(Columbia Daily Tribune, June 17, 1954)
Missouri's conquering Tigers are being escorted home from their victory in the NCAA college baseball world series at Omaha by Missouri state highway patrol.
A patrol car met the Tigers' bus when it entered the state at St. Joseph and other patrolmen will furnish an escort as the team travels to Columbia via Kansas City.
Trooper J.R. Phillips will be the escort during the final leg of the journey from Boonville to Columbia where Police Chief Paul Cheavens will meet the bus at the city limits.
The Tigers left Omaha this morning after defeating Rollins colelge, 4 to 1, for the championship last night and are expected to arrive in Columbia about 5 o'clock this afternoon.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Soon after the time of triumph, the team had to go its separate ways.
The final game had been delayed a day because of rain. By Wednesday night the Tigers had pressing travel plans, one in particular. Bob Schoonmaker had to fly to New York to be married on a prime-time TV show.
``They were popular at that time,'' Callahan said. ``He couldn't even stay around. As the ceremony started, you could hear the sound of the sirens of the police cars that had come to escort him.''
Eight other players made bus connections to destinations such as North Platte, Neb., Yankton, S.D., and Wilmot, Minn., where they would play semipro ball that summer.
Others got off in Kansas City, leaving only seven players aboard when the bus arrived to a welcome home parade. The spring semester had ended before the Tigers left for Omaha.
``There wasn't a lot of students,'' Dickinson said. ``The whole town turned out. Whoever was there, they turned out.''
Finally they got off the bus to take a victory lap around town. ``They had convertibles line up, black and gold and all that stuff,'' Musgrave said.
Even then, Columbia was one of the biggest little media markets around. Cox, making his way back to Sikeston, became a TV interview subject.
``They just got me because I was the only one they could find, I'm sure,'' he said.
Like most of the team, Gleason, who'd gone only as far as Kansas City, couldn't see it or hear it.
``Much to my chagrin. I'll never forgive myself for that,'' he said. ``That we should have organized a lot better because that would be something that sticks out in your memory.''
(Columbia Daily Tribune, May 14, 1994)
``They were popular at that time,'' Callahan said. ``He couldn't even stay around. As the ceremony started, you could hear the sound of the sirens of the police cars that had come to escort him.''
Eight other players made bus connections to destinations such as North Platte, Neb., Yankton, S.D., and Wilmot, Minn., where they would play semipro ball that summer.
Others got off in Kansas City, leaving only seven players aboard when the bus arrived to a welcome home parade. The spring semester had ended before the Tigers left for Omaha.
``There wasn't a lot of students,'' Dickinson said. ``The whole town turned out. Whoever was there, they turned out.''
Finally they got off the bus to take a victory lap around town. ``They had convertibles line up, black and gold and all that stuff,'' Musgrave said.
Even then, Columbia was one of the biggest little media markets around. Cox, making his way back to Sikeston, became a TV interview subject.
``They just got me because I was the only one they could find, I'm sure,'' he said.
Like most of the team, Gleason, who'd gone only as far as Kansas City, couldn't see it or hear it.
``Much to my chagrin. I'll never forgive myself for that,'' he said. ``That we should have organized a lot better because that would be something that sticks out in your memory.''
(Columbia Daily Tribune, May 14, 1994)
The entire team returned in the fall of 1994 . . .
. . . to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the title and the team's induction to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame during halftime of a Tiger football game.
It was so damn noisy, and the band never stopped banging. I don't think anyone heard our names when they were announced," Kammer said. "But it still felt good, and I felt proud to be one of 20 people in MU baseball history to ever win a national championship."
(Columbia Missourian, March 14, 2001)
It was so damn noisy, and the band never stopped banging. I don't think anyone heard our names when they were announced," Kammer said. "But it still felt good, and I felt proud to be one of 20 people in MU baseball history to ever win a national championship."
(Columbia Missourian, March 14, 2001)
Jerry Schoonmaker was the only player from that team to reach the major leagues
He signed with the Washington Senators for a bonus amount that
required him to be placed on the major league team immediately under the rules of that time. A severe eye injury suffered on an off-season job cut short his
career after the 1957 season.
