A Depression Ball Game: Buffalo Bisons vs. Muny All-Stars, 1934

Summertime 1934. Buffalo. Depression. Unemployment rate: 21.7%.1 Mood: troubled, despairing. Social services and a New Deal were responding as best they could, helping people manage from day to day, but two big local newspapers were looking ahead to the winter. The Buffalo Courier-Express sponsored the Christmas Toy Fund and publisher and editor Burrows Matthews was determined that he would not fail the little ones who would otherwise go without. Equally determined was his counterpart at the Buffalo Evening News, Edward H. Butler Jr., whose publication aided the “50 Neediest” families at Christmastime. Where was the money to come from this year?

THE IDEA

In answer, someone came up with the idea of a Charity Baseball Game Writ Large. Perhaps it came from Matthews or Butler, or might it have been Billy Kelly, Sports Editor of the Courier-Express? Or maybe Dick Young, he who commandeered sports at the Evening News? Here was an American idea: Americans loved helping the underdog; Americans loved baseball. Let’s put these two together and raise some necessary money for a good cause. All the ticket revenue would go to the newspaper funds.2

The next step was determining who would play whom and where and when, but this was a no-brainer. Publishers Butler and Matthews could turn to a fellow publisher; Kelly and Young could turn to a man who loved baseball. All of them targeted the same individual—Frank J. Offermann, president of the Buffalo Bisons Baseball Club and newly elected (1933) Sheriff of Erie County.3

Offermann had made his fortune in Buffalo as the owner of F.J. Offermann Art Works, publishing advertisements and calendars. In 1928 he assumed the presidency of the baseball club. A true lover of the game and the people, Offermann enthusiastically donated the use of Bison Stadium at Michigan and E. Ferry Streets, the wages of staff required to manage the event, and the baseballs and any other required equipment. He even pledged to take out advertising space in the newspapers.4 Ray Schalk, his ballclub’s manager, would pitch the idea to the players. August 22 was found as an open date in the Bisons’ schedule and dedicated to the charity game.

The Bisons had represented the city in formal professional leagues since 1879.5 The team felt they owed something to the people who had supported them over the years. The ballplayers had a long, grueling season to play but they were aware they were lucky. They had jobs. They would give up a free day without too much grumbling.

Bisons fans could probably be counted on to attend, but the team would need a staunch opponent in order to make it worth their while to pay to see a non-league game. Who else in the area had an established fan base? And who could mount a worthy opposition?

The city’s Municipal League (Muny) baseball association was suggested. Non-professional baseball was big in Buffalo. The city and region boasted numerous “amateur” ball clubs sponsored by local companies, but even the best of these individual nines would never be strong enough to make it a contest against the pros. Look at what had happened back in 1914. The Federal League Buf-Feds had taken on the Simon Pures in an exhibition and had whomped them, 15-3.6

But what about a Muny All-Star team? A number of men playing in the Munys had already played pro ball. Others certainly looked like they were headed that way. The Municipal League directorship, the club managers, and especially the players bought into the idea. For the seasoned athletes, here was the opportunity to show up the baseball people who had dismissed them. For the younger men it was a chance to see what it was like to compete at the professional level. Dreams would drive the “amateurs,” while professional pride would motivate the Bisons.

To drum up excitement, it was decided that the fans themselves would choose the Muny combatants.7 Newspaper Voting Ballots for the Charity Baseball Game featuring the Bisons and their semipro All-Star opponents started to appear.8 Fans were encouraged to “select three pitchers, two catchers and one player for the other positions [infield and outfield].” Completed ballots were to be mailed to the Baseball Vote Editors at the newspapers with a submission deadline of midnight Sunday, August 19.

