It seems BHS has had a propensity for creating good Baseball Players. Jimmy Bohning was a very good pitcher and made it to the Minors. His pitching style was a bit wild and after awhile he was let go. It seemed the batters and the catchers were afraid of him because they never knew which direction the ball may be coming. We had another classmate, Forrest Evans who made it to the Major Leagues but WW II shut down baseball and his career.
Several others were successful. Jake Thies signed with the Detroit Tigers and had a great career. George Martak and Elmer Boston made it to the minors but gave it up to pursue other ventures. Jack Netzeband, Class of '53 was signed to the Cardinal Baseball System but an injury to his right shoulder unfortunately sidelined his baseball career. He was elected to the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame. So you can see, Berkeley High School's classmates have certainly made their mark in baseball.
I can remember many Sunday baseball games being played on the weedy Baseball field on the corner of Airport Road and Dowling Avenue. In those days, the winner won a barrel of beer and proceeded to empty it in site. Those were fun times and we will see several of our baseball players of the past at the reunion, (Jake Thies, George Martak, Elmer Boston and Jack Netzeband). I'm sure they would be glad to reminisce about those days of their baseball career. Check 'em out!
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