Results matching “Hinkey” from York Town Square

The New York Giants' Willie Mays makes what has become known as "The Catch" of York County native and Cleveland Indians Vic Wertz's long fly ball in the 1954 World Series. Mays amazing play overshadowed Wertz's stellar performance in that series. Background posts: Who were most prominent 20th-century sports heroes in York and Adams counties? and York County sports a miniature Cooperstown and Story answers much about great athlete Hinkey Haines, including origin of his nickname.

I've written before about York native and major league baseball player Vic Wertz.

All he did was hit .500 in the 1954 World Series in which his Cleveland Indians lost to the New York Giants.

He returned from a bout with polio to hit 32 home runs.

Late in his career, he broke his ankle and came back to play on.

But it was that World Series and Willie Mays' over-the-shoulder grab of Wertz's long fly ball that relegated Vic Wertz to baseball's "almost-great" list.

But this post really isn't about baseball.

In a York Sunday News column (11/1/09), I compare Vic Wertz to his native York County, Pa., a kind of human metaphor for this south central Pennsylvania county ... .

A photo of Eddie Plank holding a baseball on the wall of Gettysburg Eddies, an eatery in Adams County, Pa., tied to native son and baseball Hall of Famer Eddie Plank. Also of interest: Remembering York/Adams major leaguers and Vancouver, B.C., has beauty, but York, Pa., has a life-sized Brooks Robinson statue and York County sports a miniature Cooperstown.

Fellow blogger Pat Abdalla has profiled baseball players from York and Adams counties who performed in the Major League post-season.

The most prominent is Vic Wertz and his long fly ball out hauled in by Willie Mays.

In his Southpaw blog, Pat also explores the post-season work of: ... .

John G. Coulson's "Hanover Raiders, Minor League Baseball in Hanover, Pennsylvania" tells about the life and times and players in the Blue Ridge League. His work nicely adds to the repository of the names of major league players who hailed from or played in York and Adams counties. Background posts: Before the York Revs came the Hanover Raiders and Big league baseball fans from everywhere remember Gene Crumling and York County sports a miniature Cooperstown.

At the moment of the Atlantic League York Revolution's home opener for season No. 3, it's a good time to review former major leaguers with York roots as well as those who were here for a cup of coffee.

Atlanta Braves superscout Paul Snyder is from York County. So is Greg Gross. And Jim Spencer. And Gene Cumling. And Ken Raffensberger.

Robert Rohrbaugh might be the region's next major leaguer.

York Town Square just profiled Eddie Plank, the great southpaw 300-game winner.

Just when you think you exhausted the pool of York/Adams countians with Major League Baseball ties (click here for another long and impressive list) who were born here or lived here, you run across another batch... .

Eddie Plank, a Gettysburg native, won more than 300 games in his Major League Baseball career, the first lefthander to do so. Plank ended his career with 327 victories. He entered the majors in 1901 and retired in 1917. He became a hall-of-famer in 1946. Background posts: Story answers much about great athlete Hinkey Haines, including origin of his nickname and Southpaw could be next York/Adams major leaguer and Baseball's Methuselah played for White Roses.

A Gettysburg restaurant recently has themed native son and baseball Hall-of-Famer Eddie Plank.

"Gettysburg is a town that lives on the dead, their legends, speeches and actions.
Most restaurants, gift shops and museums have themes that deal with the borough's famous battlefield and presidential history," blogger Pat Abdalla wrote under the headline, Finding a niche with Eddie Plank.

"Restaurant owner Bill Wills, however, has found a different niche in Gettysburg's history: Eddie Plank, a legendary baseball player who was born and lived in the town."

This attention on Plank brings to mind a review of an article in "National Pastime" on Plank.

That York Sunday News article (7/25/04) debunked some myths about Plank, the first southpaw to win more than 300 games in the majors... .

Red Lion's Scott Fitzkee has been named the greatest prep athlete in York and Adams counties history. Background posts: Story answers much about great athlete Hinkey Haines, including origin of his nickname and Central York High School's Laura Beveridge: 'I certainly have not forgotten her' and York athlete series: 'Arguably the best girls' volleyball player the area has ever seen'.

