1956 GALENA LIONS
BABE RUTH LEAGUE AGES 13-15
BACK ROW (L.-R.) Coach Noah "Poppy" Martin, Coach Jack Shallenburger, Norm Cure, Stan Bruce, Bryce Martin, Bill Price, Larry Murray, Gale Davis, Manager Frank Bruce. FRONT ROW: Jan Bruce, Don McKnight, Harold Washom, Neal Qualls, Mike Swain, Harold Shallenburger, Dan McKnight, Howard Kent.
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OH, NO!
My fun run with the talented Lions team came to an abrupt end after the '56 season when manager Bruce was notified that with the upcoming season approaching he had too many 15-year-olds on the roster, according to league stipulations. Bruce said he drew names out of a hat for the two that had to depart, myself and Don McKnight. With “SJ” on the cap and “GFD” on the shirt, I was now with Smokey Joe’s, sponsored by The Galena Volunteer Fire Department. It was like a bad dream. Kenneth Molloy was the new manager, and he inherited a bunch of newbies, weak on talent. Max Murray was the only holdover of any worth from last year’s competitive team. That group was helmed by Earl Carriger and Eddie Richardson. One game in particular with my new 'mates serves as a good example. In that one, I pitched and hit a three-run homer over the leftfield fence. We won that one 3-2. Max Murray was one of our few bright spots. He was a good catcher and a powerful hitter. Don McKnight was steady and dependable at bat and patrolling right field or first base. One skin on the wall for us was the fact we were the only team in the league that season to have three players with home runs, myself, Murray, McKnight. The NY Yankees had the “M&M Boys” (Mantle and Maris) while we had the “M&M&M Boys.
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A consolation from Lion's teammate Stan Bruce upon hearing the news, "I didn't want to see you go. I thought you was one of our better players last year."
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Jan Bruce, retired Kansas Highway Patrolman of 28 years
Photo: Galena Sentinel-Times