Hawthorne Feedback

Name: Russell Jacobsen ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 16, 2007, 7:25 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1960
City & State: Kuna, ID
E-mail
Message: Everyone can come up with a player, whether in FB, BB, Baseball. I can come up with about 3 or 4 from my class era or the majors that should be all time class athletes. And ya know, there were a bunch. All us arm chair dudes, depending on lifes roll, that could be there, as we all know and wannabe. Mostly baseball guys. One great football guy and first class low rider. God rest his soul.The first would be a guy named Bobby Guy. The absolute best fielding 3rd baseman that I've ever seen at a high school level and beyond if you want to put him in the perspective of Brooks Robinson or Mike Schmidt.He never made the Bigs. He also resides in the fast pitch hall of fame. Another is a guy alot of you never heard of, Jerry Flory. A teammate of mine on a great Middle league team. One of the purist hitters I've ever seen. I think his BA was about .570 or maybe.670. Not a typo guys or gals. Another fantastic baseball player. I have only heard the storys of the broken ankle at the Dodgers workouts and such and he never came back. Then there's Myk. Enough said there.I used to give Gary greif when he was a frosh, but jeez he was good. But I had a hero when I was growing up and I guess no one liked hitters that stroked the ball or stood with ther feet together and didn't take Roids that we know of, or some such silly thing and that was Stan Musial. I guess I'm still old school. Talent, want, do! That makes a a great start. We had a ton of talent at HHS. Want, wanes when it gets tough. Hit a 100 MPH fastball, whether Baseball or softball is unbelievable.Talent is do take the xtra time.Want to hit somebody? Coach Chauncey and Coach Seveir, Coach Plums creedo... hit somebody. I don't care whether it's me or not! Just hit someBODY! We can armchair all we want and can't change history. But, Do, and I don't want to try and sell this place, stay home, but, try to do what Boise State did this year. Make a statement. So sell that to your little league teams. The little engine that could. I don't have a lot of anything else to say. Old story...still works, when times ready for it. JB, I still love this forum. MAY THE COUGAR BE WITH YOU! Jake N Jude.

Name: Jim Sloey ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 16, 2007, 5:10 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1966
City & State: Solvang, Ca
E-mail
Message: Well as long as we are talking Wiseburn little league and stuff. In 1994, the 13 year old team finished 5th in the Southern California Division playoffs. The top 5 teams, all games played were decided by 1 or 2 runs. And the team that won it, beat Hamilton, Ohio 21-5. Two members of that team later played high school ball in the area and were Daily Breeze first team members. One was player of the year, and the two were 1 and 2 in the state in home runs. George Foster hit 52 home runs in 1976 and was not even the MVP of the national league. Should have been and he was the next year in 77. He was the first since Mays to have done [hit 50+ home runs] so in the National league and the last to do before the players were juiced. As far as who was better, Mike Scott or George Foster, it's apples and oranges. One played everyday, one pitched every 4 days. They were both very good. But if you want to talk about pure talent, if Gary had not gotten hurt Johnny Bench would be somebody everybody would talk about after they mentioned Gary Mykannen.

Name: Keith D. Jones ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 16, 2007, 4:28 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1976
City & State: Kona, HI
E-mail
Message: Another GREAT baseball team was the 1974(?) Middle League team in Holy Glen. We had guys from Leuzinger and HHS on that team. It was the last year of Middle League. We played up in Santa Maria. We won 10 or 11 games. Killed everyone we played. Greg Staffon was our fireball pitcher who back then threw in the low 90's. As a Junior at HHS Greg packed the stands with scouts from every team. One game at HHS, the guy from the Dodgers who you always see in the background with the radar gun was at the game to verify Gregs speed. He timed Greg at 96mph as a Junior in high school. Well during this all star tournament we out scored the opponents 5 times over. Walt Duvall was our president. Terry Mack, Pat Mack, Ric Cardin and Ron Treat were our coaches. I remember the newspapers came up to me and Greg to ask us how we were going to handle the 2nd basemen for the Santa Maria team. He was supposed to be the fastest high school sprinter in the country at the time. Me and Greg just looked at each other and laughed and said let him try. Well he got on first and tried to steal second and between Greg getting me the ball fast and my throw we tag him out before he could slide. At one at bat I hit 16 foul balls. One of them broke Mr. Duvalls windshield. He said no problem just win me this tournament. So we did and kicked everyones butt. I played in 10 of the games and hit 10 home runs in 10 games. That was an awesome team. My brother little league team when he was 12 had unreal talent and shoudl have gone to Williamsport. I think Dean was on that team and would know who else was on it. But I do know Mike Scott and Mike Colbern were on it. My brother threw a no hitter.

Name: Bonnie ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 16, 2007, 4:14 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: McCoy
Class: 1978
City & State: Irvine, CA
E-mail
Message: Just wondering if anyone from the class of '78 is planning a 30-year reunion, or is it too early for that? If not, I'd be happy to get the ball rolling! Please let me know if anyone has info. Thanks and have a great day, Cougs!

