Biographies 2
Bob Danielson – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Right handed pitcher with the Class A Lake Lillian club of Minnesota’s West Central Class A League in 1948 and 1949. He was promoted to Class AA Fairibault of the Southern Minny League late in 1949. Pitched for the Mallards in 1950 with a 5-4 record in league play. In 1953 he was signed from Mankato of the Southern Minny League. On August 1, 1953 he re-joined the Mallards. Struck out 15 Elmwood Giants in a 14 inning game in 1950.
Harold Daugherty – Wierton, Pennsylvania
Former shortstop in the Class AAA International League in 1952 and 1953 with one major league at-bat with Detroit in 1951. Played four seasons of Class AAA baseball. Batted .225 with Buffalo in 1953. Also played for Springfield that year. Joined the Mallards in 1956 as second baseman and was named manager after Joe Piercey resigned. The Mallards had a regular season record of 21 wins and 13 losses while he was manager. Had six RBI’s on June 16 at Bismarck in a 19 – 11 win. Batted .312 and had 12 home runs and 56 RBI’s for the Mallards.
Lomax “Butch” Davis – Belmont, North Carolina
All-Time ManDak League batting Champion with a .456 batting average in 1950. Led the League hitting .406 in 1951. Both years were with the Winnipeg Buffaloes. Holder of 13 league records when he joined the Mallards as an outfielder in 1955. Played AAA baseball for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1952-1954 in the American Association. Played for the Baltimore Elite Giants in the Negro League in 1947-1949. Lost the 1955 batting title to Roy Weatherly of Williston on the last day of the 1955 season. Season record was .369 batting average, 6 home runs and 37 RBI’s.
Mel Duncan – Gary, Indiana
Right handed pitcher. Experience in the Negro American League from 1949 to 1954. Played for the Kansas City Monarchs and the Detroit Stars. Joined the Mallards August 1, 1955 as a pitcher and backup outfielder. Hit a home run against Dickinson in the eighth inning of game two of the 1955 championship series. That gave the Mallards a 4 – 3 win and a 2 – 0 lead in the series. He played right field for the game. Finished with a 2-1 record and a .324 batting average. Also played for the Mallards in 1956 and had a 3-1 record.
Joe De Grazia
Infielder picked up by the Mallards in 1951 upon his release from Carman. Played for the Mallards from mid-July to late season when he was released. Had four years of pro experience in the Cotton League and with Superior in the Northern League prior to signing on with Carman. Batted .321 with 7 RBI’s for the Mallards.
Larry Dempsey
Right handed pitcher with previous experience with New Bern and Wilson in the Class D Coastal Plain league in 1951 and 1952. His record was 13-14 with a 1.06 ERA in 1952. Joined the Mallards on June 22, 1953. Won four games for the Mallards in the 1953 playoffs including the final game over the Brandon Greys 7-2. He also led the hitting effort in that game with a triple, double, single and two RBI’s. His season pitching record was 3–5.
Vallie Eaves
Spent parts of five seasons in the Major Leagues. He was signed by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1935 after he starred in the National Semi-pro tournament with Shawnee, Oklahoma. Pitched a complete game shutout in his first Major League start. In 1939 was with Philadelphia A’s and from 1939 to 1942 was with the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs. In 1945 he led the Pacific Coast League in strikeouts with 187. In 1947 pitched for Texarcana in the Big State League and led the league with 25 victories. Right handed pitcher for Minot in 1951 released early in the season on June 5 with a 1-1 record.
Bob Ebkor – St. Louis, Missouri
Pierre, South Dakota semi-pro player that joined the Mallards as right handed pitcher in 1955. Appeared as a relief pitcher in a game on June 21.
