Duchess of Weaselskin

Bayfield, Colorado - Since 28 June 2011 Google has ventured into a NEW social networking, which some of you might have been experiencing in the last few weeks. NW Okie has been reading and trying to organize her Google+ account (nwokie). You might have noticed a NEW icon link at the top of the OkieLegacy eZine webpage next to the twitter icon. It is the Google +1! Google's +1 works like Facebook's "Like" button.

[Click on the image for a larger view!] We found this Google Plus Cheat Sheet online that some of you first timers connecting with Google+. Some have been saying that if Twitter and Facebook had a baby it would be Google+ (G+). That may sound a bit weird to some, but G+ is a lot cleaner and less cluttered than Facebook. You can type more than 140 characters in a post as opposed to Twitter. For beginners it might be a bit confusing, but there are sites and Google Tips out there to help you slowly get accustomed to it so it is not so overwhelming.

We find the following site online to help those beginners just getting started. CLICK HERE for Part One: Intro to G+ and Circles! It says do not let circles make your head spin. G+ is built around the idea that we all have different circles of friends and acquaintances. Be creative! Let your circles help you filter the people you read and the people you share your thoughts with. Maybe this page will help others from becoming overwhelmed with setting up their circles; following and posting to friends.

SEE ALSO:
Part Two: Privacy and Profiles
Part Three: finding your friends on G+

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This Day In History (July 18)

America - On this day in history, July 18, 1936, the Spanish Civil War began as Gen. Francisco Franco led an uprising of army troops based in North Africa. Go to Article

On July 18, 1909, Andrey Gromyko, the Soviet foreign minister from 1957 to 1985, was born. Following his death on July 2, 1989, his obituary appeared in The Times. Go to obituary

On This Day July 18 . . .

• 1536 - Parliament passed an act declaring the authority of the pope void in England.
• 1872 - Britain introduced the concept of voting by secret ballot.
• 1918 - Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born 18 July. He served as President of south Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election.
• 1927 - Baseball Hall of Famer Ty Cobb got his 4,000th career hit.

NW Okie's Ancestry Corner

Bayfield, Colorado - The photo on the right shows the "Alva The Champions" . . . They played in the Alva, Greensburg and Hopeton area around the 1904. Listed Left to Right, Front Row: George Brannan, Jess Clifton, the dog, Lynn White, Ramsey; Middle Row: Helena boy, Frank Crowell, Wilhite; Back Row: Museller, Quinlan, Bill McGill, Rolly Wilton, Ross Frazier. Correct me if I am wrong, but was one of these photos the "Alva Giants?"

You will probably notice that this week's newsletter has gone to the early baseball history of Oklahoma and Indian Territory and how my grandpa William J. (a.k.a Parsons, Bill or Will) McGill played a part in the early history of baseball in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and Missouri. Grandpa "Parsons" McGill started his baseball days in Alva between 1900 thru 1904.

In 1900, Grandpa McGill was a big gangling, awkward farm boy living on a farm southwest of town, where his older brother had made the run. McGill enrolled at Northwestern for a college career. mcGill followed along period of time when he and Dan Quinlan did most of the pitching for Alva and played both with the college and town teams.

Grandpa played on Northwestern Normal's School baseball team in 1903. by 1904 Grandpa McGill was playing baseball at Friends University in Lawrence, Kansas. At some time in 1904 he played with the "Alva Champions" in the above photo.

It was during the baseball season of 1906 that Grandpa McGill pitched for the Austin Senators, in the South Texas League, with the following team players: Geo. Felter, Harry Short, Happy Fields, Richardson, Stevenson, McCall Carter, Suitor, hartman, Gordon, Hutchcroft, and Capt. Gill.

As E. M. Barker, sports editor, Alva-Review Courier reported in a 1943 baseball article, "On September 17, 1907, the St. Louis Browns were playing the Cleveland American Indians. On the Cleveland team at that time was the great Napoleon Lajoie said by many to be on the greatest second baseman of all times. It was the second game of the doubleheader and not a man had been retired.

"On the mound for the Browns was a young Texas League recruit pitching his first major league baseball game. The crowd was astounded at his speed as he weaved his long willowy frame to and fro on the pitcher's mound, coolly chopping down the most seasoned veterans of the game.

