Dawes County Baseball

"..simply because it’s not possible."

So wrote long-time news and sports writer Con Marshall this week (July 22, 2020) after Chadron's "First National Bank-Omaha" American Legion baseball team lost to Alliance, then went on to sweep the Junior Panhandle COVID tournament in Chadron. They knocked off Gering, Alliance and Sidney – in record time! Not likely to ever happen again, and Con's story explains why. Read the story at Dawes County Journal. (Thanks again to Con Marshall for the story and photos!)

Now that's quick action!

Dawson Dunbar was attempting to cover home plate after his pitch got way from the catcher in the first game of the wild and wooly Junior Panhandle COVID Tournament in Chadron in July of 2020. He wisely jumped out of the way when Alliance's Victor Hinojosa came barreling into the plate. (Photo by Con Marshall)

Ward One baseball team in about 1956

WARD 1 - circa 1956. Standing (l-to-R): Manager Howard Hogue, Jim Bamsey, Larry Miller, Arvid Rhoades, Larry Matthesen, Roland "Bucky" Clark, Jack Miller, Douglas McKinnon, Danny Smith, Howard Youman, Larry Trout, and Coach Don "Yogi" Wheeler. Kneeling: Billy Johnson, Terry Doyle (?), Jon Schell, Bill Tuma, Dallas "Junie" Clark, Bobby Russell, and Freddie Miller. I believe young mister Tuma was our bat boy!

Where to post this picture?

We went to different schools; we were in different classes; we didn't go to the same churches; and we weren't "next door" neighbors – but as kids, we shared the joy of summertime baseball in Chadron. So we've placed this photo in the "Baseball" Gallery. Meet three members of the Ward One little league baseball team: George Bamsey (at left and now deceased) was a pitcher/ infielder; Larry Miller (center) was a catcher/outfielder; and Freddy Miller (right) – as I remember it – could play about anywhere – and had as much natural ability as any of his older teammates. This was taken in the lobby of the Assumption Arena on July 15, 2015 during an Assumption reunion event. Thanks to Steve Lecher for "escorting" an "alien" from the public schools to the event.

Beaver Valley Team - 1912

Purists will note that this is NOT a team from Dawes County, but I'll bet some of them farmed in Dawes County -- or close. In any event, one of their favorite rivals had to be the dudes from Chadron. Shown here standing (L-to-R) are: Brickner, pitcher; Celik, 1st base; Kubo, ?; Denton, pitcher; Chalupa, catcher; and Kubo, 3rd base. Kneeling (L-to-R) are: Simpson, shortstop; Kubo, right field; Conn, center field; Chalupa, ?; and the fellow kneeling far right played 2nd base (we think) butt his name on the original photo is illegible. Thanks to Lawrence Denton for sharing this great old photo.

1912 Chadron Baseball Team

Thanks to Lawrence Denton for sharing this image from his father's collection of old photographs. It's labeled as "Chadron Team - 1912." On the back It says: 1-Briles, pitcher 2-Price, shortstop 3-Wilson, 3rd base & pitcher 4-McCoy, B substitute 5-Lefty Mann - 1st base 6-Gus Glendening, center field 7-Red Boy, left field and pitcher 8-Frank Bice, second base 9-Jack Bice, right field 10-Orin Weymouth, catcher Our skepticism about names/positions was heightened when we noticed that #1 (Briles) is listed as pitcher, but he's wearing a chest protector. Perhaps he played both positions? Great photo!

Chadron Ward Baseball award recipients

This mid-1950s photo of "Joe Webster Memorial Award" recipients was sent to us by Bob Russell of Sun City West, Arizona. (Thanks, Bob!) All but one boys have been identified. Let us know if you have corrections — or can identify the boy standing third from the left. Kneeling (left-to-right): Ben Steele, Bob Russell, Raymond Cottier, George Bamsey, Larry Matthesen, Jim Yutesler, Ralph Byerly, and Gary Yutesler. Standing: Cash DeFlon, Ron Moody, Unidentified (Help!), Maynard or Fred King, George Blundell, Ed Reinking, Dick Muma, Larry Moody, and Danny Davis.

Ward Baseball "Joe V. Webster Memorial Awards"

Click on the photo of this undated First National Bank letter to Bob Russell, and you'll see first-hand evidence that we might have had a little "professionalism" creeping in to our amateur Ward Baseball program back in the 1950s! Okay, it was a "prize" — and a move that helped promote the First National Bank, while perhaps inspiring some of the kids to continue their pursuit of athletic achievement. (Editor's note: Thanks to Jim Sandstrom of Mountain View, California, for confirming our suspicions that "J.V" was indeed Joe V. Webster, a champion for kids baseball in Chadron and banker at the First National Bank. See the next item for more information.)