Ted (Art) Edmunds – Santa Barbara, California
Six years pro experience. Pitched 9-6 and 19-9 records for Yakima of the Class A Western International League in 1953 and 1954. Right handed pitcher for the Mallards in 1955 with a 4-3 record. In his debut which was a five inning rain shortened 1 – 0 win against the Dickinson Packers at Minot, he pitched a two-hit shutout and doubled off the right field wall to drive in the winning run. On August 9 he relieved Stan Milankovich in the top of the 10th inning and pitched out of a jam. Then his single in the bottom of the 10th game him and the Mallards a 6-5 win over the Bismarck Barons.
Gervis Fagan
Gervis Fagan was an infielder for the Jacksonville Red Caps, Philadelphia Stars and Memphis Red Sox in 1942 and 1943. He joined the Mallards as a mid-season replacement player from the Indianapolis Clowns in 1950. No statistics available.
Ev Faunce – Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Played football for Minot State Teachers college for one year and the University of Minnesota for three years. Coached the football team at Minot State College. Signed to play football for the Baltimore Colts in 1949 but was injured and released. Played baseball for the Fergus Falls Red Sox at the age of 16 in 1942. Was a centerfielder and second baseman for the Mallards. Served as fill-in manager for the Mallards in 1950 until the arrival of Lefty Lefebvre. Resigned on 7/20 to begin his football coaching season. Batted .207 for the Mallards.
Norm Felde – Fargo, North Dakota
Played first base for Moorhead Red Sox of the Minnesota Class AA North Central League in 1949 before joining the Minot Merchants late in the season. Was an outfielder for the Red Sox in 1942,1947 and 1948. Played baseball for Moorhead Teachers College. Played first base and outfield for the Mallards in 1950 and early season 1951. Led the Mallards with 30 RBI’s in 1950. Batted .257 and had two home runs.
Ted Fowler – Phoenix, Arizona
University of Arizona player batted .380 for the Ray-Senora semi-pro club in 1949. Played first base for the 1950 Mallards. Released 7/1/50. Batted .192.
Charlie Frey
Played for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinal and New York Yankee farm systems. Led the Appalachian League with 176 hits in 1947. In 1954 he batted .294 for Binghampton. Joined the Mallards as an outfielder for the 1955 playoffs. Played centerfield for the injured Don Corcoran.
Jonas Gaines – New Roads, Louisiana
Left handed pitcher with a long Negro league career beginning in 1937 with the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League. Deceptive little southpaw who threw an assortment of pitches including a screw ball. Played seven seasons with the Baltimore Elite Giants having a record of 13-1 in 1942. In 1950 he represented the East in the Negro Leagues All-Star game in Chicago. Pitched for one season (1940) for Mexico City in the Mexican League. Pitched for the Philadelphia Stars of the Negro American League in 1949 with a record of 8-3 and 1950 with a record of 9-4. Joined the Mallards in 1951 and had a 7-4 record. Also played for the Mallards in 1952 and pitched a 4-2 record. He pitched the Mallards opening day game on May 25, 1952 and threw a 4-hitter and a 3 –1 win over the Winnipeg Giants. Pitched for Valley City North Dakota’s semi-pro team in the 1930’s.
Tom Gatts
Former Williston Oiler player who joined the Mallards as a utility player in 1955 and batted .297 in 64 at-bats. Poked a game winning single in the ninth inning against Williston on June 29 at Minot
Yogi Giammarco – Newburg, New York
Seven years of pro experience advancing as high as AAA in the International League. Originally signed with the New York Yankees in 1941. Then was with the New York Giants farm system in 1942. Played for the Class A Utica Blue Sox for several years including 1947 when they won the league championship. Batted .312 with 21 home runs and 113 RBI’s for Saginaw of the Class A Central League in 1951. Joined the Mallards in 1952 as the right fielder. Also played for the Mallards in 1954 but jumped the club on July 18. Was the ManDak Leagues first power hitter. Hit a home run in his first at bat with the Mallards on opening day, May 25, 1952 against the Winnipeg Giants. Had 11 home runs in 1952 plus three more in the playoffs and 9 in 1954. His combined batting average for those two years was .329. Yogi hit a grand slam home run in his last game as a Mallard in 1954.