"The ninth inning came up with St. Louis leading 2 to 1. The second batter to face the young St. Louis pitcher missed a fast inside pitch just belt high. The catcher called for another in the same spot. The rookie, with victory in his grasp, grew a wee bit careless and the ball sailed over the plate just a trifle higher and right in the batter's groove. A two base hit resulted and the batter later scored the tying run. The game went on into the twelfth inning and was called on account of darkness." SEE URL below.

Grandpa Bill McGill's major league career was brief, as he pitched only two games for the St. Louis Browns against Cleveland and the New York Highlanders. In late September Grandpa returned to Alva to go into the furniture business with his older brother, James. McGill did take a short stint in the old Western Association league with Guthrie and pitched a few more games for Alva.

In 1943, E. M. Barker, Alva-Review Courier Sports Editor, in Northwest Oklahoma, wrote an article titled, King of Sports Has Long History. Barker mentions that prior to the coming of statehood there were several saloons that were the main support of the ball clubs of the gay nineties. The men who played on the teams were connected with baseball were from the "sturdy stock" and character who contributed to the great national pastime. They also played an important part in the building of the town in a civic and material way.

In 1894, the first baseball diamond was located on the grounds where the Washington Elementary stands today, on the northwest corner of 7th and Center Street.

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Territorians To Boomers

Ardmore, Oklahoma - We have been reading about professional baseball in Ardmore (1904-1926), entitled Territorians To Boomers, written by Peter G. Pierce, that we received in the mail this last week. Being born and raised in Northwest Oklahoma, I did not realize that Oklahoma's Indian Territory had a Pro-Baseball league between 1904 through 1926 in Southern Indian Territory, near Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Did you know that Ardmore was home to the professional baseball teams: Territorians, Blues, Giants, Indians, Ardmoreites, Peps, Producers, Snappers and Boomers? Ardmore clubs were in leagues such as Texas League, Texas-Oklahoma, Western Association and for a brief time in the Oklahoma State League.

Oklahoma State League.

In 1922, Carter county had two professional teams known as Ardmore Producers of the Texas-Oklahoma League and the Wilson Drillers in the Oklahoma State League. It was around 1924 that a "Boomers" set in the Oklahoma State League were ousted by a new set of "Boomers" from the Western Association.

In The Daily Ardmoreite, dated June 3, 2011, article titled, "Ardmore's Diamond History," written by Erik Horne, Sports Editor, he writes about baseball historian and University of Oklahoma professor's, Peter G. Pierce, and his book (Territorians To Boomers). Pierce teaches a junior-level course entitled "History of Baseball."

We found this information on this Oklahoma History, which gives us another insight, brief history of Professtonal Baseball in Ardmore, Oklahoma After World War II and the Ardmore Rosebuds, written by Peter G. Pierce, III, Norman, Oklahoma, March, 2005. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Oklahoma State League (Baseball)

Oklahoma - According to Wikipedia, The Oklahoma State League was a Class-D minor baseball league based in Oklahoma and existed around 1912 and from 1922 to 1924. Do some of you remember the Hall of Fame Pitcher Carl Hubbell (born in Carthage, Missouri, 22 June 1903 and died 21 November 1988)? Hubbell was raised in Meeker.

The Oklahoma State league was made up of eight teams in 1912, such as: Anadarko Indians, Holdenville Hitters, McAlester Miners, Muskogee Indians, Oklahoma City Senators, Okmulgee Glassblowers, Tulsa Terriers and the Guthrie team before it disbanded July 29, 1912, the with the Glassblowers in first place and the Guthrie team in last.

The Oklahoma State League was reincarnated in 1922 and represented by the Chickasha Chicks, Clinton Bulldogs, Duncan Oilers, El Reno Railroaders, Wilson Drillers and a Guthrie team. That year the Duncan Oilers finished first league that year, but the Chicks of Chickasha were the league champions, which won the league's playoff series.

In 1923, the Oklahoma State League was made up of the Cushing Refiners, Bristow Producers, Duncan Oilers, Clinton Bulldogs, El Reno Railroaders, Shawnee Indians, Drumright Boosters/Ponca City Poncans and the Guthrie team. That year the Refiners finished in first, but Bristow won the league championship.

