This is Why.

 Someone sent me this article today, "Pardon Me if I Talk About Back Where I'm From."

I replaced Minnesota with Northwest Pennsylvania and Southwestern N.Y. (Eldred and surrounding area) and it became very lifelike to me. This is why I write and talk about my home community. I wish I had written these words, but they definitely made an impact and left a feeling of love and pride. 

"I spent the pandemic in New York where I don't know anybody except my wife so quarantine was no problem and after I got vaccinated I went home to Minnesota and had dinner with five people I've known forever or more, and it was a pleasure that's worth getting old for. With old friends, conversation is simple: you open your mouth and there's a big balloon of words. With new people, it's like a job interview. So I  love Minnesota where those old friends are. And it's a state that needs to be loved.

Minnesota is overlooked because we were brought up not to brag, not to toot our horn, not dance in the end zone. When a Minnesotan hits a grand-slam homer in the ninth to come from behind and win a championship, he trots around the bases, ignoring the roar of the crowd and crosses home plate and walks head down, to the dugout, and sits down, no waving his cap to the crowd, and afterward he autographs a hundred caps to hospitalized children and goes home, and mows his lawn.

My favorite Minnesota hero is Stan Nelson, who made me do chin-ups in physical education class at Anoka High School in 1957. I couldn't do them, but he made me try. I didn't know until Stan's 100th birthday celebration that Stan had piloted an LCI 492 landing craft at Normandy Beach on D-Day, making four separate landings, dropping four bands of troops. He had been in danger but he knew the men he ferried were in greater danger and many would die so he wore his honors privately."

(This is the part I am really going to try and remember- word for word). "And instead of major awards, I have these old friends. Some luck lies not in getting what you want but getting what you have, which- once you take a good look -you may realize is what you would've wanted if you had only known. I'm not sure that sentence is grammatically correct but it's true."

Tom Irons and Jim Thomas, "Pitching Legends on Different Mounds"

 

"Thomas, Maynard, Johnson and the Crosby Mudhens: A Town's Magic Summers was published as a blog essay on Sept 14, 2019.

Five months later (February 18, 2020), "Fastpitch, Olean Muny League with Bradford and Salamanca: Some History, Some Mystery." was written.

Tom Irons, softball star.

Alle-Catt pitcher (and hitter), Jim Thomas

Today's writing will come as close as I can ever get to two biographies. I still can't pass by the names and playing backgrounds of so many baseball and/or softball players without typing in their name and recognizing their achievements.

Tom Irons was named to the Western New York Softball Hall of Fame and Jim Thomas is a WNY Baseball Hall of Fame member. 

Those honors serve as valid endorsements of the time when these two men played at the upper echelon in their respective leagues and outside competition. Their achievements on the field are not measured in games or years-they are measured in decades. 

Tom Irons pitched for 27 years, throwing over 1,600 games with over a 1,000 wins. He averaged 14 strikeouts a game. The 6'4' Irons, threw 26 no-hitters.

Jim Thomas, a 6'2, 190 pound lefty, threw a perfect game and seven no-hitters. He tossed 12 one-hitters and 15 two-hitters. He averaged 12 strikeouts a game and had an overall pitching record of 153-24.

It's impossible to compare any type of numbers/statistics in these two sports because they are completely different. Wearing a glove or swinging a bat does not make them similar. 

Many athletes inside and outside the Big 30 have played both sports and done very well, but no one did it singularly as well as Tom Irons and Jim Thomas, for over two decades.

Setting aside their differences in pitching delivery, mechanics and pitch selections, these two men shared many details.

They grew up only 21 miles apart. Irons, one of 12 kids, was born in Olean and grew up in Rixford, Pa. (population 590). He was a star athlete at Otto High School, graduating in 1956, the same year the school was consolidated to Otto-Eldred High School.

Thomas still lives in Betula, Pa. Betula sits within Norwich Township. It is five miles south of Crosby, where the feats of Thomas and his Mudhens' teammates were showcased each summer.

Thumbing through some research, looking for the population of Betula, I came across this phrase, "Census- not included in past counts." I think that means there's not a whole lot of folks who live there.

Jim attended high school ten miles from home in Smethport, Pa., the county seat of McKean County. Like Irons, he was a multi-talented athlete (track and field, football and others)

FYI: If you are looking to make that Betula to Rixford journey, just travel north on route 46. (21 miles)

"Jim had such a long pitching career for two basic reasons. 1) He took care of himself. He was in excellent health. 2) He pitched like he was running a marathon. He threw more fastballs even though he had an excellent curveball and a knuckle curve.

