FATHER OF LINFIELDER JEFF BASINSKI WAS A WELL-KNOWN FORMER PRO BASEBALL PLAYER

Eddie "Professor" Basinski (born Nov 4, 1922) is father of Linfieder Jeff Basinski (April 21, 1946-May 27, 2011), Linfield Class of 1968. 

Read about Jeff: http://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2018/03/linfielder-jeff-basinski-oregon.html

Although info below says Eddie began his career in the majors with Cleveland, records show he spent time playing in the Major Leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburg Pirates. Later, he played 10 seasons with the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League. 

One source says Eddie got the nickname, “The Professor,” because he wore glasses, the first major-league infielder to do so.

A right-handed shortstop and second baseman, he was a classical violinist. A story in the Oregonian said Eddie would "sometimes serenade the Portland crowd with his violin from home plate."

Photo info from Pacific Coast League postcard from The Oakland, Calif., Museum:

"Portland Beaver, Eddie "Professor" Babinski, began his career" in the majors with Cleveland, but truly established his reputation with the Beavers as their dynamic second baseman. April, 1953. #ORHI 74219. Photo courtesy of Oregon Historical Society. From “The Pacific Coast League, 1902-1958: Runs, Hits and an Era” exhibition organized by The Oakland Museum, 100 Oak Street, Oakland, California 94607.

AFTER READING THIS, YOU MAY WANT TO TAKE NWC COMMISSIONER KIMBERLY WENGER OFF YOUR CHRISTMAS CARD LIST

Linfield faces grueling NWC schedule

By Rusty Rae of the McMinnville N-R/News-Register 1/24/2020

Although I didn’t vote for the man, I agreed with H. Ross Perot on this: “When you see a snake, just kill it – don’t appoint a committee on snakes.”

However, the NWC commissioner, Kimberly Wenger and school presidents and athletic directors have done exactly the opposite with respect to the horribly backward-thinking NWC basketball schedule, which favors schools from Washington (specifically basketball powers Whitman and Whitworth) while at the same time, and most importantly, placing students athletes at risk.

To be fair, with an uneven number of teams in the league, assembling a balanced schedule requires the wisdom of Saint John (Wooden). Wenger and conference administrators, however, chose a check-the-box approach, hiring a consulting firm to produce the NWC basketball schedule. Press the button and here’s your schedule, which this year puts Linfield in the lone wolf position, fails to consider the impact it may have on student athletes, let alone equity between teams.

Now, there’s apparently a conference committee researching a fix for the schedule, though there has been no formal public announcement by the NWC.

Calls to Wenger were unreturned by Thursday’s 5 p.m. press deadline.

The current schedule gives the two Whits and, to a certain extent, PLU and UPS, an easier travel schedule than the teams from Oregon. This weekend, Linfield’s undefeated conference men’s basketball team (12-3, 6-0) and women’s team (10-5, 4-2) run the gauntlet from McMinnville-Spokane-Walla-Walla-McMinnville to battle Whitworth and Whitman Friday and Saturday.

Wenger’s schedule pitted the two Whits against each other Tuesday (Whitman won both contests), while Linfield is singled out to play Whitworth on Friday and Whitman on Saturday. This means powerhouse Whitman take on Linfield on fresh legs.

The ‘Cats, conversely, play Whitman Saturday after a contest against a robust Whitworth squad Friday, and then brave the weather and roads to drive to Walla Walla for the Saturday contest.

Sure, a nine-team league makes it difficult to develop a balanced schedule. But this itinerary is (and has been) detrimental to student-athletes. First, there is barely enough recovery time between the two games. The general rule of thumb of physiology requires 24 hours to fully recover from exercise – longer for an aerobic activity like basketball.

DIII and the NWC focus on STUDENT-athletes. While play happens on the weekend, these back-to-back games aren’t conducive to health or learning. The simple solution is for teams in this scenario to play a Friday-Sunday schedule (or even Thursday-Saturday) but apparently that is too difficult for a computer to gauge.

Student welfare must come first.

It’s time to kill this snake and move the NWC basketball schedule into a position beneficial for student athletes and promotes competitive basketball.

So much for my rant, let’s talk some Linfield b-ball.

Linfield’s two basketball teams have run the table over the last two weeks. The men are undefeated in conference play and the women, after stubbing their toes in the opening weekend with a pair of losses, have rebounded, playing with grit and tenacity. Needless to say, this is a major weekend for the ‘Cat b-ballers.

Despite their undefeated start to the conference season, Rosenberg has been frustrated, at times, with what appears to be a lack of killer instinct by his charges. Take, for example, last weekend’s 111-98 win over a 1-13 Willamette team.

After leading by 20 by the half, the ‘Cats couldn’t find a way to put Willamette away. They went up by an 82-57 margin six minutes into the second period on a sweet three-point rainbow from Aaron Baune. But then went soft on defense, and let Willamette creep back into contention. By comparison, the Bearcats lost by 40 points to Whitworth and 41 to Whitman on the road.

Linfield needs at minimum a split over the weekend to remain contenders for the NWC title. They’ll not only have to overcome the disparate schedule, but a pair of talented teams, while also changing the recent history by winning in Eastern Washington. The Wildcats last won at Whitworth in 2000 and at Whitman in 2010.