In 1924, the Oklahoma State League played its final season represented by the Ardmore Bearcats/Pawhuska Huskies, Bristo Producers, Cushing Refiners, Shawnee Indians, Duncan Oilers, Ponca City Poncans, Blackwell Gassers and a team from Guthrie, McAlester and Wewoka (Guthrie/McAlester/Wewoka). The league disbanded on July 8, 1924, with Ardmore/Pawhuska team in first and the Guthrie/McAlester/Wewoka team in last place. In 1904 the Southwestern League was also known as the Oklahoma State League. CLICK this link for more information. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Texas League (Baseball)

Texas - According to Wikipedia, the Texas League was a minor league baseball league which operated in the South Central United States, classified as a Double-A league. It was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892. It was revived as a Class D league in 1902, moved to Class C in 1904 where it played through 1910. In 1906 it was a Class D again and played at class B until 1920, when it moved up to class A in 1921. The Texas League and other baseball teams shut down during World War II.

The South Division teams were based in Texas and the North Division teams were located in the surrounding states of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri. It maintains it league headquarters in San Antonio. READ MORE about the Texas League.

My grandpa, Wm. J. McGill (a.k.a Parsons, Will or Bill) pitched for the Austin Senators (minor League team) in 1906, based in Austin, Texas, when they were with the South Texas League. The Austin Senators played in the Texas League (1888-1890, 1905, 1907-08, 1911-1914, 1956-1964), Texas-Southern League (1896), South Texas league (1906) and Texas Association (1925-1926). During 1956-1964 they were affiliated with the Milwaukee Braves. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Western Association (Baseball)

Oklahoma - The Western Association was the name of 5 different leagues in American Minor League baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries. The oldest league (established as the Northwestern League in 1883) was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887. It began operations in 1888 season, lasting through 1891 season.

From 1888-1891 and 1893, the Western League was known as the Western Association. The Western Association that was from 1894-1897 and 1899 was renamed the Central League in 1900. It was centered around Illinois and Iowa, reaching to Nebraska and Denver, Colorado early. In 1901, another Western Association was stared around Ohio and Indiana, but only lasted one year.

In 1905, the Missouri Valley League was renamed the Western Association, designated as Class-C until 1911 when it was given a D rating, operating in this class from 1914-1917 and also in 1920-21. It was not until 1922 that the league regained its class C status, operating from 1922-1932 and 1934-1942, when it and other baseball teams shut down during WWII. Cities Represented 1905-1911.

[Photo on the left is the Enid Railroaders; Photo on the right is the Guthrie 1909 Baseball team.]

Enid Pro-Baseball (Western Association)

Did you know the town of Enid, in central Oklahoma, joined the ranks of pro baseball in 1904? It was known as the Enid Evangelists, who won a first half title in the Class D Southwestern League, finishing with a combined 46-37 record in their sole year in the league. This NW Okie has photos of her grandpa Bill (a.k.a. Parsons) McGill who played for the Enid Railroaders (190?) and the Guthrie Senators (1909).

It was four years later that Enid joined the Class C Western Association (league which featured teams in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri). The Railroaders finished dead last with a record of 38-99 in their first season. The team then enjoyed a turnaround in 1909, winning the pennant with an 82-44 mark. The team dropped out of the league after a second place finish the following year. SEE ALSO History - 1922 Enid Harvesters. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Larry Sanchez Baseball Playing Information

Ardmore, Oklahoma - James Bradley sent us this baseball information for Lawrence "Larry" Sanchez. In it mention was made of Larry Sanchez's semi-professional baseball days. At Larry's funeral James was able to talk with Lloyd Stout who played baseball with Larry. Lloyd told him that Larry was a catcher. They played for the Ardmore Indians team and played against Whitey Herzog when he was playing for the McAlester, Oklahoma, semi-pro team. James said he has not been able to dig out information like he would like to.

james did find that both Larry and Lloyd played for the Pampa Oilers in the 1950-52 years. Lloyd currently lives in Cherokee, which is his hometown. These two men were like brothers and had quite a career playing baseball.

Just thought you might like to have some information to go with the Obituary of Larry's. I know you are a baseball fan and had relatives that played. For Larry Sanchez -- For Lloyd Stout. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe