A 70th Anniversary Tribute To The Greatest Baseball Team Of All Time

Al Koch, August 2022

Whenever diehard baseball fans gather, there’s always an ongoing debate: What’s the greatest baseball team of all time? Answers are argued, rationalized, and analyzed with great passion and very animated body language.

A litany of names is postulated for this mythical Hall of Fame honor, backed by supporting evidence. Players are nominated for defensive excellence, homerun prowess, base stealing, hitting, number of strikeouts, RBIs, and consistency, plus honors (Golden Gloves, Cy Young Awards) as well as personality and professional class.

Induction to this unofficial, all-time greatest team is not limited by number. The ranks are governed by performance and talent. As names are remembered, the Field of Dreams comes alive with every emotion of those of stadium heroes who played this great game.

Recall the “sultans of swat”— homerun sluggers who transformed earthly-thrown baseballs into orbit-bound spheres, driving fans to delirium. Such hitters were gifted with laser-focused, tractor-beam aim, smashing baseballs through diamonds as if they were Swiss cheese. Almost magically, these legendary hitters changed the laws of physics. In their hands, wooden bats had magnetic-like attraction to horsehide-covered baseballs as they batted their way into Cooperstown.

The ongoing debate continues as more names are offered for the superstar roster. Mortal men who played defense like deities, who turned leather into gold at season’s end. List the flamethrowers with steel-coiled arms who pitched their way to the record book. When the game was on the line, they were on the mound. The other team’s box score always read the same: No runs. No hits. No chance!

A select fraternity of baseball’s finest could have changed their last name to RBI, as they hammered home on-base runners, time after time after time. The all-stars drove in so many runs, scorekeepers hired accountants to keep track.

But regardless of who one could name, or as outstanding as any major leaguer ever honored, they couldn’t measure up to the quality and prowess of the ballplayers I’ve selected for the roster of the Greatest Baseball Team of All Time! 

It’s widely accepted that the quality of a team is judged by how well their performance, talent, and character stands the test of time. Well, the players and coaches I’ve nominated have passed the test with flying colors for more than 70 years! Without reservation, the trophy for the absolute all-time best goes to the 1952 Whiting Little League All-Stars who played in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Let’s return to yesteryear, to the summer of 1952.

1952 was a banner year for President Ike Eisenhower, Olympian Bob Mathias, Chicago Cub Hank Sauer, and the Whiting Little League All-Stars, aka the “Mighty Mites” (a nickname coined by the local Hammond Times sportswriters for reasons unknown today).

The Whiting All-Stars were superbly coached by Bruno Coppi and Walt Muvich. The fifteen members of this team set standards of excellence that have rarely been challenged or equaled. Members of the team included Dan Adzia, John Duray, Joe Dybel, Charles “Joe” Elibacher, Richard Gaskey, Marty Jamrose, Tom Justak, Tom Kujawa, Jack Mateja, Art Mehuron, Patrick O’Keefe, John Shields, Rich Szymanski, Steve Vrlik, and Bob White.

These guys were the cream of the crop. They earned the title of “All-Star” with bat, ball, glove, and guts. Whenever they showcased their talent, spirit, and cohesive single-mindedness for victory, the ballpark’s diamond dazzled with 15-carat brilliance! They were the best, the absolute best!

During that memorable first week in August, Whiting won the district meet in Kokomo by recording double victories over Hammond (17-2) and East Chicago (8-1). The next week in Fort Wayne, for the second consecutive year, the Mighty Mites dispatched all opponents in the Indiana-Michigan Sectional Tournament.

In the semi-final game against Jeffersonville, Whiting was down two runs with two outs, and on three occasions had two strikes on the batter in the last inning. Precariously close to tournament elimination, Indiana’s finest dramatically rallied to tie the score, then won the game in extra innings, 13-10.

In the sectional championship game against Sacred Heart of Fort Wayne, Whiting successfully defended its sectional crown by posting a 2-1 victory. Returning to Fort Wayne the following week, Whiting continued its winning ways and clinched the Midwest Regional by defeating the team from Harvey, Illinois, 5-1. The Regional title earned the Oil City diamond masters a berth in the Little League World Series. From a field of 7,362 North American teams, Whiting’s bubble-gum battlers were just one of eight finalists to vie for the championship prize in the single-elimination tournament.

In the first round of the series, on Tuesday, August 26, 1952, Whiting drew the team representing Norwalk, Connecticut. The Indiana All-Stars built a quick 6-0 lead after one inning. Unfortunately, Norwalk fought back and went on to win the game 10-7, and ultimately the Little League World Series crown.

What marked this team for greatness is evidenced through their individual and collective dedication to the task at hand. All season long, they practiced and worked, refining and polishing the fundamentals of the game. They captured and sustained a cohesive team of extraordinary skillfulness. Each All-Star brought with them a solid inventory of personal quality, athletic prowess, and passion for baseball. 

