A story about the reunion of “town team” baseball players held at the American Legion Banquet Room, Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1991.
Photo caption:
Harry Deitrich displays the uniform he wore as a member of the Loyalton “town team”
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“Old-Timers” Recall Baseball’s “Glory Days”
by Mike Hutchins
The American Legion banquet room in Millersburg was filled with memories August 31 as old friends got together and talked about the “glory days.”
The event was the first reunion of area baseball players from the “old days” – the days when each area town was represented by its own team.
Most of the gentlemen present were admittedly a but rounder around the middle and a bit thinner on top, but everyone had a story to tell about his baseball experiences.
“Sparky” Warfel smiling ear to ear, remembered what it was like to play 50 years ago.
“All I remember is everyone was younger than me,” Warfel said. We played for the fun. We loved the game. We had to, we didn’t get paid.”
More than 125 ballplayers from the “Town Team Era” attended the banquet, most of whom claimed to be the legend of their day.
Mike Margerum, who played for Gratz and Loyalton, did point out one of the bigger hitters of his era, “Dush” Long.
“I never saw a man hit a ball as long as he did, Margerum said. “He could throw the ball too. He could throw it 100 miles an hour, but you never knew where it was going.”\Long admitted to hitting a few “long” homers in his day, pointing out how he once cleared the pine trees in straightaway center in Millersburg‘s MYO Park.
“Now and then I would hit one,” Long said with a smile. His old teammates and foes pointed out that he could not hit a low curve or the knuckle ball.”
Speaking of knuckle balls, Carlos Scheib and his son Ronnie Scheib were both on hand to rehash the golden years of baseball.
Carlos Scheib, 84, represented the Pillow Pirates from the early 1930s. He said he pitched in the days when spit balls were legal.
Ronnie said, “He taught me to throw the knuckler. He [Carlos] was one of the best.”
According to many of his adversaries, Ronnie Scheib held his own in his day, playing every position for teams from Berrysburg, Elizabethville and Valley View.
Ronnie also said he traveled to Harrisburg to display his talents on a club managed by an old Philadelphia Eagle player, Duke Morronick.
Many of the “Old guard” talked of how much baseball has changed throughout the years, noting aluminum bats and the lively baseball. However, all agreed that the game was better in their day.
“Gummy” Rothermel of Gratz, who played from 1933 to 1948, said television has changed the game considerably. He said he believes television is a big reason for the demise of local “town team” baseball.
“We were so glad we played. There was much more togetherness and everyone played 100 percent,” Rothermel said.
Bob Shumaker, who played for Halifax and Elizabethville from 1947 to 1965, said the biggest change he has seen is the switch from hardball to slow-pitch softball. He also said everyone got tired of the old wool uniforms.
“Back then, we went to the ball games,” Shumaker said. “That is what everyone did.”
He said everyone would go to the park on Sunday afternoons to watch the games.
During the festivities, event coordinator Toby Tobias presented “Mule” Straub with an award for being the “number one fan.”
Tobias told of the days when Straub got his nickname, “Mule.” He said Straub was the kindest gentleman off the field – but on the field, he said, Straub was more than happy to help out any umpire who got into trouble.
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From an article that appeared in the Upper Dauphin Sentinel, September 4, 1991. Photo by Mike Hutchins.
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