The 24 highest vote getters, based on the positions allocated, were chosen:9

PITCHERS (6)

• Emerson Dickman (Simon Pures, top overall vote getter with 18,992 nominations)

• Bill Pryor (Blue Coals)

• Eddie Majkowski (St. John Kanty)

• Art Weiss (Zoladz)

• Nick DiGiacomo (Wells)

• Eddie Retzer (Huff-Haskins)

CATCHERS (4):

• Tom Kenney (St. Casimir)*

• Lou DePoe (Blue Coals)

• Randolph “Murph” Mineo (GLF)

• Johnny Kull (Simon Pures)

FIRST BASEMEN (2):

• Ray Egner (Simon Pures)

• Lou Benzin (Blue Coals)

SECOND BASEMEN (2):

• Jerry Cristina (Simon Pures)

• Ted Prorok (St. John Kanty)*

SHORTSTOPS (2):

• Jack Collins (Simon Pures)

• Gene Geary (Leonards)

THIRD BASEMEN (2):

• Augie Mecca (Simon Pures)

• Mike Youra (Zoladz)

OUTFIELDERS (6):

• Eddie Crowe (Simon Pures)

• Joe Gallagher (Blue Coals)

• Adam Pasierb (St. John Kanty)

• Mike Shedler (Kronsons)

• Reg Bliss (Union Printers)

• Wilbur Bergstrom (Huff-Haskins)

* Tom Kenney topped all catchers in the fan voting but did not play and the game accounts do not say why. Tom Prorok (second base) did not play either due to a spike wound he had suffered on the Sunday before, August 19.

 

Dick McCabe managed the “Munys” in the charity game. (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library)

 

Managing the Munys was ex-Bison (and Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox) pitcher Dick McCabe, who that same year had led the Simon Pures to the Class AA pennant. His coaches would be Chester Tomczak, manager of the pennant-winning St. John Kanty club in the Jefferson League, and Frank Wagner Sr., who had kept his Zoladz club in the thick of the pennant race. Chief of Umpires for the Municipal League Thomas Mercer, Jr. selected four of his veterans to work the game: Millard Jeffrey behind the plate, Walter Talskey at first base, Edwin Harlow at second, and William Stutz at third.10

Bison regulars would suit up for the August 22 game, but not the pitchers. Schalk insisted that his hurlers needed a day off. The team was shooting for a fourth place finish and a spot in the postseason Shaughnessy Playoffs. Playoffs meant money. A local prospect the team had been considering would pitch for the Herd.

 

A newspaper voting ballot for fans to submit their favorites. (Author’s collection)

 

THE GAME

Game time was set for 9:00 PM, allowing fans to put in a day of work and still make their way to the ballpark. The Bisons would have the day to recover from their International League contest the night before. Muny players, who would take the diamond following the August 21 night contest so they could get a feel for playing under the lights, would also have the day to rest.

Tickets went on sale at the Matthias Cigar Store at 331 Main Street and the Bison stadium ticket office: a seat in the left field bleachers cost 25 cents, unreserved grandstand seats could be had for 50 cents, reserved grandstand went for 75 cents, and boxes cost $1.00. Women and children were admitted to unreserved grandstand seats for 25 cents.11

On Wednesday, August 22, a crowd of 9,543 turned out to watch an exciting come-from-behind victory by the Bisons over the determined Munys.12 Parks Commissioner Frank Coon threw out the first ball to Link Wasem, the Bisons’ catcher for the evening. Schalk had decided that the Herd’s regular receiver, Roy Spencer, also needed time off to rest his weary legs.

 

Hall of Fame catcher Ray Schalk as a coach with the Bisons. (SABR-Rucker Archive)

 

On Tuesday night the Bisons had lost, 7-1, to Albany, managing only two base hits and striking out 13 times.13 Against the Munys they jumped out to a two-run lead in the bottom of the first inning. Marve Olson led off by working a base on balls from Muny starter Emmy Dickman. Number two hitter Greg Mulleavy’s sharp ground ball to short took a freak hop over the glove of Jack Collins and Olson sped on to third base. On center fielder Eddie Crowe’s throw to third, Mulleavy took second. Dickman fanned Beauty McGowan for the first out, but Bison slugger Ollie Carnegie choked off the cheers from the stands with a sharp single to center to score both runners. Crowe’s fumble of the ball in center sent Carnegie to second base, whereupon second baseman Jerry Cristina mis- played the throw from the outfield and Carnegie scrambled over to third. A base hit, two runs scored, two errors and a new man on third, all in one play, all in the first inning. Dickman struck out the next two Bisons on wide-sweeping curves.