Rosenberg’s ‘Cats are more than capable of sweeping both schools.

Austin Hilton’s play sparkles at center. He adds power rebounding, has a deft passing game and regularly drops in 10-foot jumpers.

Dempsey Roggenbuck leads the team in most categories and can do just about anything with a basketball.

Against Willamette, the junior guard eclipsed 1,000 career points, of which he said, “It was always a goal, but it doesn’t take away from the grand scheme of things we’re trying to accomplish.”

Former McMinnville Grizzly Tanner Autencio, along with Grant Gibb and Will Burghardt, supply steadfast support and are all capable scorers.

These two games this weekend won’t make or break the season for Linfield; however, a pair of wins puts the ‘Cats in the catbird seat for a run at the NWC title. Rosenberg and the ‘Cats would love to snare one of the top two spots in the conference and host at least one first-round playoff game.

Casey Bunn-Wilson’s Wildcats (10-5, 4-2) returned to winning after losses to Pacific and George Fox in the opening week of the conference season.

Last weekend, the women’s team dropped Lewis & Clark with a strong second half performance, and then took a lead into the final stanza, holding off Willamette, 61-56.

Linfield is led by seniors Molly Danielson and Kory Oleson, both accomplishing a little of everything – but carry Linfield with their scoring. The dynamic duo is one-two in NWC scoring and Danielson is second in rebounding.

Bunn-Wilson’s ‘Cats have a legion of supporting players (last season they played with seven), who on a given night step up, gave the team a spark.

The challenge for the women’s team has been closing out games. Against George Fox, on Linfield’s home court, the ‘Cats led by eight points early in the third quarter. When GFU made its run, Linfield rushed its game, losing rhythm and ultimately falling by a 10-spot.

“We have learned to play our game regardless of the circumstances. The loss to Fox was disappointing, but also something the team took to heart,” Bunn-Wilson said.

“Controlling game tempo, a lesson that hopefully we have learned, will be key in this series,” Bunn-Wilson added.

Snakes be damned, both Wildcat squads must focus on their strengths to return with victories.

#

DRAIN BLACK SOX BASEBALL TEAM: Linfield Connection

Graphic “retro” baseball card created in 2020 by Wildcatville using a photo (cropped electronically out of 1952 Drain Black Sox team photo) provided by Ad Rutschman.


Drain is a small town (1,151 at the 2010 census) in southern Oregon’s Douglas County, about 22 miles from Cottage Grove and about 35 miles from Roseburg.

The Drain Black Sox (1952-1961) semi-pro baseball team was sponsored by Harold Woolley who owned the lumber mill in Drain and mills elsewhere.


Sox played in the Southwestern Oregon League, also known as the Sawdust League since teams in the league were sponsored by lumber mills/sawmills in various southwestern Oregon towns. 


"In the 1950s, small-town semi-pro baseball reached a pinnacle of popularity nationwide." writes author Joe R. Blakely in his book “The Drain Black Sox of Oregon vs The Alpine Cowboys of Texas; The Glory Days of Semi-Pro  Baseball 1930-1960.”


There were Linfield connections to some of the Black Sox teams. Some of them:


=Ad Rutschman played (second, center field and a few at shortstop) 1951-1957 for the Drain Black Sox.
Source: Wildcatville


:::::

=Joan Mason and Ad Rutschman began dating at Hillsboro High School in 1948. He went on to Linfield and was a student-athlete in football, basketball and baseball. During the summer he played for the Roy Helser-coached Drain Black Sox in southern Oregon. They married June 7, 1952, after Ad's sophomore year at Linfield, in St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Beaverton. The timing was right. After the wedding, they drove to Coos Bay so he could play in a Black Sox game. And, he played again on the next day. Then, they went on their honeymoon. Such is the life of "Team Rutschman."
Source: Joan Rutschman, Linfield Athletic Hall of Fame bio 


::::::::

=After graduating from Portland's Grant High School, Jack was thinking of attending Washington State University or Lewis and Clark College. He was playing in Coquille in the old semi-pro State League. Roy Helser was coach of the Drain Black Sox.

“Linfielder Vern Marshall told Roy about me,” said Jack Riley. “I joined the Black Sox a week later and I decided to go to Linfield. My coach at Grant, Paul McCall, was not a Linfield grad, but convinced me to go to Linfield over WSU by asking me if I wanted to be a little fish in a big pond or a big fish in a little pond. It was good advice."
Source: Jack Riley, Linfield Athletic Hall of Fame bio


::::::

=The athletic career of Vern Marshall Sr. continued beyond his Linfield playing days. He won five gold medals at the Softball World Senior Games, earned a spot on the All-World team four times, played for the renowned semi-pro Drain Black Sox, played in the Canadian League and earned a spot on the All-America Semi-Pro team.
Source: Vern Marshall Sr., Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame bio


::::::

=But if Don Porter signed a professional baseball contract he would lose his amateur eligibility and no longer be able to play basketball or any other college sports. What to do? He discussed his options with Linfield Hall of Famer Roy Helser, Wildcat baseball coach and a former professional pitcher. Porter remembers, "He advised me to continue as an amateur, play basketball at Linfield and baseball for Linfield and the Drain Black Sox semi-pro team.”
Source: Don Porter tribute from Linfield Athletics

:::::

