Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

June 25, 1992, Page 32

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Oldies      

By Dee Zimmerman

 

During the “Heyday of Clark County League baseball” there were many teams and many players from the area.

 

If you ever happen to be with some of those fellows and turn the conversation to baseball, you could hear some interesting stories.

 

Such as: “Do you remember the final county league game of 1947?  Our team was tied for championship.  The last game was played with the team that shared the tie position.  So, in the bottom of the ninth inning the score was two-to-one in their favor.  There was a man on second, a man on third and two outs.  Then it was my turn at bat.  Well, after two strikes and three balls, I…. I wondered what the final pitch was going to be.  Then the pitcher wound-up and threw one right down the middle.  I swung the bat and hit a home run.  What an ending to a game!  That was the only time in my life that I was ever a hero!”

 

There have to be many more similar memories of various games.

 

Many names of players come to mind as we think of the past.  To name each one would take a great amount of searching and still would miss some.

 

Last week and this week’s pictures list some of those players.  There were also players such as Arch, Buker, Mech, Steines, Nickolay, Dorn, Jaskot, Herr, Wm Joyce, (Sr. & Jr.), Verhalen, Zollar, Schoenherr, Holt, Hoffman, Buddinger, Armitage, Ratsch, Lee, Hoble, Hagen, Bugar, Stumpner, Zupanc, Soweija, Pipkorn, Standiford, Mack, Murphy, Carl, Robb, Grap, Quast, Helm and more, too numerous to mention.

 

A few of the players went on to manage teams after they couldn’t physically keep up with the game anymore.  They put their knowledge and experience toward management and coaching.  Managers had many duties such as meetings to organize a league and team, schedule practices, find umpires, prepare the diamond before each game, keep tabs on equipment, plus other necessary jobs.  This was all done for their love of the game of baseball.

 

We can remember three who kept managing up to the last years.  There was George Scherer of Greenwood, George Schmitz of Lynn and Gene Christie of Neillsville.  Their wives were understanding and supportive as they were usually with them at each baseball game.

 

(Thanks to those who loaned photos and provided the names of players, Sue (Scherer) Turnquist, Gwen Christie, Joe and Peg Urban, and Dorothy Schmitz.  Also, a correction on last week’s Neillsville team photo when Jackie Leonard was identified as Earl Magnuson.  Jackie helped out as left-handed pitcher.)

 

Schilling team members: Ken Dyre, Sr. – left, Emil Hembre – right.

Picture provided by Ken Dyre

 

 Pictured above is Joe Urban, standing; seated to

his right (holding 3 bats) is Frank Zank

 

1934 Eaton Center team; Team members: back row—

John Wuethrich, James Killian, Eugene Christie, Leo

Barton, Orvill Kilkofen, and Art Christie: middle row—Jim Syth,

Ernie Christie, Ken Rodgers, and Jim McConnell; front row—

John Teeples,  George Scherer, Mike Podbonick, and Gib Rohde.

 

1953 Lynn Team; Standing—Warren K. Smith, Duane Rollins, Merlin Lindow, Robert

 Barth, Jerry Schmitz, Erlin Rose, Vern Sternitzky, and George Schmitz, manager.

Middle row—Walter Helm, Jerry Smith, Donald Rose, and Robert Albrecht

Front row—Wayne Sternitzky, James Barth, and Donald Bartsch.

  

1967 team; Back row—Ken Bertz, Gerry Lamovec, Dick Scherer, Jerry Stremikis, Tom

Gossins, Jim Slemic, Al Lamovec, Jim Dillenbeck and Chet Turnquist.  Seated—George

Scherer (manager), Wally Hribar, Harry Johnson, Jim Zallar,Ralph Klinke, Roger

Dillenbeck, Roger Scherer, Dennis Denk, Front—Wally Hribar, Jr., Ed Yurkovich

 

Compiled by Terry Johnson

 

FIFTY YEARS AGO

 

Wedding dances were scheduled at the Silver Dome on Saturday, June 20, Sunday June 21, and Thursday, June 25.  The couples being honored were (in order) Mr. and Mrs. Harold Thoma, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Dux, and Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Mills.  A dance was also scheduled for Saturday, July 4th.

 

Father-of-the-bride, Peter Scherr (Scherer) had a car accident on the way to his daughter Marcella’s wedding.  Having suffered a fractured knee, he was confined to the Marshfield Hospital.  The couple, Mr. and Mrs. Florian Herrick, visited him after the wedding. 

 

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

 

A proclamation was issued by Mayor J. L. Kleckner declaring Clean-Up Week.  All rubbish gathered and put into receptacles along the streets would be picked up on appointed days by the city crew.  One item was excluded from the pick-ups: “Ashes must be removed at your own expense.”

 

In Levis and South Pine Valley News: “Fred Subke purchased an Overland automobile recently.” And “Miss Lulu Kleinschmidt made over $13 at her basket social in Dist. No. 7, which will be used to buy a clock for the school.”

 

North Grant News:  “A spelling and Arithmetic contest for the Reed, Kurth, and Foemmel schools, was held at the Kurth school house Friday afternoon.”  “Field work is progressing slowly.”

 

High School notes:  “The Junior Athenian Club, have begun work on a very humorous little two act play called ‘Aunt Deborah’s First Luncheon.’”

 

“Pete Pauson (Paulson) reports having sold 35 Fords already this season, and that the Granton agency of Knorr & Rausch have sold over 80.”

 

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO

 

Weston News:  “Charles Shaw is building a new barn.  Wheeler Forman is again working at his trade—sheep shearing…C. S. Stockwell has been surveying out lines on Section 23, making a number of changes in the old lines. Thos. Kerns is having some new clearing done on his farm.  Bob Armitage has purchased a new horse and buggy.  Bob doesn’t intend to walk.  The aid society ladies are now busy getting ready for the Fair.”

 

Ad:  “Do you want to save from 25 to 50 cents on every dollar you spend?  If so, write for our Mammoth Illustrated Catalogue, containing lowest manufacturers’ prices of Groceries, Dry Goods, Boots and Shoes, Clothing, Hardware, Agricultural Implements, etc., Mailed on receipt of 20 cents for postage.  Chicago General Supply Co., 178 W. Van Buren St.”

 

Ad:  “B. J. Johnson & Co’s., Old Black Joe Soap; Pure North Carolina Tar; Acknowledged by all who work with their hands to b e The Best Tar Soap on Earth.”

 

 


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