Tigers: Diamond Kings in 1940
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — Seventy years ago, the McClain Tigers were Diamond Kings.
In the year of 1940, MHS won a total of 14 games and lost just three times.
On May 27, the Tigers lost in the state championship game, but getting to that point was the start of a three-year run in which the Tigers became a feared force in high school baseball when they made the first of three straight state championship games.
Though the Tigers lost the title game, 5-3, to Columbus North, the journey to get to the final game started on March 18 of that year when John Wagner was chosen captain of the varsity squad during the first practice of the season.
In a year where the Cincinnati Reds were World Series champions and Frank McCormick was the National League MVP, the Tigers of McClain High School began their year on March 29 as they defeated Lynchburg High School, 23-2. The game was the start of something that will forever be remembered, as the Tigers had 16 hits, including five home runs, in seven innings.
On that day, MHS used three pitchers in Eldon Newland, Robert Miller and Woodrow Wilson. Catching that day were James Orr and Clyde Barrett.
In what turned out to be their second game of the season after a rainout, MHS faced the Washington Blue Lions in its first South Central League (now South Central Ohio League) game of the season.
The Tigers didn't hold back, defeating the Blue Lions, 13-3. In the game, the Tigers collected 13 hits off two Washington pitchers.
On April 24 the headline in the Greenfield Daily Times read, "Don Grate Slams Home Run To Help Lick Cowboys."
Just like the 2010 version of the Tigers where they had many late-inning comebacks, the Tigers of 70 years earlier had their first rally of the season by scoring five runs in the seventh inning.
It is stated in the article from the game that Grate's slam came with Eldon, Newland and Wagner on the bases in front of nearly 1,000 Columbus West students. In that game, MHS trailed, 5-1, after five innings.
Then came a one-hitter by Newland against Wilmington the next day.
Wilmington's lone hit was a single as the game took place at Playground Field (currently the practice football field) in Greenfield.
McClain began the season at 4-0, but suffered its first loss to Columbus Aquinas in late April, 6-2.
The Tigers didn't sit on the losing side for long when they came back with a 12-6 win over the Blue Lions. In their second victory of the year over the Blue Lions, their third SCL win, the Tigers forced nine walks, but allowed Washington to score its six runs in the seventh inning. The Tigers scored four runs in the first inning.
Armstrong's nine, as they were described seven decades ago, won a clash of top teams in the state as they defeated Portsmouth High School, 2-1.
The two hits and one run by the Trojans came in the top of the fourth.
Robert "Lefty" Miller was the winning pitcher for the Tigers. MHS scored with a two-run home run by Newland with Grate on base in the bottom of the second inning.
Against Lancaster, the Tigers won 3-0, scoring all three runs in the top of the seventh inning with Earl Miller, Robert Miller and Orr all scoring.
In the seventh frame, MHS had one hit and took advantage of a errant throw and passed ball by the host Lancaster team. The Tigers had two hits in the game, with Wagner gaining one safety (or hit) for MHS.
On Thursday, May 9, the Tigers won the SCL with a perfect 4-0 mark by defeating the Hurricane, 11-1, in Wilmington.
Newland was the winning pitcher, allowing WHS to gain three hits. The Greenfield Daily Times’ game article stated, "Eldon Newland, who evidently is at ease on the mound as well as in the catcher's togs back of the plate, limited the Wilmington club to three scattered singles, while he and his mates cracked out 16 blows off the saints of Zurface."
MHS suffered its second loss of the year, in a rematch with the Trojans on May 11, in Portsmouth by a score of 4-0.
The Tigers rebounded once again from a loss by defeating Lynchburg for the second time in the season by a score of 30-7.
Since the game with Lynchburg was the final regular season game, the Tigers began district play with Lancaster in Athens.
The district game with MHS and Lancaster started at 9 a.m., with the winner facing New Boston at 3 p.m.
The Tigers won the game, 7-2, with the headline reading: “McClain Whips Lancaster in Athens Tourney.” Earlier in the season, MHS defeated the same Lancaster team, 3-0.
The Tigers scored five runs in the third and one run each in the fourth and seventh innings as they were the away team. In a game that was reported by telephone by Armstrong, the Tigers collected eight hits all being singles. Lefty Miller was the winning pitcher.
Later in the evening the Tigers sent New Boston packing, who earned a bye, with a 10-2 win.
The semifinal win, on the campus of Ohio University, came with MHS allowing only four hits, while Newland dominated New Boston with two triples. Both triples brought home five combined runs, with the first three-bagger clearing the bases, which were loaded.
McClain's 9 gained revenge on Portsmouth in a May 18 game as they won, 2-1, to become district champions.
Lefty Miller was the winning pitcher, earning his second win over the Trojans.
The scoring for the Tigers came from a double from Grate, followed with Newland hitting a double of his own. Harold Clements scored Newland on an outfield fly.