=Do you know what positions Ad Rutschman played in baseball in high school,  Hillsboro/Hilhi Spartans, Linfield College Wildcats and summer semi-pro Drain Black Sox? Answer from Ad R in June 2018: Second base in high school. Center field in college. He played both (second base and center field) for Drain. He also played a few games at shortstop.
Source: Wildcatville


::::

=Roy Helser also made a mark as a semi-pro player and manager in a time when that carried considerable weight, first with the Silverton Red Sox, then with the Drain Black Sox where he won three consecutive Southwestern Oregon League baseball championship in 1952, 1953 and 1954. 
Source: Roy Helser NORKA bio


::::

=Upon Bill Croco’s (Linfield Class of 1957) release from the Navy, he attended Linfield College from 1954 through 1958, earning his master’s degree in education. While at Linfield, he played baseball for the legendary coach Roy Helser, earning all-league and all-district honors as a pitcher. He was known for his submarine-style delivery and biting curve. Bill finished his playing days as a Drain Black Sox and then a Woodburn Tanker.
Source: William Irmen Croco obit


:::

=Headline: ‘Roy Helser Signs With Drain Sox Hurler Wil Be Manager And Player.’ Story text: The Drain Black Sox raised their stock In the surprising Southwestern Oregon semi-pro baseball league this week by signing Roy Helser, hot from the Pacific Coast League.
Source: Roseburg, Ore., News-Review May 17, 1952

::::

=Roy Helser knew Dwight Umbarger, Linfield Class of 1958, because Dwight played for a team against the Black Sox” of Drain (Oregon) team of which Helser managed and played of the southwest Oregon Sawdust League.
Source: Wildcatville


::::

=Ted Wilson played semi-pro baseball for the Drain Black Sox in the 1950s. At one point he was the team’s business manager and utility outfielder. He also served as player-manager at times.
Source: Wildcatville


:::::

=In an exhibition game Wednesday night in Forest Grove, the Drain Black Sox will play the Forest Grove team.  Pitching for Linfield will be Roy Helser, Linfield coach and formerly of the Portland Beavers. Also playing for Drain will be Ad Rutschman, ex-Linfield and Hillsboro High star;  Ted Wilson, McMinnville High basketball and baseball coach and Chuck Bafaro, Linfield catcher.

Source: Oregonian August 3, 1952

:::::
=Played in McMinnville on Aug. 5, 1952, the Drain Black Sox beat the McMinnville Townies, 16-4. For Drain, Ad Rutschman had three hits in six trips, including a triple, to pace the Drain nine at the plate.

Source: Oregonian Aug 6, 1952

:::::

N-R's Memory Lane July 4-July 10, 2004 ... 50 years ago  "The Drain Black Sox left town with a 17-1 win over the Mac Townies, with Del Coursey taking the win on the mound in the makeup game for the one postponed about a week earlier."

N-R's Memory Lane June 27-July 3, 2004  ... 50 Years Ago "Gene Peterson of the Mac Townies baseball club got the starting nod to take the mound against the visiting Drain Black Sox, coached by Linfield's Roy Helser and featuring several Mac and Linfield players. Then the June 30 contest was rained out."

N-R Oct 16, 2001 -- Linfield grad Charles R. "Chuck" Bafaro (Class of 1953) died April 2, 2000. He was "drafted into the Army during the Korean War and never got to play in the major leagues. He did go on to play for years for the renowned Drain Black Sox."

Source: McMinnville N-R/News-Register

#

Linfielder John Beck and JoAnn (Yoder) Beck celebrate 60th wedding anniversary

--Jan. 19, 2020, Sunday Oregonian, includes this celebrating the 60^th wedding anniversary of Linfielder John Beck and his wife JoAnn (Yoder) Beck. It says John, a 1956 grad of Canby Union High School, where he was a standout athlete, attended Linfield and, later, became basketball coach and athletic director at Oregon’s Mt. Angel College. 

--July 29, 1966, Catholic Sentinel of Portland, story about six new staff members of Mt. Angel College in Mt. Angel, Ore. One of them is John Beck "who graduated from Mt. Angel college this year, and will be director of student activities."

--Dec.2, 1966, Catholic Sentinel of Portland, story about Mt. Angel College "Falcons" men's basketball and its coach John Beck.

--Fall 2004 alumni newsletter of Crater High School, Central Point, Ore., includes an item about one of John and JoAnn Beck's son, John. It says that the father of John, also named John, was Mt. Angel College baseball and basketball head coach "and a high school teacher and coach at Woodburn."

In 1967, Linfield Football upsets U of Hawaii in Honolulu

Oregonian of  Sept. 25, 1967 (see clipping posted here)

Linfield Tips Hawaii, 15-13

HONOLULU (AP) -- Little Linfield College of McMinnville, Ore., upset the highly favored University of Hawaii, 15-13, Saturday night before an estimated 20,000 spectators, the largest crowd to see the Rainbows play in 20 years.

Tim Kubli's three field goals, the passing of Mike Barrow, the running of Ed Griffin and the pass receptions of Rogers Ishizu were the big factors in the Wildcat victory.

Linfield opened the scoring in the second quarter on Kubli's first field goal of 14 yards Hawaii took the lead late in the same period when Larry Arnold passed to Jim Schultz for 10 yards.