Name: Richard ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 16, 2007, 1:57 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1969
City & State: LongBeach
No E-mail
Message: We are approaching page 900 at such a snail's pace, so how about a lively topic? Pranks while at HHS. I 'copped out' back on page 701 on some of the Color Guard pranks at HHS, so come on everyone and share yours (but only if the statute of limitations has expired). JB, I'm sure you've got some to share !?

Name: Jodi Weishaar ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 16, 2007, 1:28 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Wilbanks
Class: 1976
City & State: Hawthorne, CA
E-mail
Message: Another Cougar Baseball standout....Larry Williams, Class of 2003. Larry was picked up by the Atlanta Braves at the end of his Senior year. The Braves ball club requested that he go to El Camino for one year to better himself scholastically and to further improve his baseball skills. He broke a few El Camino records that year. He is currently with the Rome Braves(A) and was selected to the Appalachian League All Star Team.

Name: Wade Greasby ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 16, 2007, 10:15 am - HHS Time

Class: 1973
City & State: Surf City, Ca
E-mail
Message: As far as the HHS/LHS athletes go, I played on a Connie Mack team that was California Runner-Up in '73. HHS, LHS, Serra HS, and St Bernard HS players, all from Hawthorne made up the team. Here's the starting lineup. P Mike Scott HHS, C Mike Colbern HHS, 1B Dan Burns StBHS, 2B Billy Mauer StBHS, 3B Rocky Thomas HHS, SS Roy Waitt LHS, LF Gary Balo LHS, CF Wade Greasby HHS, RF Tom Ruegger HHS. The reserves were Bruce Phelps HHS, Paul Bartosavich Serra, Jack Hover Serra, Steve Wohn HHS, and Greg Goode HHS. We played 3, nine inning games on a Sunday for the State Championship, loosing the final 5-4 in the last inning to Robin Yount's Taft/Woodland Hills team. This Hawthorne team was, in this reporter's opinion, one of the best combined teams of all time. Gary Balo was one of the best baseball players ever to come out of LOOSEFINGER.

Name: Jerry Miles ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 15, 2007, 6:07 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: Fair Oaks, CA
E-mail
Message: Speaking of the videos, I was discussing the Nu Pike one with Sharon Stowe and it reminded me of the weird thing that happened at the Laff In The Dark Funhouse I have pictured in it. It seems they were filming a Six Million Dollar Man there in 1976 and discovered that the hanging man prop was a real human corpse. I vaguely remember seeing it but that would have been long before the discovery. For the full story you can go here

Name: Jerry Miles ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 15, 2007, 5:45 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Iron
Class: 1966
City & State: Fair Oaks, CA
E-mail
Message: I had a very nice conversation with my old buddy Larry Boyce ?66 yesterday (a Cougar Hearing?). He tracked down my sister on Classmates of all places. He had not even heard of Cougartown if you can believe that. But he has now and as soon as his computer gets out of the shop, he will be logging in. It sure was great reminiscing with him and I think I have him talked into meeting at the reunion this year. JB, I forgot to ask him but a while back you asked for pictures of Boyce Trailer Rental and Rockwell?s Kiddyland. I?ll bet he might be a great source.

Name: Jill McFarlane ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 15, 2007, 4:04 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1977
City & State: Mission Viejo, CA
E-mail
Message: I had a semi Cougar sighting this weekend. On the front page of the OC Register was none other than our former science teacher Mr. Macha. He was assisting a widow to a site where her husband had crashed his military plane 50 years before. Could not see his face, his head was down, but how many Pat Macha's are there? Hey Leslie, great story about George Foster, even though the Reds are my sworn enemy, me bleeding blue and all, it was a nice story just the same. Hope everyone is doing well.

Name: EL ROJO ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Jan 14, 2007, 9:43 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Jake
Class: 1960
City & State: Hme of the Kavemen
E-mail
Message: Gary Bickers, you didn't mention whether left was looking from the front or from behind. THE FAT KID TO MY LEFT WAS "ALL BAY lEAGUE " forward Keith Lent. The guy to the right was a FAT KID that went on to be one of HHS greatest athletes ever. Myk was a good guy. Even though he was only a year younger than I. He being a 15 year old freshman and I being a 16 year old senior. Keith was a good friend who went through three a days on the football field with me and our 8-0 record in 58 and on to become a lawyer etc. Jeez, I told him all that schooling would never get him anywhere.:-)) What do you call a bus full of lawyers going over a cliff? "A good start "!! Ha! HA! Ha!. Where were you when I neeeded you? Last year even! Jake N Jude. MAY THE COUGAR BE WITH YOU.
P.S. Gary Bickers and Keith I could still whip your buns in a game of horse. Have to drop the basket for the L arm for me, but you shoot full height. Have to have a ramp to slamma jamma with my chair! Is that fair JB? Life is good. Hope to see you all. Jake N Jude