The district win put the Tigers in the eight-team state tournament, which was held at Ohio State University.
It was reported that Newland was troubled with a sore throwing arm at the start of the state tournament and Lefty Miller was given the first start against Akron Garfield.
On May 25, after a rainout the previous day, the Tigers advanced with a 3-2 victory. The Tigers trailed, 2-0, but eventually came back to score three runs, gaining just three total hits in the game.
MHS scored one run in the fourth and two in the sixth for the lead and eventual win.
In its second game later in the same day, MHS had another close victory, defeating Springfield, 4-3.
Miller, who pitched the win earlier in the day, was back on the mound again, and the results were the same as he gained his second W of the day.
The "locals," as it was reported, gained all four runs in the first inning.
Miller not only pitched the win, but hit a three-run home run in the first inning. In the same game, Miller's cousin also hit a home run, for Springfield.
With the win, the Tigers became the first McClain sports team to represent the school in a state championship final. (The 1921-22 basketball team lost in the semifinal round.)
Against Springfield, MHS had five hits.
On May 27, the championship game took place and the lead paragraph explained what happened to the Tigers, which was printed on Tuesday, May 28, 1940, it read:
"Errors — seven — of them and passed balls—two of them, blasted into oblivion what chance McClain Tigers may have had to win the Ohio Class A scholastic baseball championship when they dropped a 5-3 decision to Columbus North…"
In the championship game, MHS scored twice in the first, as did Columbus North. CN took a 4-2 lead after five innings. In the sixth, each team scored once, but the Tigers couldn’t rally in the final inning as they were the final batters at the plate. The Tigers had an opportunity to take the lead in the seventh inning as Jim Orr lined a single to left field and Wagner forced a base on balls.
Both runners advanced on a sacrifice by Pratt, but the rally fell short when the final two outs were recorded on a strikeout and flyout to centerfield. Grate hit a triple in the third inning, as the ball sailed to right field.
MHS outhit the Polar Bears 8-6. Miller struck out nine batters and pitched his way out of some tough situations.
The storied 1940 season had many good moments as Newland had a regular season pitching record of 4-1 and Lefty Miller was 5-1. Miller gained two wins in the district tournament and in the state tourney finished 2-1.
Final lettermen for the '40 squared included: seniors Robert Miller, Earl Miller, John Wagner, John Stewart; juniors Eldon Newland, Paul Orr; sophomores Donald Grate, Jim Orr and freshmen Robert Davis, Paul Pratt and Harold Clements.[[In-content Ad]]
In the year of 1940, MHS won a total of 14 games and lost just three times.
On May 27, the Tigers lost in the state championship game, but getting to that point was the start of a three-year run in which the Tigers became a feared force in high school baseball when they made the first of three straight state championship games.
Though the Tigers lost the title game, 5-3, to Columbus North, the journey to get to the final game started on March 18 of that year when John Wagner was chosen captain of the varsity squad during the first practice of the season.
In a year where the Cincinnati Reds were World Series champions and Frank McCormick was the National League MVP, the Tigers of McClain High School began their year on March 29 as they defeated Lynchburg High School, 23-2. The game was the start of something that will forever be remembered, as the Tigers had 16 hits, including five home runs, in seven innings.
On that day, MHS used three pitchers in Eldon Newland, Robert Miller and Woodrow Wilson. Catching that day were James Orr and Clyde Barrett.
In what turned out to be their second game of the season after a rainout, MHS faced the Washington Blue Lions in its first South Central League (now South Central Ohio League) game of the season.
The Tigers didn't hold back, defeating the Blue Lions, 13-3. In the game, the Tigers collected 13 hits off two Washington pitchers.
On April 24 the headline in the Greenfield Daily Times read, "Don Grate Slams Home Run To Help Lick Cowboys."
Just like the 2010 version of the Tigers where they had many late-inning comebacks, the Tigers of 70 years earlier had their first rally of the season by scoring five runs in the seventh inning.
It is stated in the article from the game that Grate's slam came with Eldon, Newland and Wagner on the bases in front of nearly 1,000 Columbus West students. In that game, MHS trailed, 5-1, after five innings.
Then came a one-hitter by Newland against Wilmington the next day.
Wilmington's lone hit was a single as the game took place at Playground Field (currently the practice football field) in Greenfield.
McClain began the season at 4-0, but suffered its first loss to Columbus Aquinas in late April, 6-2.
The Tigers didn't sit on the losing side for long when they came back with a 12-6 win over the Blue Lions. In their second victory of the year over the Blue Lions, their third SCL win, the Tigers forced nine walks, but allowed Washington to score its six runs in the seventh inning. The Tigers scored four runs in the first inning.
Armstrong's nine, as they were described seven decades ago, won a clash of top teams in the state as they defeated Portsmouth High School, 2-1.
The two hits and one run by the Trojans came in the top of the fourth.