Here’s more about the Whiting Little League All-Stars’ impressive roster:

Lead-off man Marty Jamrose bunted, ran, and used his quickness to get on base. He was the rally-starter. He lit the fuse, knowing his teammates would supply the explosion. On defense, he patrolled left field with uncanny efficiency. When opposing batters hit the ball to left field, they ran directly back to the dugout knowing the batted ball was captured in Marty’s glove. 

Jack Mateja played second base with a contagious confidence that solidified a remarkable infield. At bat, Jack’s discipline and control at the plate enabled him to move anxious-to-score runners along and keep rallies alive. 

Charles “Joe” Elibacher was the hard-hitting, street-smart catcher who anchored the infield and was guardian of home plate. Opposing base runners quickly learned not to mess around when this masked-man was behind the plate. Try to steal, and he’d throw them out in a flash! 

Clean-up hitter was the multitalented Bob White, whose leadership and gameplay as co-captain and shortstop/pitcher was executed with laser-like precision. Whether on the mound, in the batter’s box, or at shortstop, Bob could be counted on to the get the job done. His hitting specialty was arranging early exits for opposing pitchers. 

Rich “Shemo” Szymanski, the other co-captain, was the field general. His intense, aggressive style challenged teammates to excel. Szymanski was a risk-taker. He didn’t hesitate to seize an opportunity during a game, and took it personally when an opposing runner tried to snatch an extra base. As centerfielder/pitcher, Shemo’s rocket-like throwing arm gunned down opponents in the batter’s box and base paths. 

Right field belonged to Tom Kujawa. His flawless fielding and rifle-accurate throws accorded rival batters additional sit-down time on the bench. In the batter’s box, his razor-sharp eyes, quick reflexes, and knowledge of the strike zone provided the team with another power hitter. He was the real deal, a complete package: strong, solid, and consistent. The word error was not in his vocabulary, performing with disciplined intelligence. 

First baseman Dan Adzia stretched and scooped his way to defensive superiority. He made tough plays look easy. He played his position with style, skills, and awesome agility. At bat, he’d crush the ball, sending it past infielders before they could react, adding to the success of the All-Stars. 

The “hot corner” was the domain of third baseman Joe Dybel. Tenacious on defense, he’d turn a hot smash into an ice-cold out! Competitors contended he used adhesive in his glove, but he didn’t need glue, just his cat-like reflexes and his own special radar. His flawless fielding gems added luster to the diamond on which he played. In the batter’s box, his skills were awesome. He knew the strike zone and adapted to speeds and pitches with uncanny ability. He didn’t spend much time in the dugout because he was always on base. 

Pitchers Art Mehuron and Steve Vrlik hurled lightning-quick fastballs and tantalizing curves, keeping opposing batters baffled until the umpire ended their guesswork by calling them out. The entirety of the All-Stars’ pitching staff had more called strikes than disgruntled unions. Their collective achievement—as 12-year-olds!—would have made Cy Young smile. 

Utility players John Shield, Jack Duray, Rich Gasky, and Pat O’Keefe were called upon to complete defensive or offensive strategies. Like interchangeable, precision-made parts, these role players provided coaches with quality options—enhancing and strengthening offense and defense to meet game situations. Alternate All-Stars team member Tom Justak traveled to Williamsport but did not play as per Little League rules.

Even though the Official Record Book of Major League Baseball lists the New York Yankees as the top team in baseball for 1952, don’t believe it! The best team that year—the number one, all-around, All-American, unequaled, unsurpassed, superior, championship outfit—was none other than the Whiting Little League All-Stars. These 15 boys of summer from Whiting, Indiana, along with their coaches, wore the uniform proudly, represented their hometown with honor, and performed like seasoned veterans on the Field of Dreams. Exhibiting quality of character via their demeanor, conduct, and courage, they made champions of us all!

This August marks the 70-year milestone of their achievement, and we remember all who made this remembrance possible. This writer would be remiss if recognition and tribute to the Whiting Little league All-Stars of 1951 were not also honored.

Members of that team included Alan Adzia, Mike Benak, Gene Bubala, Dave Dufallo, Dick Grant, Mike Hughes, Joe Krajniki, Don Kurcz, Joe Manchak, Jim O’Keefe, Steve Pustek, Ray Strabavy, Rich Szymanski, Don Turich, and Robert White. 

Whiting’s 1951 All-Stars were defeated by a team from Chicago. That game was protested for rule violations, and a formal complaint was filed with Little League officials. Subsequently, the Chicago team was disqualified for having 15-year-old players on their team. At that time, an effort was made to award the trophy to the proper team--the Whiting All Stars of 1951. However, for unexplained reasons, Little League officials failed to act and never corrected the Rule violation of unsportsman-like conduct. Regardless, the 1951 team earned the respect of their peers and also deserves to be recognized, honored, and celebrated.

The 1951 and 1952 Little League teams from Whiting, Indiana, enriched the diamonds each time they demonstrated their talent, skill, and sportsmanship. After seven decades, their individual and collective quality of character still glistens and reflects from every facet of the diamond on the Field of Dreams.