The above photo of the Manistique championship baseball team by E.O. Brault appeared in the October 4, 1923 edition of the Pioneer Tribune.
Manistique had a marvelous baseball team back in the early 1920s. During the summer of 1923 the team played a total of 31 games and finished with a record of 22 wins and 9 losses. Twenty-five games were played against Upper Peninsula teams and 6 games were played against traveling African American teams including the Illinois Giants from Chicago and the New York Royals. The Manistique club won 19 of 25 games played against the Upper Peninsula teams and went 3-3 versus the traveling teams from New York and Chicago.
Manistique won the U. P. championship by beating the Houghton Copper Sox 1-0 in the playoff game at Manistique. Manistique’s own Bill Vassau pitched the complete game shutout, allowing just 3 hits, while striking out 8 batters. All of the put outs were of the infield variety with the exception of one fly ball to the outfield. Manistique eked out only three hits against the Copper Sox hurler. The lone run of the game scored on a triple by Dutch Woehoelter who came home on a wild pitch.
The Manistique team included both local players and athletes from as far away as Wisconsin and Lower Michigan. The players all had regular jobs, but were also paid for playing baseball. The salary depended upon the position played. Pitchers and catchers earned $200 per month; infielders, $150 and outfielders, $125. The games in Manistique were played at the fair grounds and admission was 50 cents.
The undisputed star of the Manistique team was “Smiling” Bill Vassau who grew up on Manistique’s west side. He played in 29 games including 15 as a pitcher and also played 14 games in the outfield. He led the team with a 11-4 record as a pitcher, and was also the teams leading hitter boasting a .331 batting average. On the mound, he was known for his nasty curve ball which was nearly impossible to hit. Vassau won as many games with his powerful bat as he did with his outstanding pitching arm.
Harry Potter was the team catcher. Potter was a Manistique native who made his residence in Kalamazoo. Potter was an exceptional athlete. He had a powerful throwing arm and any opposing player who reached first base stayed put. Any attempt to steal second on Potter was pure folly. Although Potter was deadly in throwing out opposing runners, he had remarkable speed, especially for a catcher, and led the team in stolen bases. Potter was offered a professional contract by a scout from the St. Louis Cardinals, but turned it down to pursue a career in coaching. Later in life he was elected to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
Another local player on the team was Bill Norton who grew up on the west side with Vassau. Norton was the backup catcher and a valuable utility infielder who played in nine games during the 1923 season.
Emil Thibault (Tebo) was the team’s first baseman. He was an exceptional fielder who gobbled up all the wicked hop ground balls that came his way. Tebo was a talented hitter, posting a .304 batting average. He endeared himself to Manistique fans with his hard work, quiet manner and gentlemanly conduct on and off the field.
Manistique’s second leading pitcher was Vic Crittenden from downstate Alma. Tall and lanky, Crittenden posted an 8-3 record. Crittenden was one of those pitchers who seemed to do best when there was traffic on the bases. He was tough in the clutch. His three losses were due largely to lack of run support.
The team captain was Charlie Burns who manned the ‘hot corner” and was the second leading hitter on the club with a .328 batting average. Burns was gifted both with his glove and his bat. The durable third baseman was one of only three players on the Manistique team who appeared in all 31 games.
Manistique’s shortstop was “Dutch” Welhoelter, a native of Lower Michigan. Welhoelter was a slick fielding shortstop who also did damage at the plate, posting a .317 batting average. The backup shortstop was “Cully” Lantz from Escanaba.
George Goodwin, played the demanding second sacker position flawlessly, handling every ball hit his way without an error. Although handicapped by a damaged knee, his fielding was second to none in the Upper Peninsula. Goodwin appeared in 25 games in 1923 before injuries forced him to retire. Goodwin was originally from Marquette, but moved to Manistique and was employed as a teacher.
The Meyers brothers were from Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. Charles Meyers, known as “Big Chief” patrolled right field. Opposing pitchers feared his powerful bat and his .306 hitting percentage. He was a dangerous hitter with runners on base. His timely and powerful blasts broke open several contests. His brother, John Meyers, was the third starting pitcher for the Manistique squad. He posted a 3-2 record. A valuable utility player, Meyers’ brilliant fielding made him a defensive asset while manning any position on the diamond.
Manistique’s center fielder was “Prexy” Wilson from Port Huron, Michigan. Wilson’s eagle eye at the plate resulted in numerous free passes to first base. His .301 batting average and team leadership in walks made him an exceptional leadoff hitter. His speed in the outfield allowed him to catch up to fly balls that would have eluded slower fielders.
Many will remember Bill Dehut, the team manager. Bill made his living as a barber in Manistique, but he was a savvy and knowledgeable baseball man who should get credit for molding the talented players into a championship team. Bill Dehut was known for his quick wit which was on display during a game played at the Canadian Soo in 1922. During the course of the game, Dehut and the Soo manager got into a heated discussion. The Soo manager yelled at Bill “You don’t want to forget where you are.” Dehut replied “You don’t want to forget where we’re from!” With that, the argument ended and Manistique went on to win 12-0.
Dehut was a nervous manager who had the habit of pulling out grass in front of the dugout “and talking a lot” when things went badly on the field. During the 1923 season, the grounds crew had to replant the grass in front of the dugout several times.
Red “Freckles” Stewart was the team bat boy and mascot. Red was superstitious and never allowed the Manistique bats to become crossed during the game.
The president of the Manistique baseball club was Robert W. Goodwillie of the Goodwillie Box Factory. An avid baseball fan and a Manistique booster, Goodwillie could be spotted at the games wearing a large western hat and long frock coat. One former player likened Goodwillie’s appearance to that of a “Kentucky Colonel.”