held in Chanute, Kansas, in the early 2000's, I was asked to join Rothrock in a game of catch. That was a huge mistake. He was a tall, lanky left hander that resembled Steve Carlton, in many ways. Never, did I expect a guy over age 70 being capable of throwing that hard. But as the old adage goes, he could bring it. Not many times in my life would I walk away from any aspect of baseball but after a few sizzlers from Rothrock I was looking for any way to end that session. 

 As I read Rothrock's obituary my curiosity was directed to his younger brother, Darrell. I was surprised to learn that both of them left this world on nearly the same date. Dean made it to August 30, 2017 and Darrell passed away August 31, 1996 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The obituary: 

Dean H. Rothrock, 92 Effingham, IL / Effingham Radio WCRA August 30, 2017 04:37 pm 

Dean H. Rothrock, 92, of Shelbyville, passed away at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his family. Dean was born February 23, 1925, in Stewardson, the son of Harold and Hazel (Fritz) Rothrock. He and Doris Archey were united in marriage on September 24, 1950 in Shelbyville. 

Dean was a United States Navy veteran of WWII, played professional baseball for two years in the Cleveland Indians organization and was retired from the Illinois State Parks. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Shelbyville, Shelbyville Lions Club and Gideons International. 

He was an avid Cubs fan and regretted not signing with the Cubs during his playing days. He was ecstatic when the Cubs won the World Series. He enjoyed coaching little league and was an avid supporter of all area school athletics. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Doris of Shelbyville; two sons, Mark (Susan) Rothrock and Greg (Audrey) Rothrock, all of Shelbyville; daughter, Lori (Tony Price) Rothrock of Shelbyville; grandchildren: Heather, Emily, Brett and Colby; great-granddaughter, Xandria and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Dan; brothers, Dwight and Darrell Rothrock and sister, Dolores West. Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 2, 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Shelbyville with Reverend Tim Yankee officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, Gideons International or Donor’s Choice. Lockart-Green Funeral Home in Shelbyville is assisting the family. Note: I think Rothrock’s middle name was Harold which was his father’s first name.  

 From July 2010 Flash Report 

The following was shared seven years ago when I received my copy of Teresa Brewer’s hit song from a member of the 1952 Independence Yankees. At that time I shared a photo of that team. If you go far enough in this report you can see the last season photo of that same team. 

The sheet music for "I Love Mickey" was sent along by the young man in the second row on the far right. His name again, is Ronald Julius Minnich. This word of warning, don't take the spelling of the names in the photo as gospel. Someone affiliated with that team signed the names of each player and not all spellings were accurate. If you have a question about any of them, let me know. 

There were two team photos of the 1952 Independence Browns. The following identifies those in the attached photo: 1952 Independence, Kansas Browns. 

Front Row: Left to Right. Wendell Clifton-(P), Sidney Ross-(C), Tom Wozniak-(P), Howard Lockwood-(P) and Bill Williams-(P). 

Second Row: Frederick Collins-(Manager (1B), Sam "Chico" Hernandez-(2B), Don Ottoson-(LF), George Hunrick-(C), Verne McKee-(OF) and Ron Minnich-(OF P). 

Back Row: Dick Lack-(LF), Tim Hastings-(LB OF), Jim Murray-(3B), Richard Quattrin-(P), Lou Archer-(P) and Ken Phillips-(SS). 

The other photo, not shown in this submission, was the late season version and was comprised of the following:

 ront Row: Ron Minnich (Roselle, IL), Dick Quattrin (Chicago, IL), George Hunrick (Oakland, CA), Dick Lack (Tacoma, WA) and Howie Lockwood (Chester, PA). 

Middle Row: Ron Saatzer (St. Cloud, MN), James Snyders (Larchwood, IA), Vernon McKee (Browns Valley, MN), Sam Hernandez (Brooklyn, NY), Tim Hastings (Toronto, Canada) and Don Saatzer (St. Cloud, MN). 

Back Row: Ken Phillips (Chicago), Lou Archer (Seattle, WA), Bill Williams (Jacksonville, IL), Mgr. Fred Collins (Bridgeport, CT), Wendell Clifton (Penticton, British Columbia) and Jim Murray (North Lewisburg, OH). 

