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Ohio Baseball Topic
Topic: The Myth of Mike Schmidt's 500-foot Home Run
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RSBobcat
9/29/2015 10:38 PM
Thanks for the link - Great Read. I was a frosh '77 - and I always heard that story
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1stInConvo
10/8/2015 8:58 AM
Just keep in mind the roof of Grover Center was only one story high on those classrooms.
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BillyTheCat
10/9/2015 2:33 PM
1stInConvo wrote:expand_more
Just keep in mind the roof of Grover Center was only one story high on those classrooms.


Also keep in mind that the field was not in the same location of the field in the 80's and 90's.
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OhioCatFan
10/9/2015 6:02 PM
For what it is worth, Larry Hisle once accomplished this same feat in an American Legion state tournament game. His Portsmouth team had three future major leaguers -- Hisle, Al Oliver, and Gene Tenace. I was covering the tournament for the Messenger, but I did not cover that specific game. There were multiple games going on at the same time so no one reporter covered them all. I did cover another game of the Portsmouth team, against Steubenville. I still have the score sheet with those three future MLB players on it -- a prized possession.
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OhioCatFan
10/9/2015 6:46 PM

Just checked my score book. Turns out Oliver must have been injured, as he did not play in the Steubenville game. Boy, memory can play a trick on you if you're not careful.

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BillyTheCat
10/11/2015 8:34 AM
Seen the three play growing up, football, basketball and baseball, basketball was a great sport of both Oliver and Hisle. You also had right down the road a pitcher by the name of Don Gullett.
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Catdoog
1/27/2016 8:52 AM
Jeremy: I know the post is a little dated but I was at many of the glory year games as I was a teenage son of a football coach and lived for sports. Schmidt absolutely hit the roof of Grover. However, if you look at he building, there are actually three levels of roof-line including the very top. I do not remember which one he hit but it was also an extremely high shot. Also the scoreboard had several dents although I suppose most were from practice! Schmidt was also a fantastic basketball player and was almost always the leading scorer when the FROSH team played the "campus all-stars". IF they had a three pt line he would have had more, like Austin Carr v OU in the NCAA tourney. Still a single game scoring record.
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cc-cat
1/28/2016 3:24 PM
OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
Just checked my score book. Turns out Oliver must have been injured, as he did not play in the Steubenville game. Boy, memory can play a trick on you if you're not careful.
Hisle pitched - interesting. And Tenace played centerfield. That kid Young must have been a hell of a catcher - lol
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BillyTheCat
1/28/2016 6:49 PM
OCF, you do realize that Oliver was older than the other two, and was already gone by that year.


Or maybe the Portsmouth team got suspended for recruiting 😳😎😂
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OhioCatFan
1/28/2016 10:56 PM
BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
OCF, you do realize that Oliver was older than the other two, and was already gone by that year.


Or maybe the Portsmouth team got suspended for recruiting 😳😎😂
Not sure about that, BTC; this game was in the summer of 1964. And, according to the ever-semi-accurate Wikipedia: "[Oliver] graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1964." A number of Legion teams at that time had just graduated players on their teams. The determining factor, as I recall, was the month of your 18th birthday. According to Wikipedia, Oliver's birthday was in October, so he would have been eligible to play on this team.
Last Edited: 1/28/2016 10:59:55 PM by OhioCatFan
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BillyTheCat
1/29/2016 7:21 PM
OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
OCF, you do realize that Oliver was older than the other two, and was already gone by that year.


Or maybe the Portsmouth team got suspended for recruiting 😳😎😂
Not sure about that, BTC; this game was in the summer of 1964. And, according to the ever-semi-accurate Wikipedia: "[Oliver] graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1964." A number of Legion teams at that time had just graduated players on their teams. The determining factor, as I recall, was the month of your 18th birthday. According to Wikipedia, Oliver's birthday was in October, so he would have been eligible to play on this team.
Do I need to explain this to you? Scoops Graduated high school in 64 and Signed as a FA on June 13th, 1964. You really think the Pirates let him play Legion baseball instead of playing in their farm system?

