August 2008 The Bottomley-Ruffing-Schalk Baseball Museum is recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization by the Internal Revenue Service. Your contribution may be tax deductible. A Trip to Bottomley Park see Page 3 for details 16
The Bottomley-Ruffing-Schalk Baseball Museum Edited by Board of Directors Published by Steve Johnson 121 W. State St. P.O. Box 75 Nokomis, IL 62075 August 2008 Vol. 103 Hours of Operation Monday-Saturday 9-11 a.m. Tuesday 6-9 p.m. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Please keep letters to 200 words or less. We appreciate your input. Website : brsmuseum.org E-mail: info@brsmuseum.org Museum now has website The BRS Baseball Museum has entered the Internet age with the creation of its website, which can be found at brsmuseum.org. Created with the help of Miller Enterprises Design, Inc., the website is in its early stages and will be updated frequently. Also, our e-mail address has changed to info@brsmuseum.org. We invite you to give us your feedback. Thanks. 2 15
Treasurer s Report A day trip to Bottomley Park By Patty Burris My grandson, Michael Burris, played a summer baseball game at Sunny Jim Bottomley Park in Sullivan, Mo. Michael lives in nearby Leslie, Mo., and I was quite surprised to learn where he was playing. On our first trip to the park, there was no indication at the ball diamond complex as to the name of the park. It just so happened that at the June BRS board meeting I mentioned that I was going to Sullivan, Mo., to watch my grandson play ball. Fellow board member Steve Johnson asked if he was playing at the Jim Bottomley park. Although it is a very nice park with a swimming pool and a picnic area, I thought a sign should have been posted near the ball diamonds, considering the reason behind the park s name. However, I found the sign at another entrance and took the picture shown on page one. Michael batted three times, walking twice. In the fourth inning, the sky grew dark, lightning followed and the game was called. It was a long haul for a short game. Rules are a little different than they are here. The boys could steal at any time, even as the pitcher held the ball. They also played with four outfielders. It is always fun to watch them play. It was a good season and I am happy to report that Michael s team took first place. 14 3
What s new at the BRS Several new items grace the museum s display area. At right is a printing plate of the St. Louis PostDispatch that commemorates the St. Louis Cardinals 2006 World Series title. Donated by Lisa Billingsley, this unique item is now framed in the museum. Thank you Lisa! the new versions are on display at the museum. Stop by and see if you recognize some, or all, of the names on the lists. On the following page is a display of the various stages of a baseball s production. This item was donated by Josh Chapman of Rochester. This exhibit captures how a baseball starts with a rubber core and evolves into a baseball. 4 13
High school plaques on display at museum Two plaques honoring Nokomis High School baseball players are on display at the museum. The Sunny Jim Bottomley Offensive Award is given annually to the player determined to be the most outstanding offensive player on the NHS team each season. The Charles Red Ruffing Pitching Award goes to the outstanding pitcher on the squad each year, as selected by the coaches. Started in 1975 by long-time Nokomis coach Bob Davis, these awards have been lauded on players for the past 34 seasons. The original plaques remain at the high school. However, 12 Above is Ray Schalk s catcher s mitt, which is on loan from the village of Harvel. Gilbert Merkel brought the glove to the museum. Many thanks to all who have donated items to the museum. If you want to view these items, stop by the museum or visit our new website at brsmuseum.org. 5
Dear Sir, Please apply enclosed check to the New York Yankees. Regarding the story on my dad, there were two mistakes. 1. He never graduated from high school. 