Seven years later: 

Note: The second photo, first mentioned in a July 2010 report, can be found right here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/60428361@N07/36504543250/ 

The early season photo is found in "The KOM League Remembered" non-bestseller on page 123. Hackbert’s reply: John, Thanks for the 1952 Independence Browns photo. It must have been shot right after I had left, but I do remember several of the guys. Among those would be Manager Rip Collins, Kenny Phillips, Howie Lockwood, Dick Lack, Chico Hernandez, Dick Quattrin, (sp?), Ron Minnick, Tom Wozniak, and Tim Hastings. I have mentioned previously that I enjoy your KOM reports, especially when the Browns are noted. 

By the way, my next assignment after Independence resulted in being recruited by a division of the National Security Agency (Army Security Agency) for a three year commitment to serve my country during the Korean War. I was within a few weeks of being drafted but that recruitment didn't keep me out of Korea, however it turned out to be a much less hazardous tour than it might have been even though it lasted for 17 months. Keep up the good work! Don Hackbert 

P.S. Note that the top row has two signatures "Dick"...looks like the same hand signed both!

Ed reply: You spelled Quattrin correctly. I never located Ken Phillips, Chico Hernandez or Tim Hastings. All those photos were signed by the same person. I think it was someone in the Wozniak family. It had to be Wozniak’s wife for after signing his name wrote “My Sweetie” beneath it. I sure hope none of the ballplayers did it.  

here are also misspelled names on the photo since the person affixing them thereto was spelling them phonetically. Wozniak died at a young age and his wife and granddaughter got interested in my very first book writing effort. They shared a number of photos for the book. 

Hackbert’s reply: Thanks John. I looked again and I see additional similarities in the autographs. I appreciate your pointing that out to me. Wozniak's early passing was sad news. Players of that era who are still living are becoming fewer and fewer as your KOM messages continually remind us. A couple of weeks ago you identified the oldest former player still living. I am half way through my 85th year. I wonder whether I am one of the oldest or one of the youngest survivors. 

Ed reply: You are one of the youngsters. 

The epilogue: Since Don Hackbert brought up the subject I’m attaching a brief profile of the 1952 Independence, Kansas Browns roster. They wore the hand-me-down 1947 New York Yankee uniforms with a logo of the St. Louis Browns on the left sleeve. (If this section gets scrambled in transmission, which it could, forgive me.) 

Archer, Louis Fred Lives in Kihei, Hawaii B. 5/16/1933 Seattle, WA 

Clifton, Wendell James Lives in Penticton, Alberta, Canada B. 7/18/1932 Penticton, Alberta, Canada

Collins, Frederick "Rip” Joseph D. 11/25/1986 Decatur, GA B. 9/8/1916 Danvers, MA 

 Gatenby Thomas N. Lives in San Dimas, CA--Fontana, CA B. 10/20/1932 Graduate Pomona H. S. '51 

Gram, Larry E. Lives in Mt. Home, Ark. B. 2/11/1933 Medway, Ohio

Hackbert, Donald Michael Lives in Hilton Head, SC B. 3/14/1933 Chicago, IL 

Hasenbalg, Donald Frederick D. 10/15/2008 Tunkhannock, NJ B. 4/25/1933 Paterson, NJ 

Hastings, Timothy Bruce Lives in Toronto, Canada B. 11/25/1932 Toronto, Canada 

Hernandez, Samuel Prob. Lives in New York B. 1/4/1932 Brooklyn, NY 

Hunrick Jr. George Bernard D. 1/2/2015 Woodbridge, CA B.1/7/1932 Oakland, CA 

Jones, Donald Duane D. 3/12/1997 Bakersfield, CA B.4/8/1934 Aberdeen, South Dakota 

Karrigan, James LeMar Lives in Monteno, IL B. 4/3/1934 Chicago,IL 

Krider, George William D/ 8/6/2011 Sanger, CA B. 7/14/1933 Fresno, CA Lack, Richard Vernon D. 1/1/2017 Canyon Rim, TX (Lubbock) B. 1/16/1933 Tacoma, WA 

Lockwood Jr. Howard Caldwell D. 5/29/1996 Kerrville, TX B. 4/2/1933 Ridley Park, PA 

McKee, Vern Albert D. 12/10/2004 Sioux Falls, SD B. 4/28/1930 Browns Valley, MN 

Minnich, Ronald Julius  Reads these reports in Stone Mountain, GA B. 12/9/1933 Roselle, IL 