Robert "Lefty" Miller was the winning pitcher for the Tigers. MHS scored with a two-run home run by Newland with Grate on base in the bottom of the second inning.
Against Lancaster, the Tigers won 3-0, scoring all three runs in the top of the seventh inning with Earl Miller, Robert Miller and Orr all scoring.
In the seventh frame, MHS had one hit and took advantage of a errant throw and passed ball by the host Lancaster team. The Tigers had two hits in the game, with Wagner gaining one safety (or hit) for MHS.
On Thursday, May 9, the Tigers won the SCL with a perfect 4-0 mark by defeating the Hurricane, 11-1, in Wilmington.
Newland was the winning pitcher, allowing WHS to gain three hits. The Greenfield Daily Times’ game article stated, "Eldon Newland, who evidently is at ease on the mound as well as in the catcher's togs back of the plate, limited the Wilmington club to three scattered singles, while he and his mates cracked out 16 blows off the saints of Zurface."
MHS suffered its second loss of the year, in a rematch with the Trojans on May 11, in Portsmouth by a score of 4-0.
The Tigers rebounded once again from a loss by defeating Lynchburg for the second time in the season by a score of 30-7.
Since the game with Lynchburg was the final regular season game, the Tigers began district play with Lancaster in Athens.
The district game with MHS and Lancaster started at 9 a.m., with the winner facing New Boston at 3 p.m.
The Tigers won the game, 7-2, with the headline reading: “McClain Whips Lancaster in Athens Tourney.” Earlier in the season, MHS defeated the same Lancaster team, 3-0.
The Tigers scored five runs in the third and one run each in the fourth and seventh innings as they were the away team. In a game that was reported by telephone by Armstrong, the Tigers collected eight hits all being singles. Lefty Miller was the winning pitcher.
Later in the evening the Tigers sent New Boston packing, who earned a bye, with a 10-2 win.
The semifinal win, on the campus of Ohio University, came with MHS allowing only four hits, while Newland dominated New Boston with two triples. Both triples brought home five combined runs, with the first three-bagger clearing the bases, which were loaded.
McClain's 9 gained revenge on Portsmouth in a May 18 game as they won, 2-1, to become district champions.
Lefty Miller was the winning pitcher, earning his second win over the Trojans.
The scoring for the Tigers came from a double from Grate, followed with Newland hitting a double of his own. Harold Clements scored Newland on an outfield fly.
The district win put the Tigers in the eight-team state tournament, which was held at Ohio State University.
It was reported that Newland was troubled with a sore throwing arm at the start of the state tournament and Lefty Miller was given the first start against Akron Garfield.
On May 25, after a rainout the previous day, the Tigers advanced with a 3-2 victory. The Tigers trailed, 2-0, but eventually came back to score three runs, gaining just three total hits in the game.
MHS scored one run in the fourth and two in the sixth for the lead and eventual win.
In its second game later in the same day, MHS had another close victory, defeating Springfield, 4-3.
Miller, who pitched the win earlier in the day, was back on the mound again, and the results were the same as he gained his second W of the day.
The "locals," as it was reported, gained all four runs in the first inning.
Miller not only pitched the win, but hit a three-run home run in the first inning. In the same game, Miller's cousin also hit a home run, for Springfield.
With the win, the Tigers became the first McClain sports team to represent the school in a state championship final. (The 1921-22 basketball team lost in the semifinal round.)
Against Springfield, MHS had five hits.
On May 27, the championship game took place and the lead paragraph explained what happened to the Tigers, which was printed on Tuesday, May 28, 1940, it read:
"Errors — seven — of them and passed balls—two of them, blasted into oblivion what chance McClain Tigers may have had to win the Ohio Class A scholastic baseball championship when they dropped a 5-3 decision to Columbus North…"
In the championship game, MHS scored twice in the first, as did Columbus North. CN took a 4-2 lead after five innings. In the sixth, each team scored once, but the Tigers couldn’t rally in the final inning as they were the final batters at the plate. The Tigers had an opportunity to take the lead in the seventh inning as Jim Orr lined a single to left field and Wagner forced a base on balls.
Both runners advanced on a sacrifice by Pratt, but the rally fell short when the final two outs were recorded on a strikeout and flyout to centerfield. Grate hit a triple in the third inning, as the ball sailed to right field.
MHS outhit the Polar Bears 8-6. Miller struck out nine batters and pitched his way out of some tough situations.
The storied 1940 season had many good moments as Newland had a regular season pitching record of 4-1 and Lefty Miller was 5-1. Miller gained two wins in the district tournament and in the state tourney finished 2-1.
Final lettermen for the '40 squared included: seniors Robert Miller, Earl Miller, John Wagner, John Stewart; juniors Eldon Newland, Paul Orr; sophomores Donald Grate, Jim Orr and freshmen Robert Davis, Paul Pratt and Harold Clements.[[In-content Ad]]