Out of the Past
Recalling Harbaugh’s feat on the mound 50 years ago A few days ago, there was a line in a sports history column that on that particular date, somewhere back around 1920 some American League pitcher had worked both ends of a doubleheader won by his team.
Oscar Harbaugh would have been justified if he had read that column, then just shrugged and asked “so what?”
Harbaugh is one guy who can read about an accomplishment like that, then have the “been there, done that” feeling.
Go awayyyyy back to this week in July of 1955. Mill Run had just swept a doubleheader from Indian Head in Westmoreland County League play, and Harbaugh had pitched and won both ends of the bill. And, it wasn’t the first time that Harbaugh had worked both games of a doubleheader. In another year, the “Ironman” right-hander also pitched two games for Ohiopyle against Wooddale, and got a split of those two.
But in this particular week, Mill Run and Harbaugh had just won a pair from their Indian Head rivals, but unfortunately, game details were rather skimpy.
Harbaugh scattered 10 hits to win the game, 12-5, and got the backing of a 15-hit offense led by Gorman Dull (3), and Bradley Bryner, Bill Miller, J. Harbaugh, and R. Gallentine (2 each). D. Tinkey had three hits for Indian Head.
The second game was actually the suspension of one that had been started a month previously, then was ordered replayed by league officials, but no reason was given for the replay order. Mill Run also won that one, 9-7, scoring five in the sixth, and Harbaugh also pitched that win. Marlyn Dull couldn’t let Brother Gorman have all the bat fun in the other game, so he had three hits in this one. M. Peck and G. Cramer had three for Indian Head.
A few days later, Mill Run edged Wooddale, 7-6, and you get one guess that was on the mound for the winners. However, this time Oscar combined with E. Bryner and J. Harbaugh to fashion a 4-hitter. Colborn had two Mill Run hits.
So, what else was going on that week?
-Juniata scored three in the eighth to nudge Youngstown, 9-6, in County League play. C. Myden was 4-for-4, R. Kern doubled, and Leighty doubled and singled for the winners. Metts hit three doubles and a single, and Merryman a double for Youngstown.
-Karl Hesson had three hits, and R. Rhodes a double and two singles to lead Wooddale past Acme, 8-6, in the Westmoreland County League, while Bridgeport ambushed first place South Connellsville, 6-0, as Echard pitched a 6-hitter and fanned 13. Despite the loss, SC still held a 5-game lead in first.
-The 1956 Fayette County Coaches Association All-Star football game, to be played against Washington County, was awarded to Connellsville. John Kruper, Adam Donnelly, and Bert Sutton were named Fayette coaches. Each county provided two officials, with Fayette represented by Disey (Don’t Forget the E) Simon, and Jack Rohland.
-Gilbert Sisler of Mather had proof that the “big one” didn’t get away from him. But he came within 45-minutes of not having that proof. He landed a 30.9 inch carp with just that much time left in the contest, and won a new station wagon for his achievement. Sisler competed in the two-day fishing contest held at North Park Lake, which attracted 27,000 entries.
-A Chicago sports writer was quoted as saying “Comiskey Park and Wrigley Field (the two city ballparks) become literally the biggest saloons in the world during Sunday doubleheaders. Brawling is inevitable in such an emotion packed atmosphere.” (Not today with suds going for five and six bucks a shot).
-Talk about a slugfest!! East End (16 runs, 25 hits) and West Side Hilltop (15 runs, 21 hits) combined for 31 runs and 46 hits in a free-swinging Trojan League battle at Connellsville’s East Park. Every player in the game hit, with Lesko, Smith, and Nebraska of WSH, and Radlosky, Dunston, and O’Donnell (EE) all having four each.
-Tom Cunningham, 16, of Scottdale, playing out of Pleasant Valley Country Club, finished first in a field of 100 in the Sun-Telegraph Tournament, held at North Park Golf Course, Pittsburgh. His winning 75-76-151 card earned him a trip to the annual Hearst National Junior Championships to be played a month later at Riviera Country Club, Los Angeles, Calif.
-Don George, of Dunbar, a former Dunbar Twp. High and Notre Dame end, reported to training camp with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League.
-Martin Flannery resigned as head football and basketball coach at East Washington, to accept similar positions at Bridgeville.
-Brownsville eliminated Connellsville, 10-3, in Pony Baseball Championship play. Cheuy pitched a 4-hitter, fanned 13, and walked one. Bob Flockvich homered, Bunny DePolo homered and singled, and Jeffries doubled for Connellsville. Carter had a homer and single and Smith a double and two singles for Brownsville.
-Washington downed Masontown, 6-3, in Pony Tournament play. Jimmy Brown pitched the win.
-West Newton scored four runs in the fifth to eliminate Connellsville, 6-4, from district Little League competition. Nate Fisch homered and Bill Dolde doubled and singled for Connellsville.
-Scottdale and Pals Club split a Big 10 doubleheader. Scottdale won the opener, 6-3, although out hit, 15-14, as Shirey hit two homers and a single, and Rabbits a double and two singles. Pals counted Christy’s single, double, and triple, and doubles by Kish and Ciaramella. In the nightcap, Pals grabbed a 3-0 lead, and then held off a ninth inning rally to win, 3-2. Christy had two hits and Helmick a double for Pals.
-In a County League classic, Joe Halasz and Monarch out dueled Liptak and Revere, 2-1. Halasz allowed two hits and Liptak four. Revere led 1-0 until the seventh when Monarch scored twice to win.
-The Pittsburgh Jaycees were ready to sponsor their annual All-Star football game. The South Division coaching staff included Ben Parker, of Jefferson, and the players included Don Soberdash, Dunbar Twp.; Jim Hillen, Uniontown; Eddie Corazzi, Beth Joint; Jim Carter, German Twp.; Larry Deems, Jefferson; Buck Grover, Brownsville; Ray Masneri, California, and Bob Gwynn, Waynesburg.
Remember?
Jim Kriek is a correspondent for the Herald-Standard