This just in! Ward One were baseball champs in 1955

(1955) Joe Webster Memorial Award recipients named Thanks to Jim Sandstrom for sharing this clipping from yesteryear! You'll need to "click on the clip" to get an easier-to-read version.

Chadron Elks baseball team - early 1950's

ELKS - This photo was likely taken of the Chadron Elks baseball team in about 1951 or 1952. Standing (l-r): Elks representative Walt Hampton, Manager Paul Rhoads, Jim Butler, Bud Larsen, Ed Puck, Nels Christiansen, Curt Elwood, Gordon "Fuzz" Watts, Frank Braden, and Harold "Tut" Tuma. In front (l-r): Bill Stephenson, Jim Thorness, Bob Baumann, Bob Staikoff, Bob Armstong, Clayton Brown, Henry Meter, and Bob Brown. Although the bat boy in front is not identified, it sure looks like Gerald Irish. Many thanks to good friend Mike Smith for sharing this photograph.

1953 Chadron Elks baseball team

ELKS - This appears to be the "undoctored" photograph of the 1953 Chadron Elks baseball team. We're not certain where it was taken — probably at War Memorial Park in Chadron. Standing (l-r) are: Paul Rhoads, Manager, Bill "Willie" Lemen, Frank Braden, Verne Lewellen and Bill Stephenson. Kneeling are: Jim Hampton, Curt Elwood, L.J. Fitzgibbon, Bob Baumann, Bob Armstrong and Bob "Hubba-Hubba" Staikoff. This was one of many outstanding teams fielded by the Elks in the post-World War II years through the 1950's. Thanks to Con Marshall for passing along this version of the photo!

Chadron Elks win the Nebkota League championship - 1954

Team members (front) included: LaVern Fitzgibbon, Bob Baumann, Paul Rhoads, Dale Hendrickson, Bruce Bartlett, and Jim Hampton. In back are: Walt Hampton, Keith Busboom, Verne Lewellen, Bill Stephenson, Curt Elwood, Bob Staikoff, Fuzz Watts, and Bud Larsen. To see a larger image, simply click on the photograph and select the size you prefer.

Ward 4 baseball team in 1952

Chadron native Jim Sandstrom shared some Ward 4 baseball photos with us, and we're especially pleased with this 1952 shot. In the background you'll see "King's Chair" atop the hill in the background. FRONT ROW: Doug McKinnon, Danny Davis, Sparky Harshfield (?), Jim Konrath, Jim Bamsey, George Bamsey, Larry Moody, Don Pokorny, Eugene Cornish, and (?) Dickie Medals, perhaps. BACK ROW: Coach Vic Medals, Dick Muma, Ed Reinking (?), Don Witte, Dick Grimes, John Tscharner, Rich Lenington (?), Eric Pokorny, Jim Sandstrom, George Blundell, Bobby Olson, Gary Durham (?), and Manager Joe Webster.

Some Ward baseball games were "under the lights"

This 1954 photo courtesy of Jim Sandstrom. FRONT ROW: (??), Jon Sandstrom, Larry Baumann, Chuck Lecher, and Bill Rice. MIDDLE ROW: (??), Dennis Parks, Charles Childerston, Richard Burkhiser, Steve Shaw (?), Charles Nelson, (??), Jim Sandstrom, and John Helzer. THIRD ROW: Jim Saults, Eurgene Cornish, George Blundell, Ed Reinking, Dick Muma, Larry Moody, Danny Davis, Douglas McKinnon, Jim Fitzgibbon, and Tom Saults. BACK ROW: Rotarian Louie Matthesen, Coach Kenny Moody, and Coach LaVern Fitzgibbon.

Undated photo of some Chadron ball players!

This photo is courtesy of Lynn Bilyeu and Con Marshall. These fellows look like they might have been out playing a little baseball. Left-to-right: Arden Stech, Lynn Bilyeu, Dean Patrick, Don Ewen, Gilbert Hill, Bob Zeman, and Roger Hood. Sorry, no name given for the dog! Click on the photo and get a closer look at these fellows! Return to Dawes County Journal.

Ward 3 baseball team in early 1950s

Thanks to Larry Moore of Mohave Valley, Arizona for sending us this photograph of Chadron Little Leaguers, part of the "Ward" baseball program in Chadron during the early 1950s. On the ground, left-to-right: Michael Hoevet, LeRoy Preble, Dale Butler, UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN, and Maynard King. Standing are: Orville Preble, Cash DeFlon, UNKNOWN, Larry Moore, Bill Hoevet, Melvin White, Ron Moody, Gary Butler, Mickey Megown and Fred King. Click on the photo to see a larger image. If you can offer additions or corrections, please send us an e-mail. More old photos from Chadron Public Schools.