You may want to leave the history of PHS to an alum and active member of their historical and mural society. Because in 2016 you are batting 0-2
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OhioCatFan
1/31/2016 5:47 PM
BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
OCF, you do realize that Oliver was older than the other two, and was already gone by that year.


Or maybe the Portsmouth team got suspended for recruiting 😳😎😂
Not sure about that, BTC; this game was in the summer of 1964. And, according to the ever-semi-accurate Wikipedia: "[Oliver] graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1964." A number of Legion teams at that time had just graduated players on their teams. The determining factor, as I recall, was the month of your 18th birthday. According to Wikipedia, Oliver's birthday was in October, so he would have been eligible to play on this team.
Do I need to explain this to you? Scoops Graduated high school in 64 and Signed as a FA on June 13th, 1964. You really think the Pirates let him play Legion baseball instead of playing in their farm system?

You may want to leave the history of PHS to an alum and active member of their historical and mural society. Because in 2016 you are batting 0-2
OK, it's obvious you are correct here. I didn't see his professional signing date. I do remember him playing legion ball; but, it must have been the year before. I also, for the record, remember he and Hisle were on the same basketball team. They played in Grover in the high school post-season tournament. I think they may have been playing Athens. Oliver had the strangest two-handed, behind the head shot that I've ever seen. Do you remember that? Do you remember if they played Athens? I suspect that this was probably in the '63 or '64 season.
Last Edited: 1/31/2016 5:49:10 PM by OhioCatFan
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BillyTheCat
1/31/2016 9:15 PM
Yes, they played basketball and baseball together, Scoops graduated a year earlier and didn't have the accolades as Hisle. Arguably those teams had the most pure athletic talent, but they played in the GOL, Lima Sr, Middletown, Mansfield, all the biggies in OHSAA history. PHS won the District title both 63 and 64 held at Grover. PHS also has the most District titles of any two schools in SE Ohio combined. OCF were you aware that Scoops going to attend Kent State on a basketball scholarship before selecting the Pirates. While Hisle was signed by Fred Taylor to play at OSU.

Hisle was just passed last week and bumped to #3 all time points scored 1,375

63-64 Larry was all state and 64-65 he was all state and All-American with some guy named Lew Alcinder

1963: 16-6.......Beat 21-0 #6 AP Marietta 62-51 for district title; lost to Columbus East (state champions) in regional semifinals

1964: 18-5.......Beat Middletown in OT; lost to 64 state champion Dayton Belmont at Grant Gym 79-64; lost to Grove City in regional semifinals

1965: 17-3.......Larry Hisle's senior year (25.5 PPG), Won Greater Ohio League; lost to Athens in district finals
Last Edited: 1/31/2016 9:29:13 PM by BillyTheCat
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OhioCatFan
2/1/2016 10:36 AM
BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
Yes, they played basketball and baseball together, Scoops graduated a year earlier and didn't have the accolades as Hisle. Arguably those teams had the most pure athletic talent, but they played in the GOL, Lima Sr, Middletown, Mansfield, all the biggies in OHSAA history. PHS won the District title both 63 and 64 held at Grover. PHS also has the most District titles of any two schools in SE Ohio combined. OCF were you aware that Scoops going to attend Kent State on a basketball scholarship before selecting the Pirates. While Hisle was signed by Fred Taylor to play at OSU.

Hisle was just passed last week and bumped to #3 all time points scored 1,375

63-64 Larry was all state and 64-65 he was all state and All-American with some guy named Lew Alcinder

1963: 16-6.......Beat 21-0 #6 AP Marietta 62-51 for district title; lost to Columbus East (state champions) in regional semifinals

1964: 18-5.......Beat Middletown in OT; lost to 64 state champion Dayton Belmont at Grant Gym 79-64; lost to Grove City in regional semifinals

1965: 17-3.......Larry Hisle's senior year (25.5 PPG), Won Greater Ohio League; lost to Athens in district finals
I remember that Hisle had signed with OSU before he decided on a baseball career. I did not recall that Oliver had signed with the Flashes. I believe Jim Snyder tried hard to get Hisle, also.