The two runs were the total offense for the first four innings. Dickman retired the Bisons hitters in order in the second. Bud Clancy’s bunt was neatly fielded by Muny third baseman Augie Mecca, whose throw to Ray Egner at first caught the runner by a step. University of Buffalo graduate Bill (Monk) Pryor replaced Emerson and kept the Bisons scoreless in his two innings.

John Wilson, Herd righthander, started the game for the Bisons, trying to work himself back into effectiveness. He had been out several games and on Monday he had lasted only two thirds of an inning against Albany, giving up four runs and taking the loss. This evening he was sharp through four frames, allowing only a single and a double, both to Muny right fielder Adam (Chief) Pasierb.

The amateurs broke through against Wilson in the fifth. Jack Collins rifled a single over second base leading off. With one out Murph Mineo drew Wilson’s first walk of the night to put two runners aboard. Wilson fanned Pryor for the second out but couldn’t fool Cristina. The second baseman’s Texas-Leaguer just over Gyselman’s head at third put the Munys on the scoreboard. They took the lead in the sixth in dramatic fashion.

Lou Benzin ripped a double down the third base line, but then got caught in a rundown on Mike Shedler’s ground ball to short. Benzin was eventually tagged out but Shedler hustled into second. A Wilbur Bergstrom groundout moved him to third. Huck Geary made it two on the basepaths after drawing a walk from a disgruntled Wilson. He was not happy with the calls he was getting from umpire Jeffrey.

Mike Youra, Augie Mecca’s replacement at third base, stepped in against Wilson for his first at-bat of the night. The former Muny home-run king cracked a high line drive that carried over the left field fence for a three-run home run and suddenly the amateurs had jumped out in front. The stands erupted. Wilson erupted.14 The pros answered back immediately.

Ed Majkowski had taken the mound for the Munys in the fifth and had held the Bisons scoreless. Such was not to be the case in the sixth. Wasem drew a walk. Ollie Tucker, pinch hitting for Wilson, was retired only after his slicing drive to right was speared by Reg Bliss on a fine running catch. Marve Olson, the next batter, slammed a Majkowski offering to the base of the scoreboard for a triple, scoring Wasem. Greg Mulleavy’s smash carried to almost the same spot as Olson’s. Olson scored and Mulleavy was windmilled home by Schalk from the third base coaching box. Muny catcher Johnny Kull’s sweeping tag was late by only inches and the Herd had retaken the lead, 5 to 4, on a two-run, inside-the-park homer.

Williamsville’s Eddie Honeck, the pitching prospect Schalk was so keen to look at, replaced Wilson. He shut down the Munys in order over the last three innings, fanning three. Schalk was elated.15

The Bisons scored no more. Muny pitcher Art Weiss was reached for a walk and a single in his two innings of work but the threats were easily handled. Carnegie, who had walked, was doubled up when Youra speared Fitzgerald’s sharp liner to third and whipped the ball over to first baseman Benzin. Catcher Kull made a difficult grab at the screen on Wasem’s foul pop. The pro-Muny crowd appreciated every outstanding play.16

The event had gone well; the contest was close, as the box score revealed.17 The Bisons had come out on top as was expected. However, the All-Stars had shown mettle and the game had accomplished its goal by raising more than $3,300 of needed charitable dollars.18 Fans helped the cause by throwing foul balls back onto the field for later use.

 

Box score of the August 22, 1934 game

 

THE AFTERMATH

The Bisons missed the 1934 playoffs but manager Schalk guided them to a third place finish in 1935 and to the pennant in 1936. They lost to the Milwaukee Brewers in the Little World Series.19

Eddie Honeck pitched one exceedingly difficult inning for the Herd on September 2, 1934. His professional career ended after four appearances in 1935 with the Elmira Pioneers of the New York-Pennsylvania League.20 He continued his mound work thereafter in semipro ball in the Buffalo area.

