West Newsmagazine 5-6-20

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By KATE UPTERGROVE
May 6, 2020
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
I SPORTS I 29
Baseball in St. Louis
New book takes baseball players, fans on trip down memory lane
In St. Louis, the iconic question is
“Where did you go to high school?” But if
you played baseball – regardless of whether
you played as a child, in high school, or on
a college team – the question that really
matters is “Where did you play ball?”
In his new book, “Baseball in St. Louis,”
sports historian Ed Wheatley shares memories
of teams and players who turned diamonds
of all sizes into fields of dreams.
“Most people recognize St. Louis as the
best baseball town in the country. But why?
It’s about our roots, how baseball evolved in
our town but it wasn’t always just about the
pro teams – the Cardinals and the Browns.
Some of the best high school baseball was
played in St. Louis and when I’m
speaking of St. Louis, I’m talking
about the Illinois side, St. Charles
County and St. Louis City and
County,” Wheatley explained in
an interview with West Newsmagazine.
“West County was
such a big piece of baseball with
Manchester and Ballwin hosting
these town teams that evolved into
semi-pro teams. I know this personally
because my dad was part
of those teams.
“I have pictures of baseball in
Manchester and Ballwin in the
book from the 1912, ‘13, ‘15 seasons
all the way up to the ‘50s and ‘60s.
The thing about these teams [in the ‘50s] is
that they won so many titles. They were the
St. Louis County League champions in ‘53,
‘56, ‘57, ‘58 and ‘59.”
In 1958, most of the players on the
Ballwin team had played on minor league
teams and, according to Wheatley’s book,
some had played in the big leagues, including
former St. Louis Browns first baseman
Hank Arft and St. Charles pitcher Kenny
Heintzelman, who had a 13-year major
league career that included a World Series
The 1958 St. Louis County Champions
The Ballwin American Legion team was the national champion in 1972.
appearance.
“This was a level of baseball that most
cities did not have,” Wheatley said. In an
interesting aside he added, “If you know
Schrader Funeral Homes, Arft and his wife
owned it. Their daughter still runs it.”
West County’s role in producing championship
teams and players didn’t end in
the ‘60s.
“If you look at the years – from 1950
through 1972 – when there was one state
championship, you see the rise of Lafayette
[High] in Wildwood. They were state
[Source: Ed Wheatley]
champs in 1970, ‘71 and ‘73. They went
on to win many more as did a number
of West County teams, but that was after,
I’ll call it diluted, high school baseball
was divided into classifications. All of
those are listed in the book as well.
“So, Lafayette was a powerhouse. Most
of those kids also played on the Ballwin
American Legion team that won the
National Championship in 1972. We’re
planning a reunion of that team on Sept.
12 at the Daniel Boone Library and that’ll
be open to the public.”
Wheatley sees the event as a chance
for those in attendance to share not only
memories but their love of the game.
It is that love, which is celebrated in this
book. Beautifully produced by St. Louisbased
Reedy Press [reedypress.com], the
book is jam-packed with photos, stats and
trivia.
“There’s so many little touch points in
this book,” Wheatley said.
And so much to learn. Wheatley offers
the example of one league in which many
players had their start.
“People don’t realize that the Khoury
League, which is in every state and country
around the world, was founded and is still
headquartered here,” Wheatley said.
Founded in 1934 and named for George
Khoury, the league is considered to be the
“granddaddy of all youth baseball.” The
league offers programs for kids ages 4 and
older. In his book, Wheatley asks: “How
many former little leaguers remember
the changing size of the baseball as they
moved up from Atom to Bantam to Midget
divisions?”
And therein lies the magic of “Baseball
in St. Louis,” it’s all about the memories.
“Keeping those memories alive so people
don’t forget them,” Wheatley said. “When
people read this book, it’s more about
[Source: Ed Wheatley]
seeing their names or those of people they
knew or were related to. You kind of fall in
love with it, that’s what I’m hearing from
people.
“Baseball in St. Louis – it’s not just about
the Cardinals. Any man can play baseball.
Any girl can play baseball.”
West Newsmagazine wants to hear
your stories of baseball in St. Louis.
Share your favorite memories and
you could be selected to win a copy
of “Baseball in St. Louis: From Little
League to Major Leagues” and potentially
have your story included in a
“Baseball in St. Louis” movie.
“We are working on a PBS movie
from this book, the way we did for the
St. Louis Browns book,” Wheatley
explained. “If West Newsmagazine will
pass along the memories they receive,
we’ll review them for possible inclusion
in the movie.”
In 2017, Wheatley and Reedy Press
published “The St. Louis Browns: The
Story of A Beloved Team.” Its success
led to a PBS documentary in 2018, “The
St. Louis Browns – The Team St. Louis
Forgot,” which earned an EMMY nomination
and selection into the National
Baseball Hall of Fame’s 13th Annual
Film Series. The memories stirred by
that movie led to a second film, “A
Baseball Legacy – Fans Remember the
St. Louis Browns,” which debuted on
PBS in August 2019 and was featured
in the Hall of Fame’s 14th Annual Film
Series last September.
“Baseball in St. Louis: From Little
Leagues to Major Leagues” is available
for purchase at reedypress.com.