Linfield took command again in the third quarter when Barrow pitched a 10 yard touchdown pass to Ishizu. The Wildcats made it 12-7 in the third period when Kubli kicked a 22-yard field goal. He got his last three pointer , good for 21 yards, early in the final period after which Hawaii came back to score on the biggest play of the night, a 47 yard pass from Dick Hough to Schultz.

Hawaii .... 0 7 0 6 -- 13
Linfield ... 0 3 9 3 -- 15

Linfield -- FG Kubli 14
Hawaii -- Schultz 10 pass from Arnold (Fatafehi kick)
Linfield – 10 pass from Barrow (kick failed)
Linfield -- FG Kubli 22
Linfield -- FG Kubli 21
Hawaii -- Schultz 47 pass from Hough (pass failed)

A story in the Sept. 27, 1967, Story in Oregonian said, “Both Linfield and UH went into the game with 11 players each on their rosters. Coach Durham said Linfield started six players from Hawaii, more than Hawaii got into the game. “So we had a lot of backers.” Said the story, one of the Hawaiians, Rogers Ishizu, caught a touchdown pass plus several more ..."

1967: IN HONOLULU, UPSET OF UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII

-Sept. 23, 1967, in Honolulu, before 20,000, the largest crowd to ever see a Wildcat sporting event, Linfield upset favored University of Hawaii 15-13. The hot and rainy night game was played at old wooden Honolulu Stadium. A story about the game in a Honolulu daily newspaper said, “Hawaii gave it a good try, but the Rainbows were outgunned by the visitors from Oregon …” 

Tim Kubli's three field goals; the passing of starting quarterback Mike Barrow, which included one TD pass; the running of Ed Griffin and the pass receptions of Rogers Ishizu were the big factors in the Linfield win said the Associated Press. Hawaii led 7-3 at halftime, but Linfield outscored the opponent 12-6 in the second half. 

Before the game, Durham told a Honolulu daily newspaper sports editor, “I think Hawaii should be favored by 50 points.” Durham and his assistant coaches (Roy Helser and Ted Wilson) claimed to be “scared to death” about the Hawaii football team, “a rough, tough aggregation” which included eight transfers from Air Force Academy alone as well as other transfers from Nebraska, Southern Cal and Washington. But, Durham added, “We have a highly competitive team and I am sure we will make it a good game.” 

Both Linfield and Hawaii “went into the (contest) with 11 players from Hawaii on each of their rosters. “Linfield started six players from Hawaii, more than Hawaii got into the game,” according to the Oregonian. 

After the 1967 season, Durham retired as Linfield football coach and he picked Ad Rutschman, one of his former players, as his successor. Durham planned to stay at Linfield as athletic director and continue teaching. But, he was offered the University of Hawaii athletic director job and took it. 

There were several reasons Durham got the university job, one being the Wildcat football team win over Hawaii in Honolulu.

Linfield student Mitsue (Endow) Salador was studying to be a teacher in 1942 when she had to report to the Portland Assembly Center

Capturing Linfield’s disappearing history

Linfield Magazine Spring 2019

https://www.linfield.edu/magazine/issue/spring-2019

They grew up during the Depression and shouldered weighty responsibilities during World War II –on the battlefield and in their communities. Linfield College alumni from the 1940s saw their lives turned upside down in many ways, as the war raged and even in the years immediately after. Their stories vary. Mitsue (Endow) Salador ’45 was ordered to an internment camp. Bruce Stewart ’49 enrolled at a fast-changing Linfield after a stint in the U.S. Navy. Margaret (Parent) Lutz ’43 was inspired to join the naval reserves after seeing gold stars representing fallen classmates added to a flag in Melrose Hall. Linfield underwent dramatic change as well, with a drop in enrollment as students left for war and a surge in growth after GIs returned. Read their stories, offered here from interview transcripts, or hear these and other interviews in their own words.

Editor’s note:  Linfield is developing an oral history archive of the varied experiences of Linfield alumni both at home and abroad during World War II. “The Linfield College Public History Project: World War II as Experience and Memory” was initiated by History Professors Rachel Schley and Lissa Wadewitz, as well as Archives Director Rich Schmidt. Student researchers Ruby Guyot ’19 and Elisia Harder ’20 are conducting interviews. If you or someone you know are willing to share a story, or if you have items from the era to donate to the archives, contact Schmidt at rschmidt@linfield.edu or 503-883-2734.

Forced to leave

Mitsue (Endow) Salador ’45 was studying at Linfield to be a teacher in 1942 when she received a letter requiring her to report to the Portland Assembly Center. Her internment lasted three months, before she was released on the condition that she transfer and relocate 1,800 miles east to attend William Jewell College in Missouri. She was able to attend on the recommendation of William Smith, professor of sociology at Linfield. Ultimately, she earned master’s degrees in nursing (Western Reserve University) and teaching (New York University) and retired as a teacher in 1984. The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 provided a letter of apology from the president and monetary compensation to each Japanese-American survivor of the internment.

Dec. 7, 1941 was a Sunday and my best friend from high school came to visit that day and we both heard the news (of the Pearl Harbor attack) together. We picked up the newspaper and found that Japan was an enemy of the United States. I was horrified. It was a devastating blow. There was no change in the way my classmates related to me. I didn’t feel an ounce of discrimination. By May, the order came directly to each family that they had to move. Fortunately, a friend managed (my parents’ Hood River property) while my parents were to be gone. Soldiers came to the house to take them to the train station.

