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Wes Westrum recalled his Minnesota roots: Celebrating a decade of Baseball by the Letters via its first-ever blog post!

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(From March 10, 2010 edition of Baseball By The Letters)

 

Westrum Wes 1951 Bowman
Westrum died in 2002. His rookie card comes from the 1951 Bowman set. 

Wes Westrum’s baseball heyday came in New York. He logged a decade catching for the Giants, racking up two All-Star team nods and a 1954 World Championship ring. Westrum returned to the Big Apple as a Mets coach, becoming manager when Casey Stengel fractured his hip and was forced to retire.

All those New York headlines could never match the drama of Westrum’s Minnesota roots. I grew in admiration for any Minnesota native developing as a major leaguer after reading Stew Thornley’s fine Baseball in Minnesota: A Definitive History Thornley has documented the rise of Westrum and his Minnesotan counterparts in Minnesotans in Baseball

Before he died at age 79 in 2002, Westrum sent an epic description of his evolution as a baseball player. (I asked about his place in Minnesota baseball history, along with memories of other native sons. Mentioning that my wife was born in Redwood Falls may have helped increase my chances at a response!)

Westrum wrote:

“Spent all my youth in all the sports. My father died at an early age (37). Baseball was the quickest way to help the family. I was a better football player and had a scholarship to Minnesota. Played pro baseball while in high school so I couldn’t go. Played basketball at Bemidji State Teachers one year before Uncle Sam got me.

Caught Paul Giel in his first game with the New York Giants. Great competitor and wonderful fellow. I was Jerry Koosman’s coach and manager with the New York Mets. Great person.

Russ Rolandson from Alexandria was with us in 1947 with Minneapolis Millers. He was a catcher from the College of Hamline.

Bill Dickey of the Yankees was my idol growing up in the small town of Clearbrook, Minnesota. The people of Clearbrook took up a small collection of $65 to send me to the Crookston (MN) Pirates in my junior year of high school. I made the (minor league) team.

Lots of fond memories of those days. Best always, ‘Wes’ Westrum”

The local hero did return. Westrum passed away in Clearbrook, Minnesota May 28, 2002. Did his friends and neighbors realize they were investing $65 in an all-star career? Clearbrook did in 1990, opening the Wes Westrum Baseball Museum.

One grateful catcher never forgot one hometown’s kindness.

White Sox catcher Don Wheeler’s Summer Job

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“See ya, Mom. Time for work.”

“What time will you be home, son?”

“That depends on how many innings we go.”

A decade ago, I tried tracking down all Minnesota-born baseball players. I found Don Wheeler, oddly nicknamed “Scott.” I asked him about his start in pro ball as a Twin Cities boy before there were Twins.

“I played with the Mpls Millers in 1948: I lived at home that year.”

Talk about the summer job of your dreams! Playing for pay before adoring hometown fans?

Nevertheless, Wheeler wanted to note his pride at one year in the majors.

“It was a great experience to play for the White Sox in 1949. In those days I wish the pay could have been what it is today.”

Wheeler became part of a baseball tradition in Minneapolis. Author Stew Thornley documented the team’s rich history in his pioneering book On to Nicollet: The Glory & Fame of the Minneapolis Millers

In his book and inspiring website, Thornley notes that 15 future Hall of Famers wore the Millers uniform.

I’d guess that Wheeler, who died in 2003, prized that White Sox memory to the end. He stuck with the organization, never to see another day in the majors after 1949. The White Sox released him at the start of the 1956 season.

(Photo courtesy of Stew Thornley)