He pitched the first inning like he was going to pitch nine innings and that he also might want to pitch the next day. Sometimes, he did pitch back to back games....if we got ahead he's come out and different pitchers would finish. Then he'd start the game the following day."  (one of Thomas' catchers during his Alle-Catt career)

I spoke to Jim right after the 2019 Alle-Catt story had been released. Just having reached the 70-year-old mark, he was still throwing batting practice to a youth league team

The Alle-Catt was set up as a weekend-league. Nine inning games on Saturday and Sunday-usually one at home and one on the road. There were some hour plus road trips-almost always between opposing Pennsylvania and New York State squads.

"As a young kid watching Tom Irons and later playing against him, I think the thing that stands out was his desire to compete. Always striving to get better. Being a fast pitch pitcher is almost like participating in an individual sport. It's you against the opponents' lineup.

You have the ability to control the game more than any other position. I think Tom thrived on that. He was also a good teammate who had high expectations of those around him. Huge competitor." (former Muny League player).

MUNY League play was usually set up for a team to play two, seven inning games a week. Tournament softball is huge during the summer and there could be a time when your entire team was entered to play or high-profile players, such as Tom Irons, would be picked up by another club to pitch multiple games during one weekend.

Pitchers were a huge part of the player acquisition process, but top talent at any position was a valuable commodity. Playing locally in the Olean, Bradford, Salamanca area and then adding tournaments in Buffalo, Erie, Rochester, etc., a player/pitcher could participate in nearly 100 games during a summer.

Alle-Catt had their weekend league play and like fast pitch, the number of games could vary yearly depending upon addition or deletion of teams. A perennial playoff team, (playing in the Buffalo Suburban League playoffs) like Crosby, Olean Bradners, Emporium, etc. might play close to 25-30 games a year.

It's a pretty sure sign that an athlete is having tons of success when his name is in the local sports headlines often. Ninety percent of the time it's " Irons strikes out 17 in one-hitter in Mini Bar's romp or "Thomas throws shutout and homers for Crosby win.

Tom Irons.

It's also a badge of honor, when in a strange turn of events, that top player has a rough game and his name is still in the headlines because  it is such a rarity. "Irons loses, 2-1" or "Emporium beats Thomas, 5-4."

You're going to see lots of sports clippings, ranging from the late 60's to the 80's. There will be some recent quotes and some from the deep past. It was impossible to date them all, but I'm sure some of the readers will know when the game occurred.

Words you will hear will include; determined, poised, competitive, overpowering, championship team and consistency. All of these terms will help describe Tom Irons and Jim Thomas.

Thomas' 18 strikeout, 1-0 win over Cuba

Jim Thomas gets a win over Holland in the WNY Playoffs as Crosby wins 3-0 in a game called after four and a half innings. The lefty had nine strikeouts and only one Holland runner reached base (error). Thomas came in the next day against West Seneca with the score tied at three in the fifth inning with a runner on third and one out. Two strikeouts later, Crosby had escaped the jam and the rains forced a stoppage. 

1963- Jim Thomas in Babe Ruth ball. No surprise with Jim leading the way for the Crosby Club with 14 strikeouts and 3-4 at the plate.

This 1976 Alle-Catt game had to be one of the most note-worthy ever. Crosby and Andover went 18 innings before the game was called because of darkness at 5-5. At least, six straight hours of baseball and some once-in-a lifetime singular performances. Gregg Schellman went all 18 innings for Andover, giving up 19 hits, but only five runs. Fellow Crosby lefty, Ed Faes, who formed a dominating pitching duo with Jim Thomas, struck out 25, yes that is correct, 25 punch outs of the 33 outs (11innings) he recorded. Faes walked four and gave up only four hits.

Thomas started the game, going seven innings, striking out eight, walking two and giving up six hits. He and teammate, Fella Wright, also picked up three hits each.

Crosby played in the McKean-Elk League prior to joining the Alle-Catt League. Here's an 8-3, 1966 win for Crosby over Sheffield. Thomas played first base in this one, hitting in the #3 spot and collecting three hits. Warren was the league leaders at the time with a 5-0 mark.

