BLAST FROM THE PAST: 1953 AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL; 1950 COPAN VS DEWEY HOOPS
The following is summaries of sporting events in the Bartlesville area from the past:
Summer 1953
A powerful punch from the shortstop and the sweet-smelling pitching of a Herring propelled the 1953 Bartlesville American Legion Baseball program.
The ‘53 team, coached by Chuck Hale, included one of the program’s top power hitters in its history — shortstop Bobby Green.
Green weighed just 165 pounds — but every ounce was dynamite.His bat exploded for more than a half-dozen dingers to go with several other big blows.
“He could hit that light pole in left field,” recalled Billy Rosko, the third baseman from that squad, several years ago. “He had a tremendous wrist — and he was fast.”
Green may be the only Bartlesville American Legion player in history to hit two homers in back-to-back games. He opened the season with a triple to help Bartlesville upend the state powerhouse Tulsa Doenges Ford squad, 10-7, in a game at Bartlesville.
In the decisive four-run seventh inning, Bartlesville took advantage of two Tulsa errors. Centerfielder Billy Annear and pitcher Kenneth Herring also blasted key singles in the inning.
Herring picked up the win by throwing the distance. He was nicked for six hits, but never gave up more than two runs in an inning. He allowed just three hits the last six innings.
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December 1950
Answers were few for the Copan Hornets during a boys high school basketball showdown against the Dewey Bulldoggers, in the debut at Dewey's new $119,000 gym (which is still in use in 2025).
Jerry Gilliand drained 18 points to energize Dewey -- which was coached by Ed Hill -- to a 43-35 victory. Gilliand buried seven field goals and dropped in four free throws to score nearly half of his team's points.
Herman Mason added nine points to the Dewey cause. Robert Austin heat up the cords with nine points for Copan, followed by Joe Pruitt and Robert Cummings with seven apiece.
Approximately 1,000 fans squeezed together to watch the historic game.