Year Home runs RBI’s Average
1952 11 47 .319
1954 9 30 .344
I spoke with Mallard all-star right fielder Yogi Giammarco , two days before his 84th birthday on April 28, 2006. A family friend of Yogi's contacted me in early April for a copy of Yogi's player card. I sent him several copies and then was surprised received an autographed copy by mail a few days later along with a note suggesting that I call him. Yogi said he came to the Mallards in 1952 after he was contacted by Joe Probst with a very good offer to leave Richmond. His friend, catcher Joe Massaro also received an offer and they joined the team together from Richmond. Yogi talked about his baseball career which included stints with several AAA teams. He played outfield with Richie Ashburn and Hank Thompson. He said that the Mallards were very good teams and he remembered many of the players.
Dirk Gibbons – Tampa, Florida
Right handed pitcher who played for the Indianapolis Clowns in 1948 and 1949. Played in the ManDak League for Brandon Greys (1949 and 1950) and Winnipeg Royals (1953) and Brandon Greys (1954) before joining the Mallards in 1955. He threw a five-hitter against Dickinson in the first game of the championship series, winning 3- 1. That was his 7th straight win after starting the season with 7 losses. He won his first two starts in 1956, the second one a three hit 2 – 1 win over the Williston Oilers put Minot into first place.
Year Pitching record
1955 5-7
1956 6-7
1957 3-9
14-23
Dirk Gibbon visited Brandon, Manitoba in August 2005 along with Brandon Greys teammate Armando Vasquez. Gibbons and Vasquez pitched for the Brandon Greys in 1949 when the Greys dominated the Manitoba Senior Baseball League winning 87 games while losing only 18. Gibbons won 19 games that season. The trip was arranged by Robert Huculak who is filming a documentary on the experiences of black baseball players that played in the ManDak League. Gibbons and Vasquez are the subjects of the film.
Gibbons, a righthanded pitcher for the Mallards in 1955, 1956 and 1957, won 14 regular season games and pitched spectacularly in several playoff and championship games. He was a ManDak League and Minot Mallard favorite.
Gibbons played in the Negro Leagues with the Detroit Stars, Indianapolis Clowns and New York Black Yankees He came to Manitoba at 20 years of age and played three years with the Brandon Greys and one year for Winnipeg Royals before joining the Mallards. He spent 1951 and 1952 in the Marines fighting in the Korean War and was named the “Soldier of the Week” in July 1952. Had he not missed these two seasons, he would be the only ManDak League player other than Zoonie McLean to play every season. Following his playing career, he coached, gave clinics and promoted baseball extensively in the Tampa Bay area. The Devil Rays had him throw out the first pitch in the opening of the Tropicana Stadium. Gibbons still attends the Negro League player reunions held at the Negro League Museum in Kansas City.
On Saturday, June 3, 2006 Gibbons and Vasquez were inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame.
Jimmy Grant
Former Major League player for the Chicago White Sox in 1942 and 1943 and Cleveland Indians in 1943 and 1944. Had a total of 354 major league at bats with a batting average of .246. In 1950 batted .367 for Kenosha, Wisconsin and in 1949 batted .321 for Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Left the Granby, Quebec Class C Provincial League to join the Mallards. Played third base for the Mallards in 1951. Batted .306 with 1 home run and 7 RBI’s.
Whit Graves – Richmond, Virginia
Right handed pitcher with five years of pro experience. Compiled a 4-2 record for the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League in 1951 and then played winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Joined the Mallards for the 1952 season. Record was 2-2.
Wilbur “Willie” Greene (Green) – Minot, North Dakota
Played for the 1949 Minot Merchants and Estevan in the Western Canada League in 1951. Joined the Mallards as a utility player in 1952. He played for the Carman Cardinals in 1954 before joining the Mallards late in the season. On May 30, 1952 pitched a 6 hit 5-2 victory over the Brandon Greys. He had his best game for the Mallards on July 24, 1952 at Brandon, playing third base for Duke Bowman who shifted to shortstop for an injured Zoonie McLean. Green hit a 310 foot double in the second inning, a 420 foot triple in the fourth inning and a long fly into right center field in the ninth inning on which the Brandon center fielder made a remarkable catch. He also handled four chances at third base without an error.
