 |
Home | Search | Browse | About IPO | Staff | Links |
|
Home | Search | Browse | About IPO | Staff | Links |
|
Ex major leaguers are popular teachers Baseball Packs Them In By Marvin I. Thomas
ALONG TIME AGO the Chicago Park District learned a valuable lesson. That few people, regardless of education, super know-how or dedication, could spark the interest or rouse the enthusiasm of its younger patrons like professional sports heroes whose names were symbolic with athletic prowess and success and whose presence created an aura bordering almost on idolatory. The fabulous Jim Thorpe and the late Roger Hornsby, in relatively brief encounters, contributed greatly to the Chicago Park District's vast baseball program, a Federation of many teams organized in the '30s by a major league performer, Jack Sheehan, now a scout for the Washington Senators. But it was with the acquisition of former Cub hurler, Dick Drott; and the former White Sox star outfielder, Al Smith, that the federation really flourished. Last season Chicago Parks fielded 1,402 competitive baseball teams in over 250 leagues in
midget, liberty, Connie Mack and Stan Musial divisions, with an enrollment close to 15,000 uniformed players and an overall tally of some 50,000 boys in less-organized competitions. Visitations or a summary of daily work-out attendance figures showed a record 1,670,504 baseball participations. Although out of professional ball and now on the Park District payroll for about half a decade, Drott and Smith, still manage to exude that same charm and attraction which entices more and more youth into taking part in the yearly baseball schools, the lecture sessions and the post school checkups that extend throughout the season. The results are most satisfactory. All Chicagoans and especially baseball buffs remember Dick Drott and Al Smith. The latter played over 11 years in the majors starting in 1953 with the Cleveland Indians. While with Cleveland he played on a team that in 1954 chalked up a record 111 games in the win column. In the World Series that followed, Al Smith, as lead-off man, had the honor, shared by only two other ball players, of slapping a home run off the first pitch offered.
Smith played in the All-Star games of 1954 and 1955. In the latter year he lost out by a single vote for the MVP award. He finished second for the American League batting crown with a .317 average and garnered Player of the Year, Man of the Year and Sportmanship Awards. In the winter of 1957 he was traded to the White Sox and played with the Chicago team in the 1959 World Series and 1959 All-Star game. He played briefly with Cleveland in 1964 after being traded to Baltimore in 1963, and ended his professional career shortly afterwards with the Boston Red Sox. Smith has extended his interests and activities in other recreational pursuits and at present is the Supervisor of Recreation at Ogden Park on Chicago's south side, in addition to his primary role in baseball. Dick Drott served three years in the Minors, 1954 through 1956, before moving up to the major leagues. In 1957 he joined the Chicago Cubs where he was a starting pitcher for five seasons. In 1962 he was traded to Houston where he retired from the pro ranks in 1965. While with Los Angeles, Drott set a new Pacific Coast League record for strikeouts while winning 17 games. He recorded 16 wins against 11 loses for his best season with the Cubs and in 1957 was named "Chicago Rookie of the Year." While Dick concentrates almost entirely on baseball promotion, he manages to find time in the off season to assist Byron Harcke, the Chicago Park District's golf supervisor, conduct a city-wide golf school for Dick's second love is golf, another sport in which he is highly proficient. Dick's title is Baseball Commissioner for the Chicago Park District and he is headquartered at the Park's Administration Building near Soldier Field in Burnham Park. Marvin I. Thomas is a staff writer for the Chicago Park District.
Illinois Parks and Recreation 7 July/August, 1971 |