The votes are in, and former three-sport Red Lion star Scott Fitzkee reigns as York/Adams' Greatest Athlete, as put forth by the York Daily Record/Sunday News.

Readers placed Fitzkee, who went on to play football at Penn State and the NFL, at the top of their list, as did YDR/YN sportswriters Frank Bodani, Steve Navaroli and Sean McLernon. (Jim Seip listed him at third.)

Here is the vote of the readers:

Babe Ruth's autograph is shown on a piece of Hotel Penn stationary owned by West Manchester Township resident Jason Showvaker in 2006. Showvaker obtained the stationery from another collector. Background posts: Story answers much about great athlete Hinkey Haines, including origin of his nickname and York turned its eyes to Joe DiMaggio and Adding to York baseball timeline: Revs ready for 'second helping'.

His late grandfather saw them play there.

"I saw your article which included a picture of the park from July of 1945. Was any baseball ever played there? Whatever info you could provide would be appreciated,"
he wrote.

We'll turn the question of the Babe's appearance at the White Oak Park ballfield, north of York, to any fans out there to respond.

Here's some help.

York Daily Record columnist Jim Hubley wrote an account in 1995 of the Babe's visit to Eagles Park for the game that Jim Fickes' grandfather probably recalled:

Red Lion cigarmaker Harry L. Haines represented York County in U.S. Congress for most of the 1930s. Background posts: 34 years ago, Congressman Goodling replaced Congressman Goodling, Who were these congressional visitors to York Town, anyway? and Sixty years ago, Dem upset GOP incumbent for York County congressional seat.

Hinkey Haines' athletic successes sometimes overshadowed his accomplished father Harry Haines.

Harry was a cigarmaker - owner of three factories - and a successful amateur athlete around the region. He was mayor of Red Lion in the 1920s.

And he was York County's Democratic congressman in most of the Depression era.

In fact, those were the days when congressional races were, indeed, races... .

Henry 'Hinkey' Haines, left, and Babe Ruth were teammates on the 1923 World Series champion New York Yankees. Background posts: Southpaw could be next York/Adams major leaguer, York County sports a miniature Cooperstown and Red Lion's Butch Wynegar ranks bright among York's sports stars.

Henry L. "Hinkey" Haines might have been the most accomplished athlete ever to come out of York and Adams counties.

So contends Frank Bodani, who spearheaded the Greatest Athletes series now running weekly in the York Daily Record/Sunday News.

Certainly, he made the York Sunday News' top 10 list of greatest athletes of the 20th century.

But he did not make the top 10 list of Red Lion Area Senior High School athletes.

The book "Red Lion, The First One Hundred Years" offers a possible explanation for that:

The York Sunday New rated Bob Hoffman, founder of York Barbell, at the top of the top 10 York and Adams counties sports figures in the 20th century. Background posts: Lineup full of stars with York County links, Author muscles way into York's body building world and Richard Nixon's visit to his namesake park sparks memories.

The York Daily Record/Sunday News publication of the 25 most influential people in York County sparked much community discussion.

The same was true in 2000 when the York Sunday News issued its list of the 20th-century's top 10 sports people.

Bob Hoffman headed the list on the strength of his role as five-time Olympic weightlifting coach and his founding of York Barbell.

His selection - and others in the top 10 - brought accord and also disagreement... .

William C. Goodridge, a former slave who became a respected York businessman, was an influential 19th-century figure in York County. He is on a short list of top newsmakers in York County in the past 250 years. Background posts: List of luminaries from Dover lengthens, How come so few in York know about S. Morgan Smith?, Samuel Small tops community contributor list.

On Sunday, we'll post a sampling of 25 of York County's most influential residents. Actually, there are 26.

The suggestions came from members of the public, York Daily Record/Sunday New staff and the newspaper's editorial board.

As a warm up, we post here a list from "Never to be Forgotten" of a group of 30 influential residents from York County's past... .