Link Wasem, called up from the New York-Pennsylvania League Wilkes-Barre Barons, batted .323 in 12 games and earned a Buffalo roster spot for 1935. He was back with the Barons again in 1936 but that year he fashioned a .322 batting average and earned a quick look by the National League Boston Bees in 1937. He was hitless in one at-bat. He finished his career with Scranton in 1937.21

John Wilson finished his 1934 season with an 11-11 record. He won 3 and lost 1 in 1935 for Buffalo and then contributed a 14-7 mark for the 1936 pennant winners.22

Parks Commissioner Coon and Bison President Offermann were lavish in their postgame praise of the event and vowed it would become an annual affair.23 Tragically, Offermann died unexpectedly in February 1935. The Bisons-Muny game was played only once more, on August 23, 1935, before a crowd of 3,500. The Bisons were victorious by a score of 10-7 and receipts again went to the newspaper Christmas funds, but without the promotional zeal of Frank J. Offermann to support it the series faded away.24

The Muny All-Star lineup boasted considerably talented athletes:

Lou Benzin (first base), a South Park and Syracuse University batting star, continued in Muny ball into the mid-1950s as player and manager. He later coached the Hamburg Juniors baseball club in the Lake Shore Junior League and was a notable bowler.25

Wilbur Bergstrom (center field), a member of the Cortland State Hall of Fame, taught and coached football in the Buffalo Public School system, winning a number of city championships including four in a row, 1947-50.26

Reg Bliss (right field), a three-sport star at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, tried out with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1935 at Greensboro, North Carolina. He was a fearsome softball hurler.27

Jack Collins (shortstop) quarterbacked and was team captain for his Canisius College football squad. He was an assistant coach at Canisius in the 1930s and is a member of the college’s Hall of Fame.28

Jerry Cristina (second base) was a slick second baseman as well as captain of the 1929 Canisius Prep basketball squad. The St. Bonaventure University graduate’s glove work found praise from Schalk after the game.29

Ed Crowe (center field), an outstanding football halfback and baseball outfielder, was signed out of Canisius High School by the St. Louis Browns. He played part of two seasons with the professional Elmira ballclub. A feared cleanup hitter, he is a member of the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame.30

Lou DePoe (catcher) played for and managed the Simon Pures ball club, served as chief of Western New York Umpires Associated and served as president of the Muny League. The “Lou DePoe Muny Catcher of the Year” award was named in his honor. He is a member of the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame.31

Emmy Dickman (pitcher), also praised by Schalk, compiled a 22-15 record as a member of the Boston Red Sox from 1936 to 1941. He then coached at Princeton University for three years. He is a member of the Washington & Lee University Athletic Hall of Fame.32

Ray Egner (first base) was named East High School Most Valuable Player on the baseball squad in 1930. The lefty swinger had a solid career in the Munys playing for the Simon Pures, Houde, Zoladz and the Seven-Ups, as well as for the Curtiss Aircraft club.33

Joe Gallagher (left field), a South Park ace and Manhattan College football star, played with the New York Yankees and St. Louis Browns in 1939 and with the Browns and Brooklyn Dodgers in 1940. A military veteran (1941-45), he became head baseball coach for Stephen F. Austin State College and Rice University.34

“Huck” Geary (shortstop) began a 10-year professional baseball career by getting into two games with the 1935 Buffalo Bisons. By 1942 he was wearing a Pittsburgh uniform. In 1943 he stole home in the bottom of the 14th inning to win a game for the Pirates.35

John Kull (catcher) was competitive both behind the plate and as a winning basketball guard and forward for the YMCA Downtown League championship 101’s, the Tru-Penn’s and other local squads.36

Ed Majkowski (pitcher) played professionally for Elmira and Hazelton in the New York-Penn League and hurled two no-hitters in Muny League ball, the second a perfect game in 1934. A member of the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame, he also played for the 1939 Polish Union national basketball champions.37

Augie Mecca (third base) was a football star and captain of his Bennett High School baseball team. On July 29, 1934, he homered over the newly elevated 22-foot, left field fence at the Bison ballpark. In 1931 he had signed to play with the Terre Haute (Three-I League) club.38

