Out of The Past
1953: Ward and Jazwa committing larceny on the basepaths What do spectators want to see most in a baseball game?
Well, there are those who like to see a lot of home runs, others want to see a barrage of hits for any distance. More than a few like to watch a good match between two strong pitchers with even more interest when one is working on a no-hitter.
But for the most part the real fans just like to watch good baseball being played. And there has been a lot of that around these parts over the years, whether in County League, Fay-West League, American Legion, high school, whatever.
Those who like to watch good pitching and base stealing had their share of it during this week, awayyyyy back in 1953.
That was a good time, whether in sports or just living. Records show that the weather was clear and warm, with scholastic baseball and track in full swing. Some local winter activities were winding up with post-season banquets and awards, and even the Pirates were winning a few games, sandwiched around a 5-game slump.
Meanwhile, a guy was getting ready to graduate from Grove City College (for which the college was thankful), and was headed for his first sports writing assignment in Chatham, N.Y., to start the trail that would eventually lead him to Fayette County (which some would say was Fayette’s misfortune). But that’s another story for another time.
On the local scholastic baseball scene, larceny was in the hearts of Buddy Ward (German Twp.) and a player named Jazwa from Carmichaels. Unfortunately, first names were not always printed back then, something that is required today.
Carmichaels thumped Jefferson, 16-2 (no 10-run rule in those days), clinching with a 7-run fifth, featured by Lou Moslin’s bases-loaded triple. Jazwa was in base four times, including a triple, and stole home three times with Mike scores.
German nipped Redstone, 2-1, with the winning run coming when Ward stole home in the last of the sixth. Redstone led 1-0 in the fifth on Jack Micenko’s single and Sam Motil’s double. German won with two in the sixth. Leadoff Adam Yadamek was safe on an error, Tom Zembar and Ward singled, with Yadamek tagged out at the plate. Bob Leghart walked to load the bases, Jim Ward’s fly ball scored Zembar, sending Buddy Ward to third, from where he stole home with the winner. Bob Cantini had a double and single for German.
Kendrella pitched a 5-hit shutout as Mapletown collared Center Twp., 6-0. Losing pitcher Crouse had two of those hits, including a double, the only extra-base hit of the game.
Perry-Lower Tyrone shutout West Bethlehem, 2-0, on a 3-hitter by Dale Elwell. PLT scored in the fifth. Joe Lafko doubled and moved around on a passed ball and error, then Jim Husar was alive on a fielders choice and scored on a Phil Davis single and an error. Majeski tripled for West.
The next day, PLT pitcher Bill Thomas had about as tough a defeat as a pitcher can absorb. He worked a 1-hitter and struck out 13, but got no support, and Centerville won the game, 1-0. Byland doubled to open the fifth, the only Center hit. The only run came in the first, when Mitchell was aboard on a 2-base error and scored on a wild pitch and groundout. Jim Hudar doubled for PLT.
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In other sports action:
-Bob Friend pitched a 5-hitter, and the Pirates got 13, to edge the New York Giants, 5-4. This left the Bucs 2-3 and in sixth place, with the Brooklyn Dodgers first (4-2). Cal Abrams hit a homerun and single and Pete Castiglione a double and single to lead the Pirates. And if you remember those names, you are just slightly long in the tooth!!
-Dunbar Twp. outran Centerville, 71-60, as Bodis doubled in the shot and discus, and Kline ditto in the 100 and 220, plus a leg on the winning 880-relay with J. Hunter, Ambrisco, and Homer.
-Pitt basketball coach Doc Carlson retired after 31 years and a 369-247 record, including national championships in 1928 and 1931. Carlson was born in Fayette City.
-It was billed as a quadrangular track meet, but it came down to a duel between Brownsville and Charleroi, BHS winning 73-69, to 15 for Jefferson, and Carmichaels six. Mitchell doubled for Matt Wasko’s Brownies in the long jump (19-8) and low hurdles (:16.5). Other BHS winners were Sealy in the mile (5:08), Robinson, 440 (:56), Shoaf, shotput (41-6.5), and Smith pole vault (9-1). Terembia won the javelin (150-0) for Jefferson.
-Uniontown Sons of Italy held their bowling banquet at Shadyside. Season leaders recognized were Frank Poletz (257 single game), league president Len Basile (556 series), and John Meal, season average (152.9).
-South Union stopped Fairchance, 14-8, led by Bill Oberleitner’s jackpot homer in the third. Wayne Hall had four RBI with three doubles and a single, and Tom Ditmore hit two doubles. Mickens had two hits for FHS.
-In a battle of track unbeatens, Greensburg outran Uniontown 77-49. Bill Sneddon doubled for UHS, in the 100 (:10.3) and 220 (:23). Other Raider winners were Kollar 440 (:56.9), Holliday 880 (2:15), Zawacki high hurdles (:16.5), Mentzer pole vault (9-10), and the mile relay team of Rush, Serafin, Sneddon, and Kollar (3:53).
-The Pirates won the rubber game of the set with the Giants, 6-5, featured by Frank Thomas’ first ever major league grand slam in the third. Lefty Howie Pollett got the decision.
Jim Kriek is a Herald-Standard sports correspondent.