I had every intention of writing a serious sports column this month. However, as it was for most of us, my October was insanely busy (including getting married). In addition, with the vast majority of our local college and pro teams struggling this season, I thought some historical escapism might be best this month.
So, rather than pretend I have something profound to say about “college” football or the Steelers’ woes, I decided to rummage through 150 years of Greene County sports history instead. What follows is a collection of random factotum— forgotten heroes, strange contests and curious bits of sporting trivia. You’re welcome.
With the World Series wrapping up, maybe a little local baseball trivia would be apropos. In 1885, Carmichaels’ Charles “Jake” Hewitt pitched for the Pirates. Meanwhile, Charlie “Piano Legs” Hickman of Taylortown played third base from 1897-1907 for numerous Major League teams including the Boston Beaneaters, New York Giants, Cleveland Naps, Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers, and Chicago White Sox. He had an impressive .295 career average and hit 59 homeruns.
In 1901, Waynesburg College lost a baseball game to W&J by a score of 7-4. There were over 1,000 fans in attendance, and things got ugly. Waynesburg’s shortstop had just recently transferred from W&J. He committed numerous errors during the game and stood “stupefied” on third base when he could have scored easily. The crowd accused him of being a “lay down” sent by W&J to intentionally throw the game.
Local police were forced to guard the Blair Hotel where the visiting team was staying to protect the young man. The next morning, he was smuggled to Rices Landing to catch a boat home rather than risk the train station.
With Southmoreland back in Waynesburg Central’s football section, it might be worth noting that the Raiders’ (although they were the Little Jackets at the time) first “night game” took place in 1916 against Scottdale (Southmoreland, today).
After a rental dispute with Waynesburg College regarding the use of their field, the high school made arrangements with the Waynesburg Water Company to play their games there. The Scottdale team truck left home at 10:00 for the 3:30 Saturday afternoon game. However, because of a pouring rain and “the worst roads in Pennsylvania” they didn’t get to the field until 5:30 p.m.
The game began, but soon the November darkness was upon them. Luckily, the clouds lifted, and there was a bright full moon that night. The visitors scored the only two touchdowns of the evening in the moonlit fourth quarter. The symbolic nature of that season finale became evident after the next three seasons were cancelled due to World War I.
Cumberland Township High School started basketball in 1913. By the 1920s, they were a powerhouse program. In 1923, star Sidney Gwynne scored 37 points (an incredible amount at the time) in a 91-23 win over Morris Township High School (Nineveh). It was a county scoring record that would last for three decades. The 91 points racked up by the Redbirds (as they were called at the time) was also a record that would last for years.
They played their games at the Community Hall (now the firehouse) in front of packed houses. In addition to Gwynne, stars of that period included Red McCombs, Dick Hathaway, and Harleigh Flenniken. By the end of the decade, their only losses came against schools such as Massanutten Military Academy, Wheeling Central Catholic, and Rankin (Woodland Hills, today).
Another amusing sidenote was the fact that the only local school that was as good as them was Waynesburg. However, they did not schedule each other because of “intense feelings.”
The 1933-34 Monongahela Township basketball team made the WPIAL playoffs in only their third season as a program. In what was then called a “play-in” game, the squad took on near-by Point Marion High School. The expected crowd was far too large for the Maples’ gym.
The game was played at the WVU Fieldhouse; therefore, it became the only WPIAL play-off game in any sport to be held outside of Pennsylvania. In the following rounds, they beat East Pike (Chartiers Houston) and Monongahela (Ringgold) before losing a close game to Scott High (Braddock) 25-23.
The Jefferson track team placed second at the WPIAL Championships in 1936. Many people remember that future NCAA Champion and Olympic qualifier Nick Vukmanic set a state and national javelin record that year at the PIAA Championship meet. (He also won the discus and finished second in the shotput)
However, a second member of the Jeffs team also won gold at the WPIAL’s. Gene Broadwater had been the top pole vaulter in the area by far throughout the season. He was jumping over 10 feet, a tremendous feat given the equipment at the time. However, he injured his leg right before the Championships. His teammate, Joe Bakura stepped in at the last minute and claimed gold with a jump of 10’ 6”.
In 1951, the year Cumberland Township won the Class B WPIAL football championship, the Richhill Ridgers also went undefeated in the regular season. However, they did not make the playoffs because they lacked the required number of Gardner points.
After a 6-6 tie in their opener against Midway (Ft. Cherry), they defeated Claysville (18-6), West Beth (6-0), Cameron (19-12), Fairchance (28-6), Mt, Morris (19-0), Avella (25-13) and Waynesburg’s B Team (21-6). They closed the season with a 6-6 tie against Center (Rogersville).
Despite missing the playoffs, they were invited to play for the “Class C Championship” in a rematch against Midway. The game was held under the lights at Waynesburg’s College Field. Unfortunately, the Ridgers lost 13-0.
Early Carmichaels High School basketball team (C. 1920): Howard Baily, Mr. Crago, John Gaddis Baily, Kenneth Gaddis Baily, Karl Baily, Harry McHenry.
