We had a good crowd at the April 2007 Broad Ripple History Saturday. We have been holding these informal history gatherings for three years, and this was our first themed get-together. The theme was Frank Baird, the Broad Ripple High School basketball and baseball coach who recently died at age 94. In addition to our usual cast of regulars, we had several new faces with sports stories to share.

Dan Mohler, BRHS class of 1956, brought a photo of the 1956 baseball team. "We were 17 and 1", recalled Dan. "We beat Shortridge in the championship at Butler. We won 3 to 2. We took the bus back to Broad Ripple and they took this picture." Dan made the team in his senior year. "I played reserve ball and I wanted to play for Frank Baird so badly. I trained to make the team. It was an honor to be on the team. Kenny Long was the catcher. He was all-state football. Fritz Hadley was second base. Frank's favorite play was the suicide squeeze. He ran that play probably 5 or 6 times a game. When I talked to Frank in later years he said he wondered why the major leagues don't use that play more often."

Dan said Frank was the best coach he knew. I asked him what made Frank such a good coach. "He instilled confidence in the players by never criticizing their faults, recognizing that you're going to make mistakes. One physical thing he did to instill confidence, was in batting practice before a game he would throw very slow pitches so you could hammer the ball five or six times before you played. He was also a very smart baseball man. He understood the game."

Carol Purichia didn't go to BRHS, but was the quarterback for the competition - Washington High School. Carol later coached football at Chatard with Pat Koers. "We were playing Broad Ripple. I was the quarterback for Washington. We had fourth down and about an inch. It was on our side of the fifty. The score was 13 to 7, our favor. We called a timeout. I said 'Why don't I just sneak it?', we get the first down, keep the ball and we win. I took the snap and fumbled. Broad Ripple recovered, scored, and beat us 14 to 13.

"I don't know that I ever played or coached against a person with as much class as Frank Baird had. When he officiated and there was a penalty, he would say 'Now Sonny', he called everyone Sonny, 'here's the choices, but you really want to do this one.' He wouldn't let you make a mistake, as a captain. He was so polite and nice, plus he was a great baseball coach. He made kids play better than they really were. I admired him when he coached, then I admired him more when I coached against him."

Boz Stoshitch, now 90, stopped in for a few minutes. Boz went to Tech (Arsenal Technical High School) and played ball with Frank, and later played for the Cleveland Indians. "Frank and I played on the same team all around town - Jerry Shiner and Nicholson and all the guys from Butler. We played for the Pure Oil Industrial League - amateur ball. I played a lot of ball with Frank. He was a good gentleman." Boz and his wife couldn't stay long because they were on their way to a wedding.

Pat Iler, former guidance director for BRHS, came to the April meeting. She introduced me to Hugh Wolf, class of 1949, who is on the Frank Baird scholarship committee. Hugh played as a freshman in 1945, when the BRHS baseball fields were on the southwest corner of Broad Ripple Avenue and Compton. This is where Einstein Bros. Bagels and the shopping center is today. When Hugh was a senior, the ball fields moved to Broad Ripple Park. "Frank was a wonderful person and one of my mentors, along with Tony Hinkle," said Hugh.

The original three members of the committee were Joe Dawson, Bob Maxwell, and Les Duvall. Les was also at our meeting, and has attended several over the past three years. Les explained that Bob Maxwell was the motivating force behind the scholarship that was started about 15 years ago. The fund has reached the point where it can sustain itself, assuring that the Frank Baird scholarship will continue. "The applicants for the scholarship this year are outstanding," said Les.

The Frank Baird Hall of Fame Scholarship executive committee is currently Robert Young, chairman, Bill Bastian, Wally Cox, Jack Engledow, Jack Hogan, and Hugh Wolf. Donations can be sent to the address above.

The next History Saturday will be May 19, 2007, from 8am to 10am at the Broad Ripple McDonald's. Drop by if you can.