After they were on the trains, the shades were drawn so people would not know where they were going. They were on this train for a long time. When the train stopped and they were allowed to get out, they found they were in Pineville, California. Travel restrictions were imposed.

My Chinese friend was able to go by train or bus to her family but she had to wear a tag saying, ‘I am Chinese.’ I wasn’t able to join my parents. I was taken to the Portland Assembly Center with another Linfield freshman, and we were put into the women’s boarding room. It was a room that was formed with plywood walls in a livestock exposition building. We were in this big area and they had partitioned the area so there would be rooms for families and single women. There was no ceiling, just a high roof above us. We had to stand in line all day long. Laundry was done in mass facilities. All of the food was in mass. At that time, we just lived the best we could.

While I was in Portland I found out a person could be released from this confinement if they found a place outside the western defense command where someone would receive us and vouch for our safety. Dr. William Smith, my sociology professor, had taught at William Jewell College and could arrange for me to go there. He and I communicated by letter. I was given leave by the government that I could go on to William Jewel. I only spent the summer in a camp. I was able to get to Missouri in September when they admitted students.

There was such hysteria about the war. People genuinely feared that the battlefield would be on the Pacific coast. Thinking about it now, I don’t know how (internment) could’ve been prevented. But it was pretty devastating. I would be a different person if it weren’t for the war.

I feel very thankful having been at Linfield, because that made it possible for me to continue my life. When I think of Linfield, immediately I think of Dr. Smith. He was the personification of the kind of people I met at Linfield. Everyone was so friendly and nice. I felt comfortable being there.

Two Linfield students, both Japanese-American, were forced to leave Linfield during World War II

Two Linfield students, both Japanese-American, were forced to leave Linfield during World War II:

==MITSUE ENDOW SALADOR, Linfield Class of 1945. Attended Linfield, graduated from William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri. She spent brief time in internment camp.

Photo of Mitsue Endow Salador
https://www.linfield.edu/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Mitsue.jpg

Story about Mitsue Endow Salador
https://www.linfield.edu/magazine/article/capturing-linfields-disappearing-history

==MARY KAZUYO WAKAI, Linfield Class of 1943.  Attended, Linfield, graduated from William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri. She spent extended time in internment camp. 

Photo of  Mary Kazuyo Wakai
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPzThVwUpWDR-8s5AiP_xJoPfpQ1wpS3uGJhwrz_5LCyCDquR2GW1Q1q59PLA4RM_EoD4Uk2VsMm8BiFE1wQ2LQsFF2W1Rz8CpEf56H1i1ubPo48agwrGBNNw3sjzuTRrPATQ/s1600/Mary+Wakai+final.JPG

Letter to Editor (Linfield Digest) of Linfield Magazine about Mary Kazuyo Wakai
https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/search?q=Mary+Kazuyo+Wakai+

SPEAKING OF LON DEE FLOWERS of McMINNVILLE

The 103 SE Baker (1^st & Baker, 99W) McMinnville location is the home today of Hopscotch Toys. It’s located where Lon Dee Flowers lived.


(In 1984, Marian Mahaffey sold Lon Dee Flowers. Read more about her and Lon Dee Flowers at one of the links below.)


On Jan. 15, 2020, Hopscotch ownership sent an email saying it was moving to downtown McMinnville: “We will be taking over the Mac Sports building at 438 NE 3rd Street, snuggly and happily sandwiched between” Inner Oasis Mind Body Spirit, and Timmreck & McNicol Jewelers. Right across the street from 3rd Street Pizza Company. “The building has access from both the 3rd street side, and the parking lot on 2nd—as it was the catalog and service part of JC Penney back in the day …”


So, Hopscotch is moving from the old Lon Dee Flowers location to downtown McMinnville and wants to lease the old Lon Dee Flowers building to someone/something.


That brings us back to Lon Dee Flowers. Take a look at the Hopscotch sign on the corner of 1st & Baker. It’s the same sign/shape as used by “Flowers by Lon Dee.”


INFO ABOUT LON DEE FLOWERS, MARIAN and HAP MAHAFFEY ETC.


https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2012/01/mahaffey-on-campus-and-off.html


INFO ABOUT A HOUSE AT 436 SE BAKER STREET IN WHICH LIVED MARIAN and HAP MAHAFFEY


https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2011/02/linfield-history-northup-library.html


https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2018/08/more-about-mcminnville-house-at-436-se.html

See: 'ABOUT TOMMY'S BICYCLE SHOP, HOPSCOTCH TOYS, LON DEE FLOWERS'

https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2022/06/about-tommys-bicycle-shop-hopscotch.html

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT AD RUTSCHMAN, LINFIELD FOOTBALL

Interesting facts about 

Ad Rutschman, Linfield football

Originally posted at Wildcatville.blogspot.com Thursday, June 18, 2008. Updated and re-posted 1/15/2020. Same text posted here:

https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2020/01/interesting-facts-about-ad-rutschman.html

…

AD RUTSCHMAN, Linfield football information compiled by Tim Marsh in October 2005 from stories in the Oregonian, other sources, and from Ad Rutschman. Updated January 2020.