Randolph (Murph) Mineo (catcher), caught one game for the Bisons in 1933. He was a World War II Navy veteran, a high school and American Legion coach, a legislator (three term member of the Erie County Board of Supervisors) and an administrator (Director of War Memorial Stadium and Memorial Auditorium).39

Adam (Chief) Pasierb (right field) was awarded the Muny League MVP medal by the Buffalo Evening News in 1932 and was the last player cut by the Bisons in spring training 1933. The powerful 5-foot 6-inch lefthander belongs to the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame and also the Softball Hall of Fame.40

Bill (Monk) Pryor (pitcher) threw a number of nasty knuckle balls to the Bisons that called for Schalk’s admiration in his postgame remarks. A 1931 University of Buffalo graduate, Pryor’s basketball ability was his ticket into the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame.41

Mike Shedler (outfield) was a 1929 Buffalo Evening News second team All-High outfielder for Tech High School. He was inducted into the Western New York Softball Hall of Fame on October 19, 1972.42

Art Weiss (pitcher) hurled his Corpus Christi team to the senior title in the Muny Class AA league in 1932. On August 4, 1933, he threw a no-hitter for the Houdes in an Electric Twilight victory over Crystal Beach, fanning 21 men in the 13-0 shutout.43

Mike Youra (third base) was Buffalo’s “Babe Ruth.” In 1926 he hit 14 home runs in 17 games for the Muny champion Gibas’ Dairy and, as of 1937, had accumulated the most home runs in Muny history. A .308 batter for the 1932 Dayton (OH) Ducks, he is a member of the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame.44

HOWARD HENRY is a lifelong fan of ’50s baseball and ’40s music, a retired Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor, a retired adjunct faculty professor (SUNY University at Buffalo; SUNY Buffalo State), and an active and ongoing church choir member (bass/baritone), opera supernumerary (one paid chorus gig) and actor, volunteer peace and justice advocate and international educator (including 30+ years in southern border mission work) and author.

 

Sources

In addition to those sources listed in the Notes, the author spoke with Vic Baron, a member of the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame at his home. Old Fulton New York Post Cards was also a resource used for this research.

 

Notes

1. Unemployment Rate by Year Since 1929 Compared to Inflation and GDP. Unemployment Rate History. Updated March 9, 2022 by Kimberly Amadeo, reviewed by Somer G. Anderson, Fact Checked by Ariana Chávez https://www.thebalance.com/unemployment-rate-by-year-3305506.

2. Billy Kelly, “Before and After,” Buffalo Courier-Express, August 22, 1934, 14.

3. Joseph M. Overfield, The 100 Seasons of Buffalo Baseball (Kenmore, NY: Partners’ Press, 1985), 159; Also, Erie County Sheriff’s Office https://www2.erie.gov/sheriff/index.php?q=history.

4. The History of Buffalo, New York https://buffaloah.eom/h/offF/offF.html.

5. Joseph M. Overfield, 19.

6. “Buf-Feds Defeat Simon Pures,” Buffalo Enquirer, October 12, 1914, 7.

7. “Fans Believe Muny All-Stars Will Give Herd Real Tussle,” Buffalo Evening News, August 21, 1934, 18.

8. “VOTING BALLOT-Charity Baseball Game-BUFFALO BISONS vs. ALL-STAR MUNY TEAM,” Buffalo Courier-Express, August 12, 1934, 7.

9. “Grand Total Vote,” Buffalo Evening News, August 21, 1934, 18.

10. “Fans Believe Muny All-Stars Will Give Herd Real Tussle”; “All-Stars Await Big Chance Against Bisons Tonight,” Buffalo Evening News, August 22, 26.

11. “All-Stars Await Big Chance Against Bisons Tonight.”

12. Ray Ryan, “HERD NIPS MUNY ALL-STARS BY SINGLE MARKER,” Buffalo Courier-Express, August 23, 1934, 1, 14; Frank Wakefield, “Muny Stars Bow to Bisons By 5-4 After Great Battle,” Buffalo Evening News, August 23, 1934, 28. The game description is taken from these two newspaper accounts.