"Well, I remember Thomas and Irons. But when I faced them, they were probably in their 40's I do believe. Great competitors and great pitchers who had something in them to keep competing for so long in to the years where not a lot of guys ever think about doing it-mostly because of the physical aspect of the game, some just can't do it. These guys (Thomas and Irons) maintained their physical ability, competitive spirit and kept their bodies in condition so they could compete with guys 20 years younger.

Pretty amazing to think about it. Both are legends." (quotes from one of the top all-time area hitters).

Both Irons and Thomas faced the challenges of younger, up and coming individual stars and/or teams that were improving each year.

Thomas, in the Alle-Catt League, had yearly battles with Olean Bradners with their staff of pitchers through the years that included Tim Brewer, Gary Witter, Rick Rosenswie, Mickey Yusko and Mike Martello.

Here's Olean's Mike Martello at 16 years old in 1970.

Especially in the A-C league with more teams than the fast pitch league, there were young, hard-throwing arms coming up on an almost yearly basis; Mike Turner, Randy Cooney, Terry Rider, Denny Thomas and Mike Martello-just to name a few.

One can't forget the veterans, especially on the fast pitch scene who went head to head vs. Irons for many years.

One ex-player, who saw the following through the eyes of a younger performer. "As for pitchers I can remember -Tom Carney playing for Blue Bird. Lefty with great command of his pitches. Good velocity, but also very crafty. Real competitor. Had many phenomenal duels with Irons.

Dornsife (Wayne) came on to the scene when Carney retired and pitched for Blue Bird. Motor Anastasia coached.

Another pitcher who excelled in my younger days was Bump Dunham. He pitched for Lime Material. Good location and changed speeds well. Real blue-collar type."

Tom Irons and manager, Casey Jones.

After his return from the Army in 1963, Irons watched Bradford star, Marty Snyder, and began to adopt his sling shot delivery.

Irons was the MVP of the league for Icky's Cookies in 1964 and by 1967 began a period of eight consecutive championships with the Mini Bar. Casey Jones was the skipper and the Mini Bar Team won over 50 tournaments between '67 and '74.

Tom began his week-end travel team regime in the early 70's playing tournaments in Franklin, Erie, Buffalo and Meadville among other sites.

Tom's fourth no- hitter of the year.

A 1-0 Irons win over the Pharmacy

Tom turned in another no-no, this time in the '75 Salamanca Muny Softball League Playoffs. He pitched Biscup's Sentry Hardware to a 5-0 win and a 2-0 lead in the best of five playoff series. Seth Halftown nearly matched Tom pitch for pitch, giving up only three hits for My Brother's Lounge.

Icky's 1966 championship-front row, left to right-Rusty Hetrick, Jack Wells, Jerry Perischini, Harold Johnston, Dave Ekas and Bubba Hammond. Back row- left to right- Dave Remington, Tome Keane, Larry Gildersleeve, Roger Fotch, Irons and Larry Holzworth.

Irons with another Mini-Bar win, fanning 13.

Mini Bar got their big win, but Spinks upset Blue Bird and ace pitcher, Wayne Dornsife.

Tom Irons' slingshot delivery.

Some Jim Thomas reviews:

"He had the illusion of a rising fastball. It felt almost like fast pitch. The ball seemed to jump a lot." (opposing hitter)

"He moved his fastball in and out all the time." (umpire)

"Gamesmanship, consistency and talent" (former McKean-Elk manager and player)

For over a decade, the Crosby versus Olean was often the 'Game of the Year.'

Thomas talks about his Crosby club and their hitting ability led by 3B, Terry Johnson.

Young  Tim Brewer picks up a 1-0 win over Crosby.

Thomas struck out 15 and walked five while Brewer k'd 11 and walked none. Olean's mike Karuch's speed led to the game's only run.

Lefty Rich Rosenswie, one of Olean's manager, Mike Giberson's, potential choices to throw against rival Crosby.

A 3-1 Crosby win, as the division tie is broken.

Thomas went back to back games in this playoff competition, beating Holland, 6-4 on Saturday, but losing 6-5 to Alden on Sunday.

Bill Julio (Olean) is thrown out trying to steal second base. Shortstop Denny Maynard takes the throw, backed up by Richie Faes.

Conclusion of stolen base attempt.

A repeat of a previous photo, but this time, looking at the Thomas mechanics. Always an easy, repeatable delivery finishing over his front side-head over hips and finishing out in front- not across his body.  A lot of looseness in there mixed with his conditioning and you have the ingredients for a long pitching career. Jim pitched competitively through the 1991 season.