Name: EL ROJO ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Jan 14, 2007, 7:50 am - HHS Time

Class: 1960
City & State: BOISE(KUNA) ID
E-mail
Message: Greasbys, I had this fella that told me I should forward that e-mail that Sloey put up. But I didn't have the heart. I figured why make an enemy out of someone you've never met. Although it's pertinent to the story. Besides OU ( those are cap letters JB as oppossed to my "sc" letters) didn't really choke. They got ahold of a team that had an agenda. If it hadn't been for the crummy bounce on the punt, you're behind anyway as you were most of the game when the last INT happens. If the D.B runs out of bounds, say on the 5, OU has 4 plays to milk the clock til 4th down, kick the gimmee (not always a gimmee) but game over. But thats why it's college football. Our Coach put the Hook and Ladder or Lateral as some call it, in persective. He said the stars have to be aligned in the HEAVENS to get that one done. The other two, 4th and 2 halfback pass and the statue, were good football plays. Great game, great shot in the arm for college football. Makes it fun. MAY THE COUGAR BE WITH YOU. Jake N Jude.

Name: Leslie Greasby ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Jan 13, 2007, 9:05 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1979
City & State: WHITTIER , CA
No E-mail
Message: I met George Foster at a Kiwanis meeting back in the 70's. Larry Guyer, an Olympian alumni, knew I was a Cincinnati Reds fan and invited me to the meeting. After the meeting was over, Larry introduced me to George and we sat talking about baseball for about 2 hours. George was a quiet, shy, and spiritual man, our conversation seemed to come easy to both of us. We became close friends. Everytime the REDS/DODGERS played in L.A., I got tickets to the games. George, once during batting practice, hit the longest homerun in the park. He cleared the left field pavilion and the ball landed in the parking lot. He had enormous strength.(Still does.) Our friendship hasn't only been confined to the ball park. We've stayed in touch over the years. Our last reunion was in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where I attended the Univ. of Chattanooga. The Reds AA minor league team is the Chattanooga Lookouts. George was standing near the dugout and I walked over to say , "hey". It was like picking up where we left off. He is a batting instructor for the Reds organization. George is one of the best athletes to come out of the City of Hawthorne, but I also have to go with Mike Scott and Scott Laidlaw. As far as Olympian athletes go Cornelius Foster, George's nephew, was drafted to the Bigs, but was hampered with injuries.

Name: Dan Johnson ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Jan 13, 2007, 5:28 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1977
City & State: Sherman oaks
No E-mail
Message: I haven't forgotten about the Scotts, Coberns and Staffons of this world -- all of whom we've discussed ad infinitum. Foster v. Scott for best Hawthorne baseball player could be a real horserace. But it does appear that HHS has a larger number of notable athletes as contrasted with Leuzinger.

Name: Keith D. Jones ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Jan 13, 2007, 12:38 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1976
City & State: Kona, HI
E-mail
Message: Don't forget about Mike Colbern, Gary Allenson, Mike Scott, Dennis Littlejohn and even Greg Staffon who had the talent to become one of the best pitchers but had a screwed up head. Mike Colbern too had the ability to be great but also had a few head problems. Won best amateur athlete of the entire country in 76'. Dennis Littlejohn too was an awesome athlete.

Name: Jim Gibson ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Jan 13, 2007, 12:32 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1967
City & State: Redding, CA
E-mail
Message: When I played for El Camino in '68 & '69, George Foster would very often practice w/ our team. If memory serves, he had just signed w/ the SF Giants. At the time, I hadn't heard of him, but I remember being particularly impressed w/ his dedication & work ethic. At the beginning of practice, when most of the team was leaving the field house to walk over to the ball diamond, George was already there, running wind sprints along the outfield fence. During practice, George would sometimes run the bases during "situations". After practice, I would ice my arm for awhile, use the whirlpool, & maybe get a rub down by the trainer, then take a shower & get dressed. Usually, when I headed for home, the sun was going down. As I drove by the BB field, I could see George, running more sprints along the outfield fence. That guy really wanted to play ball! - Gibby -

Name: Dan Johnson ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Jan 13, 2007, 9:46 am - HHS Time

Class: 1977
City & State: Sherman Oaks
E-mail
Message: So, we've probably done this before, but all this talk about great Cougar athletes and a recent UCLA basketball loss at Oregon got me thinking about great Leuzinger players. UCLA has a freshman guard named Russell Westbrook who is listed as being from Hawthorne. As far as I know, this is the only "Hawthorne" player ever to land on the Bruin basketball team. Anyone else? Of course, George Foster is probably the best baseball player ever to come out of LHS or HHS. Anybody else? Did anyone here play against George Foster?
What about those Olympians -- have they carried Hawthorne's athletic torch high?