A -- CAME FROM HILLSBORO

Ad Rutschman – born Oct. 30, 1931, in Hillsboro, Oregon -- came to Linfield in the fall of 1950, after an outstanding career as a student-athlete (football, basketball, baseball) at Hillsboro, Ore., High School, also known as Hilhi. He played the same three sports at Linfield.

B-- BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN 1954, M.Ed. in 1958

In 1954, he earned a Linfield bachelor's degree in physical education. In 1958, he earned a Linfield Master of Education degree.

After graduating from Linfield in 1954, he was drafted as "Dolph Rutschman" as the 337th pick in the 28th round of the NFL/National Football League draft by the Detroit Lions. He signed a contract with the Lions. But, instead of a pro football career, he decided to teach and coach at his alma mater, Hillsboro High School. The Lions were not the only pro team interested in Ad. He was also offered contracts by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. Married -- June 7, 1952 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Beaverton -- to Joan (Joan Louise Mason Rutschman) -- and with the first of their five children born, he turned down the professional sports offers, earned a master's degree at Linfield and went on to teach and coach at Hillsboro High School.

As a Hilhi coach, he led teams to state championships in both football and baseball. Specifically, there was one football state champ and two baseball state champs. In addition, there was one baseball state champ tie. Tie? Yes, the game was rained out and there was no provision to make it up. At Linfield, he would repeat the feat, leading Wildcat teams to national titles in baseball (one) and football (three). He is the only coach at any college level to have teams winning both baseball and football national championships.

C -- AMONG AD'S MANY HONORS AS A PLAYER

Ad was a Northwest Conference all-star selection his sophomore, junior and senior years and, according to Linfield’s 1953 football press guide, he was honorable mention Little All-American in the 1951 and 1952 seasons. In his senior season, 1953, he was honorable mention Associated Press Little All-American. After his senior football season, the Linfield student body took a vote and retired his jersey, number 32. It was the first football jersey number ever to be retired by the college.

During his playing career, he had nicknames including, The Flying Dutchman, Air Foam Ad, and The Slippery Swiss. His Linfield football coach, Paul Durham, said, according to the Oregonian, while fully appreciating Ad's running, passing and kicking talents: "Greater than any of his accomplishments was his eternal desire to win and his inspirational leadership of the team."

1-- SHRINE GAME AT MULTNOMAH STADIUM

After graduating from Hilhi in 1950 and before he entered Linfield in 1950, he was a left halfback on the Oregon team (versus the city of Portland team) in the 3rd annual Shrine high school All-Star football game at Multnomah Stadium in Portland. Ad said he primarily played defense in the game.

2-- FIRST GAME WITH AD RUTSCHMAN AS A LINFIELD FOOTBALL PLAYER

In McMinnville on Linfield's Maxwell Field, Saturday evening Sept. 16, 1950, a 37-7 win over Eastern Oregon College of Education, Linfield scored five touchdowns in the game... Linfield’s win was “sparked by 164-pound Ad Rutschman, freshman from Hillsboro,” said the Oregonian. “Rutschman, who played in the recent Shrine game, tallied two of Linfield’s touchdowns and set up two others. His first score came on a three-yard blast in the third period, and his other on a like smash in the fourth quarter.”

3 -- DESPITE AN ACHING BACK, AD RUTSCHMAN SPARKED LINFIELD WILDCATS TO 20-6 UPSET WIN IN FOREST GROVE OVER PACIFIC BADGERS AT McCREADY STADIUM ON SATURDAY NIGHT, OCT 31, 1963

(In 2002, Ad said cracked ribs were the reason for his “aching back.”)

In a story, sportswriter Pat Frizzell in the Sunday, Nov. 1, 1953, Oregonian, recounted the Oct. 31, 1963, Saturday night game, Linfield at Pacific:

“Indomitable Ad Rutschman, playing with his aching back strapped in a protective corset, sparked Linfield’s fired-up football forces to an astounding 20-to-6 triumph over heavily favored here Saturday night.

“Rutschman, the Wildcats’ 5-foot 9-inch and 182-pound Little All-America candidate, did heavy duty all the way and it was his 69-yard touchdown gallop in the fourth quarter the finished Pacific.

“Rutschman Rolls Again

“It was Rutschman, too, who flipped a 23-yard pass to tiny Al Tarpenning for a second-period TD that proved the only score until the closing chapter of this surprising Northwest Conference story.”

He wrote that nine of Linfield’s starters “went the full distance in a near iron-man performance.”

Just when it looked like Pacific might be gaining the upper hand then “came Rutschman – again. On third down, from Linfield’s 31, the irrepressible senior from Hillsboro tore through a hole at left guard, sidestepped a couple of defenders, found off another, and was almost in the clear. Tarpenning, Ad’s 5-foot 6-inch 155-pound mate from Gresham, supplied a key block that eliminated the last frantic (Pacific player), and Rutschman broke free completely to race all 69 yards into the end zone.”

Wrote Frizzell, “Guard Chuck Harriman was a tremendous power in the Linfield line. Five other ‘cat forwards also played all 60 minutes and played them well – ends Marv Scherpf and Bill Gearin, tackles Ray Olsen and Russ Morris, and center Cliff Engel.”