Year Pitching record
1952 2-1
1953 2-1
Year Home runs RBI’s Average
1952 0 8 .133
1953 0 8 .182
Charlie Griffith – Harrisburg, Illinois
Right handed pitcher with five years professional experience. Played for Thomasville of the Class D North Carolina State League in 1951. Advanced to Lincoln of the Class A Western League before jumping to the Southern Minny League in 1954. In 1955 he was 11-4 for Faribault of the Southern Minny League. Joined the Mallards in 1956. Played very briefly and was plagued with sore arm trouble. Record was 0-0.
Tom Guderian
Right handed pitcher. Started career in 1952 in organized baseball for the Chicago Cubs chain. In 1955 played in the Class C Pioneer League and had a 3-2 record. In 1956 he split the season with Des Moines of the Class A Western League and the Mallards. Debuted July 23 with a six hit 7 – 3 win over Dickinson at Minot. His record with the Mallards was 3-1.
Jack Hale – Arkport, New York
Left handed pitcher. Won 4 and lost 5 with Columbia of the Class A Sally League in 1956. Also had a 6-3 record with Abilene of the Class B Big State League that year. Posted a 17-7 record with Burlington of the Class C Provisional League in 1955. Pitched a 6-6 record for the Mallards in 1957.
Bruce Haroldson – Williston, North Dakota
Right handed pitcher with the Mallards beginning August 3, 1956. His record was 0-0.
Jerry Hendrick – Lansford, North Dakota
Local area athlete and coach that was a fill in player at second base at the start of the 1957 season until Buddy Messina arrived. He had two hits on opening day. Played in three games.
Leo Henry
Right handed pitcher from the Negro Leagues. Played for the Cleveland Bears, Jacksonville Red Caps, Indianapolis Clowns and Cincinnati Clowns from 1938 to 1951. Joined the Mallards from the Indianapolis Clowns in July 1950 as a replacement player. Record was 0-0.
Tom Horton – Gaffney, South Carolina
Right handed pitcher from the Milwaukee Braves organization. Played for Hagerstown of the Class B Piedmont League in 1953 and was selected for the all-star team. Joined the Mallards in 1955 and had a 3-0 record when he jumped the team to return to organized baseball in the Piedmont League. Debuted on June 27 against the Williston Oilers at Minot.
Otto Huber – Garfield, New Jersey
Former Major League player. Appeared in 11 games for Boston in 1939 (then called the Bees). Had six hits in 22 at-bats. Also played for Evansville of the Class B Three-Eye League and Indianapolis of the Class AAA American Association. Managed Mt. Vernon of the Class D Illinois League in 1947. Manager and second baseman for the Mallards in 1951 until he resigned on July 15 over a salary dispute. He and Zoonie McLean had 27 double plays in 35 games when he left the club. No statistics available
Roy Hughes
Kansas City Monarchs right handed pitcher picked up by the Mallards in June 1950. Record 0-1.
Wally Jako (Jakowczyk) - Flint, Michigan
Eight years as a pro. Played at Utica’s Class A Eastern League for three seasons 1944,45 and 48. Was at Terre Haute of the Class B Three-Eye League in 1947 and 1948 and Granby, Quebec of the Class C Provincial League early in 1951. Was hitting .280 with Chattanooga when he joined the Mallards as the centerfielder in 1951. Later that season co-managed the Mallards along with Zoonie McLean after Otto Huber resigned on July 15. On June 23, 1951 he had the Mallards first grand slam home run against the Elmwood Giants in Winnipeg. On August 7, 1951 he had two home runs, a double and a single for 7 RBI’s in a game against the Elmwood Giants. His 1951 batting average of .341 was the highest for the Mallards in their first two seasons. He also had 10 doubles, 5 triples and 7 home runs in 1951. Also played for the Mallards in 1952. On June 22, 1952 he hit two home runs against the Winnipeg Giants in a game that featured 7 home runs by the Mallards (three by Joe Massaro, and one each by Quincy Barbee and Yogi Giammarco).
