THE FIGHTING 63RD

1980 District Champs - Ottawa Legion Baseball

1st Row L-R  Batboy Steve Kersh, Denny Vennekotter, John Lammers, Dave Selhorst, Gary Kreinbrink, Tom Weber, Brad Schroeder GM Shorty Kreinbrink.

2nd Row L-R  Coach Don Rump, Mark Recker, Doug Meyer, Ron Schmeidebusch, Tim Kaufman, Dave Schimmoeller, Scott Extine, Denny Hardy, Coach Willie Selhorst, Not pictured: Griffith and Bell.

1983 District Champs - Ottawa Legion Baseball

1st Row L-R  Andy Altenburger, Brad Alt, Rob Cox, Larry McCullough, Rob Weber, Joe Gerdeman, Batboy Gene Stechschulte.

2nd Row L-R  Mike Korte, Mike Martz, Mark Stechschulte, Todd Schimmoeller, Todd Hoffman, Don Halker, Jeff Vennekotter.

3rd Row L-R  Coach Gene Stechschulte, Jeff Hermiller, Jay Meyer, Ron Ruhe, Doug Lammers, Phil Ruhe, GM Shorty Kreinbrink.  

The following article was written for the 1997 Ottawa Legion Baseball Yearbook


Just mention the name of Charlie Bennett to local baseball coaches or umpires and words of respect, admiration, and praise are sure to follow. Mark Schmiedebusch, who himself has emerged as one of the area’s top umpires, says: “Some umpires put on a good game, but Charlie Bennett called the good game!” INTEGRITY is the first word used by Miller City High School coach Dan Kern when the name Charlie Bennett is mentioned. “Leipsic and Miller City had many big games with Charlie behind the plate. Even though Charlie is from Leipsic, there was never any question of favoritism. He was, and is, a true professional.” Kern also stated that on rule knowledge and application Charlie Bennett is without equal. Ottawa-Glandorf High-School coach Stan Myers says, “I can’t begin to count the number of times I have gone home after a game and called Charlie to check on a rule.” Myers added that Charlie takes great pride in knowing the rulebook. “He knows the book from front to back, it’s as if he wrote the book!” Ted Miller has coached baseball at Leipsic High School for 23 years. He says, “Charlie has always helped everyone so much. He has done so much for baseball in this area. Personally, he has been a great help to me in so many ways.”

A Young Kid From Leipsic

 Charlie Henry Bennett was born in 1916 on a small farm near Leipsic, Ohio to William and Maud Bennett. He attended Maderia School, a one-room schoolhouse in Liberty township for his first three years of education. In 1925 William and Maud moved the family, which included Charlie, his brother, and two sisters to Leipsic.

Charlie’s first recollection of baseball occurred in 1925 when he was eight years old. While he was watching harness racing at the Putnam County Fair he listened to the P.A. announcer as he gave updates on the World Series game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Senators. “I remember Walter Johnson and Stan Coveleski who pitched for Washington - Pie Traynor played third base for Pittsburgh and Yic Aldridge pitched for them.” Charlie recalls. Pittsburgh won the series 4 games to 3.

Charlie played baseball for four years at Leipsic High School. At that time, games were played on Temco Field. I remember a scrappy little left-hander from Ottawa SPPS named Shorty Kreinbrink,” says Charlie. “He threw a lot of junk, curveballs.” Charlie graduated form Leipsic High School with plans to further his education. But this was during the “Great Depression” when fate changed the plans of many. When the local bank closed, Charlie lost his entire savings. The money he had worked so hard for, and saved for college, was all gone.

In 1936 Charlie passed a Civil Service exam and accepted a job with the U.S. Postal Service, Railway Mail Division. He began his mail service career locally by subbing on various railway lines, the B&O and Nickel Plate among them. After two years he was transferred to Pittsburgh, PA to begin full-time work.

“The Break”

 It was in Pittsburgh where Charlie would get “The Break” that would begin a 44 year umpiring career. A medical emergency created a vacancy in the umpiring ranks of a “Fast” Semi-Pro Baseball League. It was referred to as “Fast” because players didn’t stay there long. They were either young prospects on the way up to pro-ball or former professional players on the way out. At this time, Charlie was an avid fan of baseball and understood the fundamentals of the game. But he didn’t have any umpiring experience. He would not squander this opportunity however, and with the help of three men he gradually learned the trade. “Tommy Sherman had pitched in the New York Giants system and was now a manager in this league. George Bender was also a former player now managing. Joe Ferguson, who had umpired for several seasons in pro-ball was Umpire-In-Chief. It was these three men who taught a young Kid from Leipsic the ins and outs of baseball and umpiring,” says Charlie. “I can still hear their words of wisdom ringing in my ears. I will always be indebted to those three men. Through their patience, encouragement, and recommendations, I was later able to advance to higher levels of baseball.”