“It was a brilliant showing by Linfield which fell 21-20 before Southern Oregon only past week.”

“Rutschman packed the ball 21 times, and, even though Pacific usually expected him to have it, he gained 138 yards. Subtracting 23 lost, this gave Ad a net of 115.

“This amounted to a lion’s share of Linfield’s total net of 150 from rushing. The Wildcats were out gained slightly both on the ground and in the air, and they trained in first downs – but not in touchdowns.”

In Frizzell’s “Northwest Notes” sports column in the Nov. 4, 1953, Oregonian, he wrote of the compliment “By Paul Durham, Linfield coach, after irrepressible Ad Rutschman led the fighting Wildcats to an entirely unexpected 20-to-6 win over Pacific Saturday night. ‘They don’t make ‘em any better than Rutschman. That boy always gives everything he has, even when he’s a mass of aches and pains, as he was in this game. He’s the best!”

“In comparing Rutschman with College of Idaho’s hard-running Ted Martin, the nation’s No. 1 small college ground gainer, be sure to keep in mind the difference in strengths of their teams, particularly in the line…While Linfield’s near iron-man line made a magnificent showing against Pacific, Rutschman on some occasions was almost forced to make his own holes.” Meanwhile, “Martin continually has benefited from the power generated by the juggernaut like Coyote forward wall … Although Rutschman played fullback and Martin half, they’re of similar size: Rutsch stands 5-9, weighs 182, to Martin’s 5-10 and 175. Both are seniors.”

Continuing in the column with a subhead reading, “Pro Clubs Notice Linfield’s Rutschman.” … As for Linfield’s Rutschman, you can’t say too much for the plucky guy. In addition to passing to Al Tarpenning for one touchdown and racing 69 yards himself for another against Pacific, agile Ad, despite his ailing back, did much other valuable ground gaining, performed efficiently as a defensive halfback, took a turn as linebacker and got off some good punts. One of Rutschman’s boots was a second-down quick kick that traveled 57 yards from the line of scrimmage, a beautiful spiral on which Pacific’s Larry Geherts was downed in his tracks. This came near game’s end, after Linfield possessed its 10-to-6 lead.

Even the pro clubs have begun to notice Rutschman. At least one is reportedly interested. But Ad hopes to be a teacher and coach. He’s a good student, mathematically inclined. And what an athlete, good at basketball and baseball, as well as football!

Linfield’s win over Pacific was only its seventh in 33 games played by the two schools. Pacific has finished on top 21 times, and there’ve been five ties … Not only Rutschman, but every Wildcats who participated, and particularly little Al Tarpenning, rate kudos for Linfield’s performance last Saturday. Tarpenning was terrific all the way, from the time he caught Rutschman’s pass for the opening touchdown, through his key black of Rutschman’s 69-yard scoring run, to his interception and 45-yard gallop for Linfield’s third TD, following which he made still another interception.”

4 -- AD RUTSCHMAN’S LAST GAME AS A LINFIELD VARSITY FOOTBALL PLAYER WAS SATURDAY NIGHT NOV. 14, 1953, ON LINFIELD MAXWELL FIELD VERSUS WILLAMETTE

This game is remembered in Linfield sports yore as the game in which Linfield President Harry Dillin, fulfilling a promise, stood on his head on the 45-yard line after the Wildcats won in an upset. But, it was also Ad's last football game as a Linfield varsity player. According to the McMinnville News-Register, the game was billed as "Win One for Ad." It was the final game of Linfield's 1953 football season.

Pat Frizzell of the Oregonian reported on the game in the Sunday Oregonian, Nov. 15, 1953. Linfield won in an upset, 21-6.

“MEMORIAL STADIUM, Linfield College, McMinnville (Special) -- “Linfield’s absolutely irrepressible Wildcats climaxed a fantastic football season here by rocketing from behind to score three touchdowns in an almost incredible fourth quarter and topple favorite Willamette 21 to 6.

“It couldn’t happen, but it did. Paul Durham’s fired-up Wildcats, tabbed for the cellar when the year began, become the terrors of the Northwest conference, upsetting all other Oregon members to wind up in second place.

“Prexy Stands on Head

 “Ad Rutschman, Linfield’s brilliant senior fullback, was the leader again as the McMinnville ‘Cats produced their fifth victory in history over Willamette, but Rutschman was tremendous help from a whole team of fierce Wildcats.

“Linfield touchdowns were coming so thick and fast in the last few minutes that delirious Wildcat rooters would hardly keep up with them. When it was all over, the home wants went stark, raving crazy.

“Dr. Harry L. Dillin, the college president, stood on his head on the 45-yard line, no less in the midst of a ring of frenzied Linfield students.

“The blue-clad Wildcats carried Rutschman, and the other seniors – tackle Ray Olson, halfback Ted Nicholson, and injured guard Virgil Elkinton – off the field on their shoulders. The Wildcat band played long and loud – and, well, the Linfields may never get over it.

“This unexpected win, their fifth in nine starts, came so suddenly and sensationally that it was all the more wonderful for the fans.

Later in the story, Frizzell wrote:

Willamette led 6-0 initially in the second quarter. It led 6-0 at halftime and by the same score after three quarters of play.