2. The mining accident occurred when he was 16. Thank you. Charles Ruffing Jr. Team Standings Watch em Climb Let your dues and donations to the general and building funds speak for your favorite team. Let us know your preference and it will be in the next Bullpen. American League East Central West Yankees 100.00 White Sox 0.00 Angels 0.00 Blue Jays 0.00 Indians 0.00 Athletics 0.00 Orioles 0.00 Royals 0.00 Mariners 0.00 Rays 0.00 Tigers 0.00 Rangers 0.00 Red Sox 0.00 Twins 0.00 Browns 3.00 National League East Central West Braves 0.00 Cubs 105.00 D-Backs 0.00 Marlins 0.00 Cardinals 80.00 Dodgers 0.00 Mets 0.00 Astros 0.00 Giants 0.00 Nationals 0.00 Brewers 0.00 Padres 0.00 Phillies 0.00 Pirates 0.00 Rockies 0.00 Reds 0.00 6 BRS: Thank you for this generous donation. Your boost to the Yankees will be noted. We also appreciate the corrections in regard to the information we printed about your dad, Red Ruffing. Sometimes our sources and resources get a little mixed up, as they did here. Thanks for setting the record straight. To BRS Baseball Museum: Congratulations on the grand opening of the museum. It was great to see Joe Kempe on the Bullpen cover as he cut the ceremonial ribbon. My membership expired in April, so I m enclosing a check. Sorry to be late. Sincerely, Verena Anspach BRS: We concur that it was so nice to have Mr. Kempe attend the grand opening. Thank you for the kind words and your membership renewal. 11
From the museum mailbag... Dear BRS Museum: I wanted to let you know that my project to write a full biography of Ray Schalk is now under contract to McFarland & Co., the North Carolina-based publisher of many baseball books. McFarland last year published my biography of Ray's White Sox battery-mate and life-long friend Red Faber. My manuscript is due in late January 2009, and with good luck there will be a book on the market by Christmastime 2009. My editor was pleased to know that some of the photos will include those that are part of the BRS Museum archives. Though much of my research is finished, I am still hoping to communicate with folks who knew Ray. Best wishes for continued success! Brian Cooper (via e-mail) BRS: Thanks for the note. We are glad to hear that progress is being made on the book. We look forward to hearing from you again soon with further updates. I thought I had sent a donation. I am in my 90s and handicapped. My son has been one of your honorees for years. Good luck to all. Velma Fudoli BRS: Thank you for your generous donation, Velma. We wish you well. 10 Time Out for Trivia Mistakes. They happen. Errors are part of life and part of baseball. This month we will test your knowledge about errors in the major leagues. Good luck. See page 9 for answers. 1) What two shortstops share the modern National League record for most errors in the first game of the season? 2) Who had his 186-game errorless streak end earlier this year, a record for second basemen? 3) Who committed three errors on one play in a 1988 game? This item featuring Jim Bottomley is reprinted from a July 1934 edition of The Cardinal News. 7
H O N O R E E S P O T L I G H T Ray Schalk catcher. He held the American League record for assists. He set the record with 30 stolen bases by a catcher in 1916, which stood for 66 years. Ray was the first catcher to back up plays at first and third bases. Ray s accomplishments go on and on. He played in an unbelievable total of 1760 games during his career, which spanned from 1912 to 1929. Ray s dark spot was being a player on the infamous Black Sox team of 1919, but he refused to be a part of that travesty. He was always honored and respected by fans and fellow players. In retirement Ray continued in baseball by helping youth in Chicago. He certainly earned his 1955 election to the Hall of Fame. His biography is being published and you will be informed when and how to get a copy. Chicago White Sox The alphabet places many people near the bottom of a list but Ray Schalk earned a place near the top in baseball. Many players have had illustrious seasons, but Ray established records in many categories for years. His record of 151 games in one season still stands. During two years he caught 140 or more games. He caught more than 100 games in each of 11 consecutive seasons. This iron man who caught so many games was not huge. He was 5- foot-9, 165 pounds, but he made up for it with drive and the spirit to win. Not only could he catch, backstopping four nohitters, but he set a record for fielding percentage and the major league record for double plays by a 8 Trivia Answers: 1) Pokey Reese committed four errors on March 31, 1998, while playing for the Cincinnati Reds. Lou Stringer of the Chicago Cubs shares the mark, as he made four errors on April 15, 1941. Dasher Troy of the N.Y. Giants holds the all-time mark, making five errors May 1, 1883. 2) Detroit s Placido Polanco had fielded 911 consecutive chances without an error before his miscue on April 8, 2008. It was his first error since July 1, 2006. Polanco started a new error streak by making another error the next game. 3) Tommy John holds this dubious honor. While pitching for the Yankees, John mishandled a grounder, allowing the batter to reach base. He then overthrew the first baseman, allowing the runners to advance. To cap off his hat trick, John then misfired on a relay throw to home plate, allowing the batter to score. 9