War Years

 In February 1941, Charlie was umpiring in the Class D Professional West Pennsylvania League when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. This was under the Army’s one-year draft plan, but war clouds were forming. Members of Charlie Bennett’s generation would again have their plans and dreams altered by fate.

On December 7th, 1941 the Japanese conducted a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. Charlie’s tour of duty into the SW Pacific with the 5th Army Air Force. Whenever he had the opportunity he would umpire a service game. He was later stationed in Washington D.C. where he met a young North Carolina girl named Edith Andrews. The couple fell in love and were later married in 1946. Charlie was discharged from AAF at Baer Field, Ft. Wayne, Indiana in late 1945. Charlie and Edith would have two children, David and Susan. Edith passed away in 1994.

Professional Baseball Umpire

 In 1946 Charlie resumed his position with the Railway Mail Service and also umpiring high school and college baseball. During the summer months Charlie and Edith began returning to North Carolina to visit Edith’s family. This allowed Charlie the opportunity to resume umpiring in the Class D Coastal Plain League. “About six months out of the year, wherever I was - Ohio or North Carolina - I was umpiring.” Charlie laughs. He continued to umpire in the Coastal Plan League until 1950 when he advanced to Class B Piedmont League in Virginia. During this time Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Mickey Owens was Norfolk’s manager. The manager at Hagerstown was former Chicago Cub shortstop Bill Juries. Former Detroit Tiger Mark Christman managed at York. Around 1953 Charlie began working in the Class A Carolina League. “Don Blasingame played with the Winston-Salem during this time, he would later play with St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds. Bill Voiselle was a former pitcher with the NY Giants who was now playing with Raleigh,”Charlie remembers. Charlie also worked some high school games in North Carolina. It was in some of those games that I saw young prospects such as Jim and Gaylord Perry, and Jim “Catfish” Hunter. Charlie continued to umpire in the Carolina League until 1956. “I just couldn’t work out the scheduling anymore, “ Charlie says. He was a relief umpire in the Carolina and Sally Leagues in 1957 and 1958. This was the end of his professional career, but was far from the end of his umpiring career.

In all, Charlie Bennett’s umpiring career spanned an amazing 44 years. He officiated in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida and Ohio. He umpired in OHSAA (Ohio High School) tournaments from 1954 through 1981. He umpired the OHSAA state tournament fourteen times. His umpiring experience ran the gamut from High School to Intercollegiate, professional minor league baseball, and professional fast-pitch softball. He also served as an OHSAA rules interpreter in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.

Farewell

 The final game Charlie Bennett would umpire was the finals of the 1981 state high school tournament in Columbus. Charlie remembers the emotional day: “ As I walked off OSU Trautman Field, now the “old man” from Leipsic, I could not help but recall all the umpires, coaches, administrators, players, and fans whose paths had crossed mine.”

Umpiring Wisdom

 Charlie believes the two most important qualities an umpire must have are technique and rule application. “An umpire must have the confidence in himself before he will gain the respect of players and coaches,” Charlie says forcefully. “I’ll tell you one thing, when a coach comes out there and argues a rule, if you give him the answer out of the rulebook right away, he won’t mess with you!” In leagues that have the “Protest Rule” rulebook knowledge is especially important. “Management always tells the umpires that they realized protests would be filed,” Charlie says,”but they would not appreciate any protests upheld!” Charlie adds that a coach can not intimidate an umpire who is confident and knows the book.

 How Much Guff??

 When Charlie is asked how much static or guff an umpire should put up with he refers back to one of his mentors. “Joe Ferguson, an Umpire-In-Chief in pro-ball would tell me to always remember that it is possible that you could be wrong. In your own mind you are right, but you could be wrong. So give the coach his say, within reason, as long as he stays on the subject. But once you tell them ‘that is enough, don’t take another word!”

Charlie remembers an Ottawa Legion game in the 1970’s as a good example of this. “Ron Kruse was the Ottawa coach and I was umpiring the bases. There was a close call at homeplate and Kruse came flying out of the dugout to argue with the homeplate umpire. The argument went on and on, Ron wouldn’t give up. I finally went in to help the other umpire and told Kruse, "that’s enough, play ball!" Kruse then began to walk back to the dugout, Charlie remembers, beginning to laugh. “Well, Kruse stopped and pivoted on his foot back towards homeplate, but before he took another step, I threw him out!”

“Makeup”Calls

 Fans often speculate that an umpire will do a “Makeup”call later in the game if he has blown a call. Charlie says, “I was always taught, when a play is over, it’s over!” He continues, “You have to remember, in the umpires’ own mind he has made the right call so there is nothing to makeup. The other side of the matter is that IF the umpire has blown a call and he later does a “makeup” call to try to correct it, he has now made two bad calls!” This is not the way to gain respect of players and coaches, Charlie asserts.

 Umpires Today

 Charlie believes that for the most part high school umpires in this area today do an excellent job, He does notice a reluctance some umpires have in calling a balk. “Some umpires are afraid to call a balk. They just don’t have the confidence that comes from knowing the rules and how to apply them,” Charlie says. "Left-handers (pitchers) get away with murder at every level of baseball. They are consistently committing balks if the rulebook would be applied."