Linfield finally responded in the fourth quarter on a TD in which Rutschman “plowed across” the goal line. Wildcat teammate Al Tarpenning kicked the PAT with 12:43 left in the game and it was a lead (7-0 at this point) which Linfield would never relinquish.

With the clock ticking, Linfield scored two more TDs and kicked two more PATs for a 21-6 lead.

“The game was won, the Linfield partisans among the 2000 spectators went berserk.

“Wildcats Fight Foes

“ ‘I still don’t believe it,’ declared happy Coach Durham after the final gun. ‘I don’t know how it happened.’

“It happened because the Wildcats fought what appeared to be a superior Willamette team tooth and nail through three long quarters, in which Linfield didn’t so much as emerge from its own territory, then took full advantage of …. Two Bearcat fumbles.

“And when once the Wildcats stepped head, they were ‘in,’ ”

“Rutschman didn’t travel far on the ground, but he did everything that could have been asked of him.” His statistics included “some beautiful” punts, including a “couple of third-down quick kicks, and his average of 36.4.” Also, he intercepted a Willamette pass on the goal line.

Frizzell said the Linfield third quarter was “phenomenal” and the win “Linfield’s greatest triumph of a great (1953) season.”

In Frizzell’s “Northwest Notes” sports column in the Nov 19, 1953, Oregonian, he said, “Despite his natural disappointment at the outcome of that Linfield-Willamette whing-ding, Bearcat coach Ted Ogdahl made a point after the game of shaking the hand of every Linfield senior – Ad Rutschman, Ray Olson, Ted Nicholson and Virge Elkinton.”

5 -- AD RUTSCHMAN PLAYED FOR ALUMNI IN HIS FIRST LINFIELD VARSITY vs ALUMNI FOOTBALL GAME ON MAXWELL FIELD SATURDAY NIGHT SEPT 10, 1960. AND, IT WAS THE FIRST EVER VARSITY vs. ALUMNI FOOTBALL GAME FOR LINFIELD, TOO

According to the “Northwest Notes” sports column by Don Fair, in the Oregonian Wed., Sept. 14, 1960, edition:

“You know, Ad Rutschman, can still run like he did in college (1950, 1951, 1952, and 1953 seasons). That statement came from Dallas (High School, Polk County, Ore. football) coach Ray Olson, who played in Linfield’s first annual Varsity-Alumni football game Saturday night, Sept. 10, 1960. “And run Rutschman did, with the Hillsboro High coach score one touchdown and ramming across two extra points.”

“All told, he gained 48 yards with his ‘dip-boom’ style in 12 carries. Although it’s been seven years since Rutschman closed out his Linfield career with 3,390 yards gained from rushing, he hasn’t lost his technique.”

Winner of the 1960 game was the Varsity, 30-20.

A story in the Sunday Oregonian, Jan. 11, 1960, says a “crowd of 800” watched the game.

6 -- Ad and Joan Rutschman and Linfield Varsity vs. Alumni Football games (1960, 1961 and 1962) mentioned in Paul Durham 'Dodging with Durham' sports column in April 18, 1962, issue of McMinnville News-Register:

MENTION OF (1962) ANNUAL Linfield Varsity-Alumni football game reminds of what Joan Rutschman told us after the 1960 game when hubby Ad played (Hillsboro high had a game the same night as the alumni game last fall, 1961, so Ad couldn’t come over for the big battle here in McMinnville.)

Said Joan: “Ad felt pretty good after the game that Saturday night and we went to the new Dillin Hall to eat with players and their wives. In fact he didn’t feel badly when we got home and went to bed that night.

“But the next time he got up was Monday morning!”

Of course, reasons for Ad’s stiffness was that he played most of the game when the Alumni were on offense … And he show a lot of that old-time ability to carry the football almost as well as anybody you’ve ever seen.”

7 -- AD RUTSCHMAN PLAYED FOR ALUMNI IN HIS LAST LINFIELD VARSITY vs. ALUMNI FOOTBALL GAME ON MAXFIELD ON SATURDAY NIGHT, SEPT. 15, 1962

Don Fair’s story, with Maxwell Field in McMinnville dateline, in Sunday, Sept. 16, 1962 Sunday Oregonian.

“A crowd of 1,500 saw the (varsity) Wildcats, decked out in flashy cardinal uniforms” lose 14-6 to the Alumni.

One of the Alumni touchdowns was “sparked by the passing of Bill Parrish and the running of Al Tarpenning and Ad Rutschman. Tarpenning ripped off 28 yards in four carries. Rutschman gained 19 in four carries …” That TD came with “only 29 seconds showing and Rutschman wrapped up the Alumni win by sweeping the end for the extra point.”

8 -- FIRST GAME WITH AD RUTSCHMAN AS LINFIELD HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

Saturday, Sept. 21, 1968, in Boise, Idaho, at the original Bronco Stadium, the Wildcats beat Boise State College, 17-7, in the Bronco's first game as a four-year school after being a junior college. Linfield led 14-0 at halftime.

9 -- LAST GAME WITH AD RUTSCHMAN AS LINFIELD HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

Saturday, Dec 7, 1991, at Sparks Stadium, Puyallup, Wash., 23-0 loss to Pacific Lutheran in NAIA quarterfinal playoff game. Linfield was Columbia Football Association Mt. Hood League co-champ.

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