Bucyrus Little League Old Timers Game
I had a great time returning to my old home town to play in a Little League "old timers" game. The contest was played to honor members of the inaugural Bucyrus(Ohio)Little League teams. I achieved my personal goal by finishing the game without getting injured. At my age, I consider this a major victory. I had the honor of playing with some of my former Timken teammates (Brownie Miller, Artie Leonhardt and Jim Leonhardt) as well as some of my old rivals. I will have to say it was not a pretty sight seeing a bunch of senior citizens running around trying to recapture their "glory days." As they say, the heart was willing but the body would just not cooperate. Despite the "low" caliber of play, it was a memorable experience.
Pictured in photograph are John Paetznick(on left) and Bill Elder (on right)
posted by Bill Elder @ 7:11 PM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
Please leave details of the game in May. I am Jerry Blahut's wife, Mary. I'd like to surprise and sent for the game.
Mary,
It was great fun to play in the Bucyrus Little League "old timers" game. There were twenty players who participated in the two innning game. Each team got to "bat around" during the contest. The teams were evenly divided, and I played for the blue team. The red team won the game by a score of 7 to 6. Shawn Winkel Foss, represented his dad who played in 1953, hit a homerun that was the difference in the game. I achieved my goal which was to complete the game without getting injured. At my age, that was quite an acomplishment. It was grest to get to visit with some friends from my childhood.
I also played in the Bucyrus Little League, Timken squad, 191954-55. There was Allan Miller, Danny Beck,Jim & Arden Leonheart, not sure of spelling.
My cousin, Chuck Williams, played third base for the Fireman. I remember when Early Wynn, pitcher for the Cleveland Indians and Jimmy Dudley, Radio Announcer for Cleveland, came to one of our Little League games as a promotion. My cousin, Chuck Williams, hit two home runs in the same game. I went on to play semi pro for the Bucyrus Merchants traveling team when I was 16, 1959 and I had a try-out with the Cleveland Indians as a pitcher. Those were definitely the good old days.
Sam J. McBride, class of '61, BHS
Sam,
Allan Miller caught when I pitched for Timken back "in the day." I enjoyed being teammates with Jim and Artie Leonhardt. They both has a great love for the game. I have included a photograph of the Little League Field on Mary Street in my book, The Bucyrus That Was. I have also included a picture of the Timken squad that won the first Bucyrus Little League city championship. I only wished they had organized the league before I was twelve years old. I only got to play one year. I played American Legion baseball and also played for a semi-pro team, the Galion Tiger Cleaners, when I turned 18. We had a very good squad (23 wins and 4 losses). Baseball was am important part of my life and it was a sad day when I had to give the sport up because of an eye injury.
Bill
I just remembered some of you might remember my husband with a different name of Twig. He lived with his grandparents and an uncle. If there is a another game let me know.
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