75 Years Ago This Week - November 15, 1938

75 Years Ago This Week

November 15, 1938

75 Years Ago This Week began March 1, 1938 - my mother and father were preparing to get married later in the month. I'm continuing this meme, from time to time, as issues warrant.

[Image: Babe Towne Baseball Card]

From Page 5, Coon Rapids Enterprise, Thursday, November 14, 2013:


75 Years Ago
November 4, 1938


No longer will “Babe” Towne, former Chicago White Sox catcher, be the center of attraction at
our annual baseball reunions. [See: 5 prior stories here on Babe Towne!]

“Babe” is gone. In the language of the diamond which he loved so well, he “struck out” suddenly from a heart attack while sitting in his car in front of the Textor’s cafe last Saturday afternoon.

“Babe” had been working for the Pioneer Hybrid Seed Corn Co. at Spencer the past couple of months where he was rated as one of the best salesmen. Saturday, with his wife, he returned to Coon Rapids to start his campaign for sheriff as the Republican nominee. Sitting in his car he was happily greeting an old friend when his heart failed him without warning. Ed Zavitz who was with him at the time called Dr. Wolfe who arrived almost immediately but too late to be of assistance.

Funeral services were held 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Coder funeral home here, conducted by the Rev. O.E. Cooley.

A Masonic escort accompanied the body. Interment was made in Spencer. Jay King Towne son of Dr. E.B. and Angeline Towne, was born at Coon Rapids, March 12, 1880. He passed away October 29, 1938. He grew up in Coon Rapids and graduated from the local schools.

After playing ball around Coon Rapids for about two years he went to Rock Rapids where he played his first professional ball. In 1901, he played ball in Madison, SD. He continued to play until 1903 at which time an opportunity came to him to play with Des Moines in the Western League. In 1905, he played with Milwaukee in the American Association, coming back to Des Moines in 1906. In the middle of that summer he went to the Chicago White Sox as a catcher and played until the end of the season. Following this he played several years of minor league baseball.

After retiring, he went to Sioux City where he was in partnership with Tom Fairweather, owning the Western Franchise at that place. On December 23, 1926 he was married to Nettie Lilly. After living in a number of places, they established their home at Coon Rapids in 1934 where they continued to live until recently when they moved to Spencer.

[image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Babe_Towne.jpg]

"In July 1906, Towne was batting .357 when he was purchased by the Chicago White Sox. He played in 14 games and also pinch-hit once in the 1906 World Series, which the White Sox won."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babe_Towne

Note: Wikipedia article erroneously states that he died in Des Moines, Iowa; same date.


Families are Forever!  ;-)