He wasn't happy with his hitting at the College World Series, but it didn't stop the Tigers.
``Whenever we needed somebody to do something, somebody came in and did it,'' Schoonmaker said. (Columbia Daily Tribune, May 14, 1994)
required him to be placed on the major league team immediately under the rules of that time. A severe eye injury suffered on an off-season job cut short his
career after the 1957 season.
He wasn't happy with his hitting at the College World Series, but it didn't stop the Tigers.
``Whenever we needed somebody to do something, somebody came in and did it,'' Schoonmaker said. (Columbia Daily Tribune, May 14, 1994)
In the midst of the youngsters, . . .
. . . the streaks, the ups and downs and the jokes was one stabilizing force. Players looked to him for guidance, and he in return nurtured them and led them through the transition from small-town ball to Division I baseball.
He was a teacher, adviser, confidante, father, mother, dictator, scoutmaster and babysitter. He accepted the blame, refused the credit, received the complaints and handed out the accolades. And when he was very, very good, he fielded a winning baseball club while keeping 23 players happy.
That force was coach John 'Hi' Simmons.
Taking the reins of the Tigers in 1937, Simmons coached until 1973. During that time, Missouri finished first in its conference 11 times and second eight times. He had a record of 481-294-3 for a winning percentage of .620, both second in Missouri history to current coach Gene McArtor.
But the true measure of a coach's success goes much deeper than the numbers. The true quality of a coach is reflected in the men from his program - how they grow up. In that vein, Simmons is as successful a coach as there ever was. His players have gone on to run a family-owned business (Buddy Cox), send sons to military academies (Lee Wynn), found a free-lance public relations firm (Bob Musgrave), become vice president of sales and marketing (Dick Dickinson), and serve as mainstays of the education system as classroom teachers (Wynn and Bert Beckman).
Although he had an aura of toughness, Simmons always kept his sense of humor. Laughter was important to a young, inexperienced team. Simmons recognized this and kept the team loose. (Columbia Missourian, March 13, 1994)
He was a teacher, adviser, confidante, father, mother, dictator, scoutmaster and babysitter. He accepted the blame, refused the credit, received the complaints and handed out the accolades. And when he was very, very good, he fielded a winning baseball club while keeping 23 players happy.
That force was coach John 'Hi' Simmons.
Taking the reins of the Tigers in 1937, Simmons coached until 1973. During that time, Missouri finished first in its conference 11 times and second eight times. He had a record of 481-294-3 for a winning percentage of .620, both second in Missouri history to current coach Gene McArtor.
But the true measure of a coach's success goes much deeper than the numbers. The true quality of a coach is reflected in the men from his program - how they grow up. In that vein, Simmons is as successful a coach as there ever was. His players have gone on to run a family-owned business (Buddy Cox), send sons to military academies (Lee Wynn), found a free-lance public relations firm (Bob Musgrave), become vice president of sales and marketing (Dick Dickinson), and serve as mainstays of the education system as classroom teachers (Wynn and Bert Beckman).
Although he had an aura of toughness, Simmons always kept his sense of humor. Laughter was important to a young, inexperienced team. Simmons recognized this and kept the team loose. (Columbia Missourian, March 13, 1994)
Memories of a championship
Former Tigers reflect on 1954 national title.
By DAVE MATTER of the Tribune’s staff
(Wednesday, June 16, 2004)
"Certainly nobody would have ever said this would be the only NCAA championship Missouri would ever win in a true team sport in the history of the university," said [Dick] Dickinson, one of three seniors on the ’54 team. "There were some great teams later on in the ’50s and ’60s, but nobody ever did it again. It’s really incredible."
....
"Some ballclubs just seem to find out how to win," said [Norm] Stewart, a sophomore pitcher for the ’54 team. "And everything seems to go well for them in critical situations. … Coach Simmons, if he wasn’t the best coach during that time … then he was one of the top two or three coaches in the country. You take the coaching and those unique players, and everything else seemed to fall in place. It was a loose group, and nobody ever thought about losing a game."
....
George Gleason caught and batted fifth. After a prolific week in Omaha, he was voted the team MVP.
"Our catcher was exceptional at understanding baseball and calling pitches," Stewart said. "He was a very good hitter, too."