Another two games of pitching weekend for Thomas, going six innings in each start before handing it over to Eddie Faes. A couple of big hits for Thomas also in the two game sweep.

Some non-Crosby action: Mike McCarthy of Friendship delivers a pitch to Olean's Halley Siago. the game is at Franchot Park. Catcher is Norm Fleming. Friendship won 5-3. 

"Irons was world class. He was the guy that travel teams would "rent" for a weekend tourney. And those guys could just make the ball dance.

Thomas-he was a pitcher. He wasn't going to  blow it by you mid-way through his career. "Crafty is a good word. 

Dornsife, Seth Halftown and Mike Cooney were all tough." ( a catcher in both Alle-Catt and fast pitch.)

A  huge turnout for this tourney at Marcus Park. The Buffalo team defeated Jamestown's Stravato's to clinch the title in 1973. Stravato's came out of the loser's bracket with Wayne Dornsife besting Irons and Mini Bar, 6-0.

Tom mentions in this article that he never had any arm problems, only some back issues-wearing a rubber sweat suit at times. The Hungry Horse became one of the better tourney teams in the area.

A 1968 Abdo and Davies column stating that Tom Irons is almost a sure bet every year for league MVP. 

Big Ron Wilson stated, " Look, I want to beat Irons so bad that I can taste it, but if you don't think he isn't the best pitcher and the MVP in these parts, then, brother, you'd better have your head examined."

Even a highly unusual seven walks total couldn't keep Irons from a 4-1 win. The big man walked five in his final two innings, but struck out 14 and allowed only two hits, both to opposing hurler, Bump Dunham.

Tom Irons at the plate. The Mini-Bar picks up another W.

Irons strikes out 17 and faced just one hitter over the limit in shutout win over Mohr's. Chuck Crist talks about the pitching that night- what he saw from the "Ironman."

Chuck Crist of the Salamanca Mohrs slides in to third.

Crist talking about Irons and fast pitch before heading to Penn State and another basketball season.

An almost typical summer for Irons.

The Bradford Icky's win the championship series, three games to two after losing the opening two games.

The box score for the final game, Irons with the win, allowing four hits.

Many great softball games with Wayne Dornsife versus Tom Irons.  The All-League pitchers were Irons and Dornsife. Infielders were Tom Keane, Ron Allen, Fred Howell and Bob Burns. Outfielders were Joe Moran, Mike Giberson and Ron Wilson. Stan Volz was the league's commissioner.

Irons pitching for the Bradford Merchants picks up a 2-0 win.

Irons throws a five hit (all singles) shutout.

An old-timers' game kicked off the evening.

Mini Bar and Blue Bird tied for the league lead at 21-3. Irons struck out 16 in Mini Bar's 11-1 victory. Henry Bzdak had a homer and four RBIs

Blue Bird wins the championship, three games to two- a 4-0 win over Tom Irons in game 5. Wayne Dornsife was the winning pitcher. The second article lists some of the Times Herald All-Star selections with the Salamanca Hopkins Indians leading the way. Salamanca also won the pennant, but lost to Blue Bird in the playoffs.

A few more Jim Thomas clips:

Crosby goes 7-0 with an easy win over Rushford and another over Allegany. Thomas struck out nine and gave up only 2 hits in the Allegany W

Crosby with a big hitting day in a 20-10 win over Ceres. Six homers for the Mudhens- two for Thomas.

Jim Thomas and Eddie Faes help the National team win the annual Alle-Catt All-Star game.

The Alle-Catt Baseball League and the Muny Fastpitch League are no longer in existence. Some of the players mentioned in this essay have passed, including Tom Irons, who died at the age of 76 in 2015.

It would be a tribute to many individuals, who provided such great memories, if somewhere in the local area there was an environment where they could be remembered for the enjoyment they created year after year. 

Until then, we just have to keep writing about the players and  teams of those days. 

Added Clips:

Alle-Catt All-Stars.

Crosby edged ahead of Friendship with a 7-1 win over Coudersport and a 4-2 win over Shinglehouse

Alle-Catt All-Stars include pitchers; Jim Thomas, Bill Leonard, Randy Cooney, Gary Witter, Mike Turner and others.

Leonard and Jones of Emprium share Pa. MVP Award. Harry Nelson wins the NYS MVP. Salamanca won the overall title.

Special thanks to my "panel of experts" who shared their on-the-field experiences playing with and against Thomas and Irons.