Red Lion's Butch Wynegar, seen here with Brooks Robinson, played for the American League in the All-Star Game on July 13, 1976. At 20 years, 121 days, Wynegar earned was the youngest player to play in an All-Star Game. Wynegar's home county's York Revolution play in their home opener at Sovereign Bank Stadium in York, Pa., today. Robinson began his professional career with the York White Roses, predecessor of the Revs. Background posts: Butch Wynegar ranks bright among York's sports stars, Season 2 of York's campaign to come back - Iconic photos 21-23 and Batter up, pass the hot dog: York relishes the Revolution

The York Revolution opens its second season at Sovereign Bank Stadium today with its home opener against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.

A special section, "Second helping," setting up the season appeared in the York Daily Record today.

It contains a thorough timeline of baseball in York since 1884, put together by baseball writer Jim Seip. Study this lineup, and you'll be better versed on what baseball has meant to York County over the years:

During the winter, southpaw Triple A pitcher Robert Rohrbaugh trains in Littlestown. Here, he lifts weights at the Littlestown YMCA. 'He's knocking on the door of the big leagues,' said Greg Hunter, the Mariners' director of player personnel. 'He's adjusted to every level he's been at.' Background posts: York County sports a miniature Cooperstown and Baseball's Methuselah played for White Roses.

Several years ago, Hanover-area left-hander Mark Phillips scored a big contract with the San Diego Padres. But his career so far has gone nowhere, falling far short of the majors. Last summer, Phillips labored in the Central League before landing a pitching slot in the Atlantic League.

But now comes another Hanover-area southpaw - Robert Rohrbaugh - one of the Seattle Mariners' top minor league prospects... .

William Penn High School grad Chris Doleman was one of several York countians to score success in the NFL. Background posts: Lineup full of sports stars with York County links and Hinkey and the Babe teamed up in '23 and Names of stars from York County with pro sports links just keep increasing and A journey from Delone Catholic to the Super Bowl .

Dover's John Kuhn is part of a short list of York County athletes who have made the NFL in recent years.

A sampling of former NFL players born in York County to join Kuhn, the former Pittsburgh Steeler and current Green Bay Packer into professional football, according to a York Daily Record report:

Former major leaguer Gene Crumling inspects his plaque during the recent opening of the York County Sports Hall of Fame.

Sandy Noel left a query on a previous post Lineup full of sports stars with York County links.

It was one of those everyday riddles people like to solve.

Here is Sandy's query:

"My father, Luther James Brenneman was inducted to the Central York County League, Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. He was an infielder and played for North York. He would have played in the late 40's, early 50's. I received a plaque with his name on it, and I am trying to get more information about it."

If you know, please contact Sandy at sjnwhatever@comcast.net.

But those with sports questions have another resource. The York Area Sports Hall of Fame has a new home. So the museum at Insurance Service United office at 224 N. George St. in York might be a place for Sandy and others with sports questions to start. The folks there might not know it but might be able to point inquirers in the right direction.

A York Daily Record story on the museum follows:

York County's Hinkey Haines and Babe Ruth teamed up in 1923.

Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer Brooks Robinson and former lefty Ken Raffensberger appeared in a York Daily Record roundup of athletes who touched York County in some way.

The 2006 story provides an impressive list of links between the world of sports and the county of York:

John Fetterman is mayor of the Pennsylvania steel town of Braddock.

He's also a Harvard-trained lawyer.

He's also a York County native.

York countians are everywhere. We have our national celebs and athletes and politicians.

York County has several connections with Babe Ruth, now pushed to No. 3 on the list of all-time home run hitters.

One of the most direct links involved a native son who played with Ruth's New York Yankees in 1923. He's former Penn State and New York Football Giants' player Henry "Hinkey" Haines. Also, see Did the Babe visit York? and York turned its eyes to DiMaggio.

Here's how "Never to be Forgotten" describes Hinkey:

Stan Musial, left, and Hinkey Haines converse at York Sports Night in 1976. Haines was inducted in the York Sports Hall of Fame that night. Butch Wynegar, background, holds a pen, anticipating an autograph.

'York native Butch Wynegar is back in pinstripes.'

That's how the YDR's story on Red Lion-native and 13-year major-league veteran Butch Wynegar began. See Butch. It went on to explain that the recently released hitting coach for the Milwaukee Brewers was now a hitting instructor in the Yankees organization.

Anytime I read about Wynegar, I think about this photo bringing together three generations of baseball greats - Stan Musial, Hinkey Haines and young Wynegar... .