Waukee IA native and former Major League Baseball player Harold “Hal” Manders died January 21, 2010, at The Village at Legacy Pointe in Waukee. He was 92.

Manders, a right-handed pitcher, played parts of three seasons in the majors (1941, ’42 and ’46), mostly with the Detroit Tigers — but also two games with the Chicago Cubs.

In 30 major-league games, Manders produced a 3-1 record and 4.77 ERA, with an equal number of walks and strikeouts (28).  Manders, who attended the University of Iowa, was the cousin of Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller.
 

Snow was in the air as fourteen chapter members and guests gathered for a morning meeting on Saturday, October 10, 2009. The chapter met in Norway, Iowa at the new, almost-completed, Norway Hall of Pride. The Hall of Pride is a small museum that celebrates the history of baseball in Norway.  Norway is also the  hometown of Hal Trosky, Mike Boddicker, and Bruce Kimm as well as 20 Iowa high school baseball championship teams.

The reason for the 10 A.M. starting time was to accommodate our special guest, Norway native son, former professional ballplayer, and son of Hal Trosky Sr., the slugging first baseman for the Cleveland Indians in the 1930's. Trosky Jr., as the son of a Major League star, attracted the interest of all 16 Major League clubs (although Hal said he ruled out the Yankees, as they only wanted him as a catcher). Because of his friendship with Charles Comiskey Jr., Hal Jr. signed with the Chicago White Sox as a 17-year-old in 1954. After two seasons playing first base, Trosky moved to the pitching mound, where he compiled a record of 44-30 with a 3.40 ERA over five minor league seasons. Trosky also pitched in two games for the White Sox in September 1958 compiling a record of 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA in 3 innings.

Mr. Trosky proved to be an engaging guest. He shared his memories of pitching in minor league cities such as Davenport, Memphis (terrible, flat pitching mound, according to Trosky), Chattanooga, Nashville, and Indianapolis. He told of providing hitting advice to a young Harmon Killebrew, the incredible work ethic of Early Wynn, and his memories of a favorite minor league manager, Jim Turner, who taught Trosky how to throw a curveball. Trosky noted he didn't have a great deal of control over his curve, and stuck primarily with his fastball, slider, and changeup (which some might call a spitball).

Trosky also shared stories of his father, whose American League career was cut short by migraines. Hal Jr. was working on the farm in the 1960's when Hal Sr. discovered that cutting back on dairy products and tobacco lessened his migraines. If only the senior Trosky had discovered that earlier, Cooperstown might have another native Iowan's plaque in the gallery.

Strangely, the elder Trosky never saw his son play professional ball. Hal Jr. told of one close call when his parents visited Colorado Springs on Fathers Day 1958. In the second game of a doubleheader, Hal Jr. unexpectedly started and no-hit Des Moines 6-0. Unfortunately, his parents left after the first game.

Our guest left us with Hal Trosky Sr.'s words of wisdom "Never be afraid to not try something."

It certainly was a great session with Trosky. Thanks to Dan Even for arranging the session with Hal Jr.

Thanks also to Shona Frese of the Norway Hall of Pride, a terrific little museum to add to Iowa's list of baseball attractions. The museum is located at 112 Railroad Street-you can't miss it, as it has the old high school scoreboard on the facade.

R.J. Lesch provided the trivia quiz which had a post-season theme. Tim Rask managed to crack double digits with 11 correct answers, and took home the traveling trophy along with a volume of Yogi Berra quotes. Darrell Hanson will pen the quiz for the next meeting.

If anyone has any photos from the meeting, please send to Steve Smith at SSmith2084@aol.com.

We'll look to meet again in January. We're waiting to see if the Iowa Cubs will have a fan fest this year, and if not, we can open up suggested meeting sites.
 

KCRG-TV9's Matt Nelson is taking a journey through the Ballparks of the Midwest League.  Click on the link to view Matt's posts.

McFarland and Co. has published Ray Schalk: A Baseball Biography, by chapter member Brian E. Cooper, of Dubuque.

Schalk, star catcher for the Chicago White Sox (1912-28), entered the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955. He was one of the so-called Clean Sox, who saw their teammates throw the 1919 World Series in the Black Sox Scandal.

Though he batted just .253 over his career, Schalk was valued for his aggressive and talented defense -- including his ability to handle the spitball and other "trick pitches" -- his game management and handling of pitchers.

This is the second full biography written by Cooper, long-time executive editor of the Telegraph Herald in Dubuque. His first, of Dubuque County native Urban "Red" Faber, was published by McFarland in 2007 and was a finalist for SABR's Larry Ritter Award. Faber and Schalk, lifelong friends, hold the record for most appearances (307) and seasons (15) among batterymates enshrined in the Hall of Fame.