13. W.S. Coughlin, “Albany Ace Hurls Senators To Second Straight Win; Ken Ash Is Pounded Out,” Buffalo Courier-Express, August 22, 1934, 14.

14. Nate Silberberg, “Pryor’s Pitching Lauded by Schalk,” Buffalo Evening News, August 23, 1934, 28.

15. Ray Ryan, “HERD NIPS MUNY ALL-STARS BY SINGLE MARKER.”

16. Cy Kritzer, “Fickle Fans cheer Stars, Boo Bisons,” Buffalo Evening News, August 23, 1934, 28.

17. Box score recreated by author from the box scores appearing in the Buffalo Courier-Express, August 23, 1936, 14, and the Buffalo Evening News, August 23, 1934, 28.

18. “9543 Fans Pay $3300 To Watch Muny Aces,” Buffalo Evening News, August 23, 1934, 28.

19. Joseph M. Overfield, 75-77.

20. W.S. Coughlin, “Herd Hammers Out Victory Behind Ken Ash in First; Fails to Hit in Nightcap,” Buffalo Courier-Express, September 3, 1934, 19; Baseball-Reference.com (https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=honeck001edw).

21. Baseball-Reference.com (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wasemli01.shtml).

22. Joseph M. Overfield, 216-17.

23. “Offermann and Coon Give Their Approval,” Buffalo Evening News, August 23, 1934, 28.

24. Ray Ryan, “All-Stars’ Rally in Fifth Provides Thrill for 3,500 Spectators at Charity Tilt,” Buffalo Courier-Express, August 24, 1935, 13.

25. Jerry Wilker, “Sports Briefs,” Hamburg Sun and Erie County Independent, August 4, 1949, 12; “Nationals Defeated By Coals; Sectional Title Series Is Now Deadlocked,” Tmes Herald (Olean, New York), September 19, 1935, 17; “Seven-Run Splurge With Walters’ Four-Run Homer In Vain; Quakers Coming,” Times Herald (Olean, New York), July 16, 1936, 14; “Politi Misses Single Strike, 300-Game and About $1500,” Buffalo Evening News, April 23, 1957, 41.

26. Bob Stedler, “Sport Comment,” Buffalo Evening News, August 21, 1935, 23; Mike Calandra, “5000 Watch Kensington’s Eleven Wreck McKinley by 19-6 Score,” Buffalo Evening News, September 29, 1951; Norm Warner, “Bill Bergstrom, Veteran Kensington Coach, Retires,” Buffalo Courier Express, September 8, 1972, 20.

27. “Reg Bliss Signed,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 16, 1935, 15; Paul Shanklin, “Buffalo Baffler for Tarzana Club,” The VanNuys News, July 10, 1947, 21; “Foodmart Clinches Finale; Bestow Thompson Awards,” Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet, September 15, 1947, 15.

28. Obituary of Jack W. Collins, Buffalo Evening News, February 28, 1972, 16; Obituary of J.W. Collins (“J.W. Collins, Top Canisius Athlete, Dies”), Buffalo Courier-Express, February 28, 1972, 26.

29. Nate Silberberg, “Pryor’s Pitching Lauded by Schalk”; “Death Listings,” (Jerome A., suddenly) Buffalo Evening News, March 12, 1971, 20; “Deaths,” (CRISTINA, Jerome A., in Buffalo, suddenly), Buffalo Courier- Express, March 12, 1971, 46.

30. Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame (Awards Brochure, 2009); Baseball-Reference.com (https://www.baseballreference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=crowe-001edw).

31. Dick Johnson, “Amateur Sports,” Buffalo Evening News, June 17, 1948, 36; Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame (Awards Brochure, 2009).

32. Jon Daly, “Emerson Dickman,” SABR Baseball Biography Project, accessed March 12, 2022. https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/emerson-dickman/; Buffalo Evening News, April 30, 1981, 48; Buffalo Courier-Express, April 30, 1981, 30.