 Most Memorable Game

 For nearly 70 years Charlie Bennett has observed high school baseball through the eyes of a young boy, player, an umpire, and an adult spectator.

When Charlie was asked what was the strangest, or most memorable play, or game he has seen, there was no hesitation. A smile sweeps over Charlie’s face as he says, “Ron Kruse....in the game when he was sent to the bus!” Charlie is now trying to control his laughter. “I was not umpiring, I was a spectator, and it was something to see, I’ll never forget it!” The game Charlie is referring to was the sectional tournament finals at Columbus Grove between Cory-Rawson and Liberty Benton. Ron Kruse, a Billy Martin style clone, was the coach for Cory-Rawson. According to the words of Ron Kruse, it all began when Cory Rawsons’ pitcher (Gibson) reached third base. Kruse put the squeeze play on and Gibson came charging down third baseline. The batter squared to bunt but missed the ball. Gibson slid head first into homeplate colliding with the Liberty Benton catcher, who dropped the ball. This was the first year for a new flagrant-collision rule, and a hush fell over the field as everyone wondered if the umpire would rule this a flagrant play by Gibson. The Liberty Benton coach yelled, “He’s out!! He ran him over!” The umpire then called Gibson out. Kruse bolted to homeplate protesting the call. The Liberty Benton coach, realizing that Gibson was Kruse’s only pitcher, then called for an ejection. The umpire then ejected Gibson from the game. Kruse was now delirious with anger. Kruse was now ejected from the game and told to stay in the dugout. Anyone watching the game had already been treated to quite a show -- and it was far from over. Kruse continued to badger the homeplate umpire, so he was told to leave the field and stand outside the fence. A short time later there was a pop fly towards centerfield and a collision between two Cory-Rawson fielders left the centerfielder on the ground. Kruse charged onto the field ostensibly to check on his players’ condition. The homeplate umpire was by now thoroughly frustrated and sent Kruse to the bus in the parking lot. With 99% of high school coaches this would have ended the story, but this was Ron Kruse, and he never gave up easy. The next sound heard by everyone was the bus engine starting up. The umpire may have hoped Kruse was going home. Then, to the astonishment of everyone, Kruse calmly drove the bus alongside the field, opened the door and resumed bantering the homeplate umpire. The umpire eventually sent the bus, with Kruse in it, back to the parking lot. Cory Rawson lost the game by one run.

Nice Guys Do Finish First

 On June 12, 1993 Charlie Bennett was inducted into the Ohio High School Hall of Fame in Columbus. He was, and is, in a class by himself, both as an umpire and a person. “I have learned a lot from Charlie Bennett over the years, not just about umpiring, but life in general. You don’t have to showboat to be noticed. Charlie Bennett has been noticed on and off the field. He is a very special person,” says local umpire Mark Schmiedebusch. Chances are Charlie Bennett may be at the next local baseball game you attend. It may be difficult to identify the friendly, soft spoken man at first glance. He’ll be easy to spot though at the first sign of a rule controversy on field. He’s the one everyone will look to for the answer. “What’s the book say on that one, Charlie?” someone will ask. Chances are good Charlie will know the answer. After the game, you may even see the umpires asking Charlie if they made the right ruling. This is the level of respect that Charlie Bennett has earned. As a former OHSAA Board of Control member put it, “When you wanted the best, you got Charlie Bennett.”

The preceding article was written for the 1997 Ottawa Basball Yearbook by Dave Kersh Historian, American Legion Post 63. Thanks to: Charlie Bennett, Dan Kern ,Ron Kruse, Ted Miller ,Stan Myers, Mark Schmiedebusch

The Ottawa Area Chamber Of Commerce and American Legion Post 63 would like to thank and congratulate everyone who helped make the recent Ottawa Food Pantry Fundraiser and Ohio Village Muffin’s visit a success.

Congratulations  to the Tawa Town Gents, Glandorf St Johns Parish, Kalida St Michael Holy Name Society and Parish, Ottawa Presbyterian Church Parish, Ottawa Legion Baseball players and parents,  New Creation Lutheran  Youth Group, Putnam County YMCA youth, Sts. Peter & Paul Parish, Trinity United Methodist Youth Group, VFW Post 9142, The Village Idiots Band,  Village of Ottawa, The 175^th Anniversary Steering Committee, 106.3 FM The Fox, The Putnam County Sentinel, Putnam Voice, and ZSportslive.com.

 We salute all the local organizations and businesses who donated prizes, and all of the individuals who bought or sold tickets! Thanks to your efforts and support over $3600.00 was raised for our local Ottawa Area Food Pantry.

When it comes to charity, Americans have historically been the most generous people in the world.  This is one of many things that have always distinguished us. It is our American heritage.

We urge everyone to continue supporting the Ottawa Food Pantry.

 Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce

 Ottawa Legion Baseball