The game I'm remembering must have been in 1964, since in 1965 I was on active duty in the U.S. Navy. A good friend of mine was on the Athens team in 1965; in fact, his missed shot in the final seconds in a game against Columbus West (?) in the Regional Finals was what kept Athens from the Final Four. As friends described the shot to me later, it bounced around the rim several times before falling out -- so close but so far. The more I think about it, the more I think the 1964 game that I'm remembering was a Portsmouth victory over Athens in the first round of the District Tournament in Grover. Do you have any records to prove or disprove that one? ;-)
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BillyTheCat
2/1/2016 12:31 PM
OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
Yes, they played basketball and baseball together, Scoops graduated a year earlier and didn't have the accolades as Hisle. Arguably those teams had the most pure athletic talent, but they played in the GOL, Lima Sr, Middletown, Mansfield, all the biggies in OHSAA history. PHS won the District title both 63 and 64 held at Grover. PHS also has the most District titles of any two schools in SE Ohio combined. OCF were you aware that Scoops going to attend Kent State on a basketball scholarship before selecting the Pirates. While Hisle was signed by Fred Taylor to play at OSU.

Hisle was just passed last week and bumped to #3 all time points scored 1,375

63-64 Larry was all state and 64-65 he was all state and All-American with some guy named Lew Alcinder

1963: 16-6.......Beat 21-0 #6 AP Marietta 62-51 for district title; lost to Columbus East (state champions) in regional semifinals

1964: 18-5.......Beat Middletown in OT; lost to 64 state champion Dayton Belmont at Grant Gym 79-64; lost to Grove City in regional semifinals

1965: 17-3.......Larry Hisle's senior year (25.5 PPG), Won Greater Ohio League; lost to Athens in district finals
I remember that Hisle had signed with OSU before he decided on a baseball career. I did not recall that Oliver had signed with the Flashes. I believe Jim Snyder tried hard to get Hisle, also.

The game I'm remembering must have been in 1964, since in 1965 I was on active duty in the U.S. Navy. A good friend of mine was on the Athens team in 1965; in fact, his missed shot in the final seconds in a game against Columbus West (?) in the Regional Finals was what kept Athens from the Final Four. As friends described the shot to me later, it bounced around the rim several times before falling out -- so close but so far. The more I think about it, the more I think the 1964 game that I'm remembering was a Portsmouth victory over Athens in the first round of the District Tournament in Grover. Do you have any records to prove or disprove that one? ;-)

Larry originally wanted to play at OHIO, PHS legend Mike Haley was a friend of Larry's.


Lots and lots of Portsmouth talent that OHIO has missed over the years. 50's through 80's the Portsmouth has been loaded with DI talent in all sports and we've done a poor job in that area.
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davepi2
2/21/2016 6:13 PM
there are legendary stories like this everywhere. In Columbus there has been a story about a Frank Howard 600' home run hit for South High School at Linden McKinley as long as I can remember. There is also a story about a home run over 500' hit by Paul O'Neiell while at Beechcroft against Centennial. All these stories grow as the years go on.
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fansince49
2/27/2016 11:43 AM
OhioCatFan your mail of February 1

In the latter part of your message...
I remember the game to which you refer: Portsmouth vs. Athens HS, Old Mens' Gym
I was there.
I believe this is the game in which Athens Coach Chuck McAfee slowed the offensive
pace of the game to a near-standstill in an attempt to combat the physically
superior Portsmouth team. Yet, I also believe that one of the Portsmouth players
was Bruce Johnson, who played baseball and basketball at Ohio. He was a member of the varsity basketball teams of @ least 1958-59 and 1959-60.
If I am correct regarding Johnson, the Portsmouth vs. Athens HS tournament game
must have been in the mid-to-late 1950's.
I am not certain. Would you please help me with the dates if you are able.
Thanks.