33. “Technical and East Honor 134 Athletes,” Buffalo Evening News, June 3, 1930, 29; “Eddie Kazmierczak Limits Sanders to Five Whallops, Opener Decided in Tenth,” Buffalo Courier-Express, May 27, 1940, 17; “Houde Team Upsets J.H. Williams, 4-2,” Buffalo Evening News, August 23, 1943, 8.

34. Obituary of Joseph E. Gallagher (“Joseph E. Gallagher, major league baseball player”), Buffalo Evening News, March 2, 1998, A-6; (Baseball- Reference.com (https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/ Joe_Gallagher); Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame (Awards Brochure, 2009)

35. Howell Stevens, “Boston Sees Stardom This Year For Braves Big ‘Jaye,’ Who Won Six Straight Tilts in Last August’s Heat Wave,” The Sporting News, June 10, 1943, 3; Baseball-Reference.com (https://baseball-reference.com/players/g/gearyhu01.shtml); Obituary of Eugene Geary (“’Huck’ Geary, Baseball Player”), Buffalo Evening News, January 29, 1981, 38.

36. “Steffans Challenge,” Buffalo Courier-Express, March 1, 1932, 14; “Y.M.C.A. Cagers Play for W.N.Y. Title Saturday,” Jamestown (New York) Evening Journal, March 22, 1934, 19; “Defeated Cycle Quint 42-26 In Game Last Evening,” The Evening News (Tonawanda/North Tonawanda), March 24, 1938, 7.

37. “Majkowski Pitches Perfect Game for Kantys,” Buffalo Courier-Express, May 14, 1934 15; Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame (Awards Brochure, 2009).

38. “Mecca, All High Star, Signs To Play Professional Ball,” Buffalo Evening News, July 31, 1931, 20; “Simon Pures Must Defeat Zoladz Team Twice to Capture Crown,” Buffalo Evening News, July 30, 1934, 22; “Bison Advance Guard Leaves For Ft. Lauderdale on Tuesday,” Buffalo Evening News, March 7, 1932, 23.

39. Obituary of Randolph Mineo (“Randolph Mineo Dies; Former Stadium Head”), Buffalo Evening News, August 9, 1975, B-10.

40. W.S. Coughlin, “Schalk Seeks New Men for League Chase,” Buffalo Courier-Express, March 28, 1933, 12; Obituary of Adam J. Pasierb (died February 2, 1970), Buffalo Evening News, February 13, 1970, 16; Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame (Awards Brochure, 2009).

41. Nate Silberberg, “Pryor’s Pitching Lauded by Schalk”; https://ubbulls.com/honors/dr-and-mrs-edmond-j-gicewicz-family-ubathletics-hall-of-fame-inductees/william-t-pryor/184.

42. Frank Wakefield, “South Park Awarded 3 Diamond Positions,” Buffalo Evening News, June 6, 1929, 38; “Twirling of Bob Walbridge Keeps Buffalo Blue Coals in U.S. Diamond Tourney,” Buffalo Evening News, August 16, 1935, 16; “Softball Stars To Be Honored,” Buffalo Courier- Express, October 19, 1972, 24.

43. Ray Ryan, “Ben Wanda Cracks Homer In Ninth to Help Weiss Win Tight Pitching Duel,” Buffalo Courier-Express, September 12, 1932, 11; “Art Weiss Twirls Hitless Shutout,” Buffalo Evening News, August 5, 1933, 7.

44. Gregory Witul, “Gibas’ Dairy was top notch on the field and with milk from the field,” Am-Pol Eagle, November 15 (https://ampoleagle.com/gibas-dairy-was-top-notch-on-the-field-and-with-milk-from-the-field-p12753-202.htm); Dick Johnson, “Muny Mike Still Going Strong at 46,” Buffalo Evening News, June 18, 1952, 69; Obituary of Michael B. Youra (“Michael B. Youra Dies at 68; Was ‘Babe Ruth’ of Amateurs”), Buffalo Evening News, January 27, 1976, 36; Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame (Awards Brochure, 2009).