Year Home runs RBI’s Average
1951 7 43 .341
1952 7 46 .311
Gideon Jarvis – Los Angeles, California
Played in the Cincinnati Farm system starting his career with Wausau in the Northern League. In 1956 played for Topeka in the Western League and Tijuana in the Arizona-Mexico League where he batted .291. Joined the Mallards as an outfielder for the 1957 season. He came to Minot on his own and requested a tryout. Went 0 for 3 in his first game but in his second game on June 28 against Williston he had five hits including two home runs and three doubles for seven RBI’s. Batted .338 with 5 home runs and 26 RBI’s.
Leonard Johnson
Negro League pitcher for the Chicago American Giants and Kansas City Monarchs in 1947 and 1948. Right handed pitcher for the Mallards from late July until August 15, 1951. Record 1-1.
Connie Juelke – Kenmare, North Dakota
Played in seven cities in six leagues including three seasons of Class A baseball before coming to the ManDak League. Played in Grand Forks, St. Paul, Waterloo, Birmingham, Colorado Springs and Muskegan. Managed at Madisonville, Kentucky of the Class D Kitty League in 1948. Joined the Mallards as an outfielder in 1951 and jumped the club July 1. Later played for the Mallards in 1953 and 1954. On June 22, 1951 he had four hits and five RBI’s in a 17 – 2 win over the Winnipeg Buffaloes at Winnipeg. On July 1, 1953 hit three home runs in a double header against the Carman Cardinals at Carman. He had 6 RBI’s on June 22, 1954. In 1953 he was brought in as a tryout and proved himself in several games before being offered a contract. By June 15 he was leading the team with a .333 batting average. He finished up the season batting .282 . On August 29, 1953 slammed a home run with two men on base in the 8th inning to lead the Mallards to a 9-4 victory over the Brandon Greys. That gave the Mallards their second straight pennant. Played for the Bismarck Barons in 1956.
Year Home runs RBI’s Average
1951 2 15 .280
1953 12 55 .282
1954 7 46 .279
Jim Kamis – Northern Wisconsin
Joined the Mallards in 1951 as a right handed pitcher from the Colorado Springs team of the Class A Western League. He was 12-17 with that team in 1950. Connie Juelke was a teammate. In 1949 he was 10-6 for Waterloo in the Class B Three-Eye League. Broke his ankle playing for the Mallards on June 9, 1951 but stayed in the Minot area and re-joined the team late in the season. Record was 1-1.
Dick Kelly
Left handed pitcher with eight seasons of pro experience. Pitched for the Boston Braves organization and rose as high as Class AA. In 1950 recorded a 21 – 7 record with a 2.85 ERA with Bluefield of the Appalachian League. Debuted with the Mallards on June 28, 1956 against Bismarck at Minot in a 14 – 2 loss. Ended the season with a 6-5 record.
John Kelly – Woodside, Long Island, New York
Left handed pitcher. Six years of pro experience. Signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers chain in 1948 and assigned to Abilene of the Class C West Texas-New Mexico League. Later had a 7-17 record with Three Rivers of the Canadian –American League. Had a 10-5 record with Wilmar, Minnesota in 1951. In 1950 was 22-2 with Fergus Falls of Minnesota’s Class AA amateur league. Pitched the Mallards in 1952 and won his first six games ending up with a 7-2 record. Re-joined the team in 1953 but was out June 10 to August 16 with a sore pitching arm. Pitching record for the season was was 0-1. He played first base in an August 1952 game that the Mallards won 5-0 against the Carman Cardinals to clinch their first pennant in the league. Pitched a six hitter in a 6 – 2 win over the Carman Cardinals in game two of the 1952 championship series.