"Later": In consulting my 1955 Athens High School "Athena" yearbook, I found the
Portsmouth vs. Athens HS tournament game to which I refer, above. It was in the district finals of the 1954-55 season. Portsmouth won, 24-22, in double OT.
Last Edited: 2/27/2016 12:13:07 PM by fansince49
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BillyTheCat
2/27/2016 7:59 PM
fansince49 wrote:expand_more
OhioCatFan your mail of February 1

In the latter part of your message...
I remember the game to which you refer: Portsmouth vs. Athens HS, Old Mens' Gym
I was there.
I believe this is the game in which Athens Coach Chuck McAfee slowed the offensive
pace of the game to a near-standstill in an attempt to combat the physically
superior Portsmouth team. Yet, I also believe that one of the Portsmouth players
was Bruce Johnson, who played baseball and basketball at Ohio. He was a member of the varsity basketball teams of @ least 1958-59 and 1959-60.
If I am correct regarding Johnson, the Portsmouth vs. Athens HS tournament game
must have been in the mid-to-late 1950's.
I am not certain. Would you please help me with the dates if you are able.
Thanks.

"Later": In consulting my 1955 Athens High School "Athena" yearbook, I found the
Portsmouth vs. Athens HS tournament game to which I refer, above. It was in the district finals of the 1954-55 season. Portsmouth won, 24-22, in double OT.
Johnson hit the game winner
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OhioCatFan
2/28/2016 2:42 PM
BTC and fansince49 . . . It appears we have two different games where Portsmouth ousted Athens in the tournament -- 1955 in Men's Gym and 1964 in Grover. I was at the latter and not the former; though I was in Athens in 1955, I really didn't start following high school sports until about my sophomore year at AHS. And, then in 1965 Athens returned the favor and beat Portsmouth. I would have been at that game, except that was in Uncle Sam's navy at that point.
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Long Train Runnin'
3/7/2016 2:52 PM
OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
Just checked my score book. Turns out Oliver must have been injured, as he did not play in the Steubenville game. Boy, memory can play a trick on you if you're not careful.
http://www.bobcatattack.com/images/other/IMG_8522.JPG
I'm guessing that Steubenville's catcher and #2 batter is longtime MLB coach Rich Donnelly.
Last Edited: 3/7/2016 2:56:11 PM by Long Train Runnin'
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OhioCatFan
3/8/2016 9:54 PM
Long Train Runnin' wrote:expand_more
Just checked my score book. Turns out Oliver must have been injured, as he did not play in the Steubenville game. Boy, memory can play a trick on you if you're not careful.
http://www.bobcatattack.com/images/other/IMG_8522.JPG
I'm guessing that Steubenville's catcher and #2 batter is longtime MLB coach Rich Donnelly.
Good catch! You are undoubtedly correct, as Rick Donnelly was from Steubenville, according to Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Donnelly
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bobcatsquared
3/17/2016 12:08 PM
davepi2 wrote:expand_more
there are legendary stories like this everywhere. In Columbus there has been a story about a Frank Howard 600' home run hit for South High School at Linden McKinley as long as I can remember. There is also a story about a home run over 500' hit by Paul O'Neiell while at Beechcroft against Centennial. All these stories grow as the years go on.
Great stuff. However, I thought O'Neill played for Brookhaven. Also a good basketball player, I believe. Another Cincinnati Reds outfielder played h.s. ball for a Columbus city school, Eddie Milner.
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BillyTheCat
3/17/2016 10:52 PM
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
there are legendary stories like this everywhere. In Columbus there has been a story about a Frank Howard 600' home run hit for South High School at Linden McKinley as long as I can remember. There is also a story about a home run over 500' hit by Paul O'Neiell while at Beechcroft against Centennial. All these stories grow as the years go on.
Great stuff. However, I thought O'Neill played for Brookhaven. Also a good basketball player, I believe. Another Cincinnati Reds outfielder played h.s. ball for a Columbus city school, Eddie Milner.
Paul played at Brookhaven
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Long Train Runnin'
3/26/2016 3:19 AM
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
there are legendary stories like this everywhere. In Columbus there has been a story about a Frank Howard 600' home run hit for South High School at Linden McKinley as long as I can remember. There is also a story about a home run over 500' hit by Paul O'Neiell while at Beechcroft against Centennial. All these stories grow as the years go on.
Great stuff. However, I thought O'Neill played for Brookhaven. Also a good basketball player, I believe. Another Cincinnati Reds outfielder played h.s. ball for a Columbus city school, Eddie Milner.
Milner played at Marion-Franklin, and was also an outstanding wrestler who reportedly turned down a scholarship offer from Iowa to pursue his dream of playing baseball.
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