....
"We just had the right blend," [Emil] Kammer said. "We had a couple seniors to keep us in line because we were always doing something crazy. But I think it was just one of those years."
....
"As they say, a lot of times a person can’t panic if he doesn’t realize his position," Stewart said. "The seniors and some of the older guys, they kept it serious enough. The young guys, we just figured we’ll just go out and play."
....
"It was a better diamond than Wrigley Field, which I played on as a kid in some all-star games," Dickinson said of Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium. "I told the guys on the bus, ‘If we make errors on this diamond, we ought to be thrown off the team.’ I think we made three errors in six games. They ask me what I hit in the College World Series, and I say, ‘Nevermind that. I was 33 for 33 in the field.’ "
....
Stewart said he doesn’t even remember any of the players’ parents attending the World Series games.
"Heck, my parents didn’t even know I went out for baseball," he said.
....The team will be honored again this fall, marking the 50th anniversary, during the football team’s opening weekend Sept. 3. Two players, Bob Schoonmaker and Eldon Morgan have died, but 16 of the remaining 18 players have committed to attending the reunion.
"It’s going to be a great weekend for a lot of great guys," Stewart said.
By DAVE MATTER of the Tribune’s staff
(Wednesday, June 16, 2004)
"Certainly nobody would have ever said this would be the only NCAA championship Missouri would ever win in a true team sport in the history of the university," said [Dick] Dickinson, one of three seniors on the ’54 team. "There were some great teams later on in the ’50s and ’60s, but nobody ever did it again. It’s really incredible."
....
"Some ballclubs just seem to find out how to win," said [Norm] Stewart, a sophomore pitcher for the ’54 team. "And everything seems to go well for them in critical situations. … Coach Simmons, if he wasn’t the best coach during that time … then he was one of the top two or three coaches in the country. You take the coaching and those unique players, and everything else seemed to fall in place. It was a loose group, and nobody ever thought about losing a game."
....
George Gleason caught and batted fifth. After a prolific week in Omaha, he was voted the team MVP.
"Our catcher was exceptional at understanding baseball and calling pitches," Stewart said. "He was a very good hitter, too."
....
"We just had the right blend," [Emil] Kammer said. "We had a couple seniors to keep us in line because we were always doing something crazy. But I think it was just one of those years."
....
"As they say, a lot of times a person can’t panic if he doesn’t realize his position," Stewart said. "The seniors and some of the older guys, they kept it serious enough. The young guys, we just figured we’ll just go out and play."
....
"It was a better diamond than Wrigley Field, which I played on as a kid in some all-star games," Dickinson said of Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium. "I told the guys on the bus, ‘If we make errors on this diamond, we ought to be thrown off the team.’ I think we made three errors in six games. They ask me what I hit in the College World Series, and I say, ‘Nevermind that. I was 33 for 33 in the field.’ "
....
Stewart said he doesn’t even remember any of the players’ parents attending the World Series games.
"Heck, my parents didn’t even know I went out for baseball," he said.
....The team will be honored again this fall, marking the 50th anniversary, during the football team’s opening weekend Sept. 3. Two players, Bob Schoonmaker and Eldon Morgan have died, but 16 of the remaining 18 players have committed to attending the reunion.
"It’s going to be a great weekend for a lot of great guys," Stewart said.
Missouri's Jerry Schoonmaker is Named All-American
Tiger Star Set College Homer Pace
(Columbia Daily Tribune, June 23, 1954)
Jerry Schoonmaker, Missouri's hard-hitting center fielder, today was named to the sixth annual All-American college baseball team chosen by the American Association of College Baseball Coaches.
The 22-year-old junior, who has been elected captain of the 1955 Tigers, batted at a .425 clip and pounded out nine home runs - top total among All-Americans - during the regular 1954 season that saw the Missourians become national baseball champions.
Schoonmaker's average was 40 points above the .385 combined batting average of the All-
American team announced at East Lansing, Mich., by John H. Kobs, Michigan State baseball coach, who is president of the coaches association.
Schoonmaker compiled a .348 average in six games in the NCAA colelge world series at Omaha last week as the Tigers won the series championship. He had one round-tripper in the series.
Schoonmaker also paced Missouri hitters during the regular season with 36 runs-batted-in and 24 base hits for 65 total bases.
The Associated Press termed the mythical all-stars aggregation a "dream team for some professional managers."
Only two of the first team All-Americans participated in the NCAA College World Series at Omaha, Neb., June 10-15. Michigan State's catcher, Tom Yewcic, and Missouri's Schoonmaker.
Yewcic was voted the "most valuable player" in the Omaha tourney by the newsmen covering the five day event.
Schoonmaker becomes the third Missouri baseball player to make the All-American team in recent years. Don Boenker, a pitcher, and Junior Wren, an outfielder, both gained the honor two years ago when the Tigers placed second in the NCAA tourney. Both are now air force officers and Wren has signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox.
(Columbia Daily Tribune, June 23, 1954)
Jerry Schoonmaker, Missouri's hard-hitting center fielder, today was named to the sixth annual All-American college baseball team chosen by the American Association of College Baseball Coaches.
The 22-year-old junior, who has been elected captain of the 1955 Tigers, batted at a .425 clip and pounded out nine home runs - top total among All-Americans - during the regular 1954 season that saw the Missourians become national baseball champions.
Schoonmaker's average was 40 points above the .385 combined batting average of the All-
American team announced at East Lansing, Mich., by John H. Kobs, Michigan State baseball coach, who is president of the coaches association.
Schoonmaker compiled a .348 average in six games in the NCAA colelge world series at Omaha last week as the Tigers won the series championship. He had one round-tripper in the series.
Schoonmaker also paced Missouri hitters during the regular season with 36 runs-batted-in and 24 base hits for 65 total bases.
The Associated Press termed the mythical all-stars aggregation a "dream team for some professional managers."
Only two of the first team All-Americans participated in the NCAA College World Series at Omaha, Neb., June 10-15. Michigan State's catcher, Tom Yewcic, and Missouri's Schoonmaker.
Yewcic was voted the "most valuable player" in the Omaha tourney by the newsmen covering the five day event.
Schoonmaker becomes the third Missouri baseball player to make the All-American team in recent years. Don Boenker, a pitcher, and Junior Wren, an outfielder, both gained the honor two years ago when the Tigers placed second in the NCAA tourney. Both are now air force officers and Wren has signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox.
M.U. Awards Letters to 14 For Baseball
(Columbia Daily Tribune, June 23, 1954)
Fourteen membrs of the University of Missouri baseball squad have been awarded varsity letters in recognition of their services in a season which carried them to the National Collegiate Athletic association championship, Don Faurot, director of athletics, announced today.
The Tigers, in addition to the tradional honor sweaters, will also receive miniature gold baseballs, emblematic of the Big Seven conference championship which qualified them for the NCAA tournament.
The lettermen: Albert Beckmann, Overland; Edward Cook, Granite City, Ill.; Emil Kammer, Normandy; Norman Stewart, Shelbyville; George Gleason, Kansas City; Robert Schoonmaker, Lebanon; Jesse Cox, Sikeston; Duane Dickinson, Hammond, Ind.; Todd Sickel, Kansas City; James Doerr, St. Louis; Jerald Schoonmaker, Lebanon; Robert Musgrave, Columbia; Eldon Morgan, Kansas City; and Kent Henson, Oran.
Fourteen membrs of the University of Missouri baseball squad have been awarded varsity letters in recognition of their services in a season which carried them to the National Collegiate Athletic association championship, Don Faurot, director of athletics, announced today.
The Tigers, in addition to the tradional honor sweaters, will also receive miniature gold baseballs, emblematic of the Big Seven conference championship which qualified them for the NCAA tournament.
The lettermen: Albert Beckmann, Overland; Edward Cook, Granite City, Ill.; Emil Kammer, Normandy; Norman Stewart, Shelbyville; George Gleason, Kansas City; Robert Schoonmaker, Lebanon; Jesse Cox, Sikeston; Duane Dickinson, Hammond, Ind.; Todd Sickel, Kansas City; James Doerr, St. Louis; Jerald Schoonmaker, Lebanon; Robert Musgrave, Columbia; Eldon Morgan, Kansas City; and Kent Henson, Oran.
Hi Simmons, Baseball Coach of the Year, Gets a New Auto From Fans and Friends
(Columbia Daily Tribune, Friday, August 20, 1954)
Missouri Quarterback club members - the men who carry the torch for the University of Missouri athletic teams throughout the state - gatherred at the Columbia Country Club las night to present a new automobile to John (Hi) Simmons, the coach who piloted the Tiger baseball team to the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship at Omaha last Spring.
The presentation was made by Warren Dalton, president of the Columbia Quarterback Club, which was host to representatives of other clubs throughout the state who assembled here for the ceremony and the dinner which followed. The visiting quarterbackers were guests of the host club at an afternoon of golf prior to the presentation.
Simmons, named Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches' Association earlier this week, was visibly moved by the ceremony.
"A lot of good things have happened to me lately," he said, "and right now I've got a few blood clots in my veins. I intended to tell a few baseball stories here, but darned if I haven't forgotten them.
Speaking later at the dinner, Simmons gave credit to his two slugging outfielders, Bob Musgrave and Jerry Schoonmaker, both of whom hit over .400 for the season.
"Both those boys are playing semi-pro ball up North this Summer, and when they get back, they'll probably want to borrow my car," he quipped.
Referring to his selection as coach of the year, the Tiger mentor said, "I'm sure there are many other coaches who deserved the honor just as much as I did. There are about 350 coaches in the country, and since they only make the award once a year, I'm afraid some of them won't live long enough to get it."
Mahlon Aldridge, who served as toastmaster, introduced out-of-town guests, other sports figures, and members of the press. Other speakers were Don Faurot, university athletic director and football coach, Basket Coach Sparky Stalcup, Charles Proctor, John Staple and Dalton.
Dalton said that about 350 persons, members of the Quarterback clubs and friends of Simmons were contributors to the project, which included trading in Simmons' old car for the new one - a procedure which was carried on behind the back of the coach of champions. About 30 clubs from every part of the state had a part in the project.
Faurot, paying tribute to Simmons, said, "It couldn't happen to a nicer guy" and pointed out that he had gotten the Tiger mentor his first coaching job at Mountain Grove High School before bringing him to the university here.
Missouri Quarterback club members - the men who carry the torch for the University of Missouri athletic teams throughout the state - gatherred at the Columbia Country Club las night to present a new automobile to John (Hi) Simmons, the coach who piloted the Tiger baseball team to the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship at Omaha last Spring.
The presentation was made by Warren Dalton, president of the Columbia Quarterback Club, which was host to representatives of other clubs throughout the state who assembled here for the ceremony and the dinner which followed. The visiting quarterbackers were guests of the host club at an afternoon of golf prior to the presentation.
Simmons, named Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches' Association earlier this week, was visibly moved by the ceremony.
"A lot of good things have happened to me lately," he said, "and right now I've got a few blood clots in my veins. I intended to tell a few baseball stories here, but darned if I haven't forgotten them.
Speaking later at the dinner, Simmons gave credit to his two slugging outfielders, Bob Musgrave and Jerry Schoonmaker, both of whom hit over .400 for the season.
"Both those boys are playing semi-pro ball up North this Summer, and when they get back, they'll probably want to borrow my car," he quipped.
Referring to his selection as coach of the year, the Tiger mentor said, "I'm sure there are many other coaches who deserved the honor just as much as I did. There are about 350 coaches in the country, and since they only make the award once a year, I'm afraid some of them won't live long enough to get it."
Mahlon Aldridge, who served as toastmaster, introduced out-of-town guests, other sports figures, and members of the press. Other speakers were Don Faurot, university athletic director and football coach, Basket Coach Sparky Stalcup, Charles Proctor, John Staple and Dalton.
Dalton said that about 350 persons, members of the Quarterback clubs and friends of Simmons were contributors to the project, which included trading in Simmons' old car for the new one - a procedure which was carried on behind the back of the coach of champions. About 30 clubs from every part of the state had a part in the project.
Faurot, paying tribute to Simmons, said, "It couldn't happen to a nicer guy" and pointed out that he had gotten the Tiger mentor his first coaching job at Mountain Grove High School before bringing him to the university here.
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