Moll, John Edgar Lives in Memphis, TN B. 3/25/1934 Sikeston, MO Montgomery,

Richard K. D. 3/17/1991 Tacoma, WA (University Place) B. 8/22/1932 Tacoma, WA 

Murray, James Clinton D. 1/27/2000 Dayton, Ohio B. 10/16/1931 Woodstock , OH 

Ottoson, Donald Frank D. 3/19/1970 San Luis Obispo, CA B. 11/4/1933 Chicago, IL 

Phelan, William Fred D. 2/6/2017 O'Fallon, MO B.2/19/1933 St. John. MO 

Phillips, Kenneth Wayne  D. 1/24/2000 Lake Villa, Ill B. 8/10/1933 Chicago, IL 

Quattrin, Richard R.   D. 2/26/2006 George Washington Hosp. Washington, D.C. B. 8/18/1932 Whiting, IN 

Rickert , David August D. 8/1/1998 Lakebay, WA B. 3/12/1932 Tacoma, WA 

Ross, Sydney Phillip Retired physician/surgeon in Kirksville, MO B. 5/23/1933 Place of birth unknown but it was probably Monmouth, Ill. 

Saatzer, Donald Joseph Lives in Hastings, MN B. 4/29/1934 St. Cloud, MN 

Saatzer, Ronald, Raymond Lives in St. Paul, MN B.4/29/1934 St. Cloud, MN 

Skole Jr. Thomas T. Lives in Marietta, GA B. 9/13/1932 Ft. Wayne, IN 

Smalley, Patrick Todd  D. 2/8/1979 Paradise Twp. Coyle, OK B. 3/14/1934 Coyle. OK 

Snyders, James Peter Lives in Sioux City, IA B. 11/26/1929 Lyon IA 

Trava, James Joseph --aka Intravartolo Status unknown B. Circa 1932 Arlington Heights, IL 

Williams, William Lee   D. 7/26/2017 Jacksonville, IL B.6/18/1933 Jacksonville, IL 

Wozniak, Thomas Joseph D. 3/26/1982 Michigan City, IN B. 6/25/1933 Michigan City, IN 
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Intent of Flash Report revealed. 

Why the last issue of this report wasn’t widely read may be due to the following message that was shared with me by a reader in Kansas who got this warning through his Internet Provider. “Be careful with this message. It contains content that’s typically used to steal personal information.” This was my reply to Jeff Simpson. “I never figured the real intent of my reports would be detected. Now you know.” His parting comment was Ha! Ha! ____________________________________________________________
 Out of my league.

 A note from Rod Nelson of SABR who majors in determining what scout signed future major leaguers. “Since Ray Sadecki is credited to Runt Marr, do you think would I be correct to assume that Marr was also be responsible for signing Bill Wakefield.” http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/421f2c9c Ed reply: Sounds logical but I'm no expert on the subject. I do recall going to a Cardinal game just after Sadecki graduated from high school. There was a guy throwing down the third base line who looked to be my age. When I asked who he was I was told it was a kid from Kansas City who the Cardinals had just signed. I later saw Wakefield when I lived across the street from old Oiler Park in Tulsa. Gosh, how quickly it has all gone.
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Keeping the connection alive.

Bob Mallon of Highlands Ranch, Colorado sent along some photos friends of his granddaughter had shared with her. They spoke of being on old Highway 66 and taking photos of Mickey Mantle Field. That is a great link to the past since Mantle and Mallon were roommates in their first season of professional baseball. Neither Mantle nor Mallon had a full season at Independence for they had to finish high school before joining the Independence Yankees. However, they both gathered enough memories to last a lifetime. Mallon is still enjoying them. _______________________________________________________________________ 
Public Service Announcement.

In my possession, for the last couple of weeks, is a letter from Bill Clark. He is one of the few readers of these reports and is the only person on the planet who prints and saves them. He is ready to dispose of a decade’s worth of KOM Flash Reports if he can foist them on someone. Ol’Clark, the former major league scout, and a frequent breakfast partner at a local super market, has given up his regular writing activities with the Columbia Tribune, aka “The Columbia Gas and Minor Distress” and is going on-line with his writing endeavors. Rather than spell it out I’m attaching a link for those interested to check out for themselves. Patreon.com/yeoldclark If you run into problems with that get back with me and I’ll share Clark’s telephone number. He tells me he’s had a lot of telephone calls in recent weeks, so I don’t want to add to that burden when an Internet link will do the job. ________________________________________________________________________