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Sports Memories by Tom Jones

Just before the Fourth of July I was leaving a local fast-food restaurant after having a quick breakfast when I was greeted by two longtime friends from Hayward who I had called on when selling advertising for the Tribune promoting their meat market.

I was pleased to hear how much they enjoyed this column being Albert Lea graduates. I was asked if I would ever look back at the year one of them graduated which was 1962. Being I was born that great summer, I thought I would and that is what you are reading this week.

July 1962

Albert Lea Colonels manager Myron Hoffman was slated to pitch in a Colonels game that was being played in Bloomington. He was going into the game with an 0-2 record. Rich Oliphant was leading the team with a .455 batting average.

The University of Minnesota was sending out 25,000 season ticket applications for the upcoming football season. A season ticket would cost $27 for the six games.

Marion Houge, Ruby Knutson and Mildred Ward recorded chip-ins at the Albert Lea Country Club’s Ladies’ Day.

Mankato handed the Albert Lea VFW baseball team their first loss of the season, 1-0 in a game played at Hayek Field. John Heglend took the loss for Albert Lea, allowing just one hit.

The Glenville amateur baseball team defeated Hayward 13-3 in State Line League baseball play. Herb Houg was the winning pitcher and also contributed three hits. Ed Stalker added a two-run triple in the win.

Phyliss Dress won honors in the Class A Division of a low putt event held at a Ladies’ Day golf tournament held at the Green Lea Golf Course.

Wells defeated Albert Lea’s B baseball team 7-2 in 5-Star American Legion baseball action at Hayek Field. With the loss, coach Bill Christopherson’s team ended the regular season with a 3-4 record. They were set to play Waldorf-Pemberton in the opening round of the play-offs.

Fred Jones shot a 30 to set a new amateur record for the par 36 Green Lea Golf Course. Owner Bert Greengo noted the only person to have ever shot a better score was pro golfer Wally Ulrich, who shot a 28 when the course was a par 37.

Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle each hit two home runs to lead the New York Yankees to a 7-5 win over the Minnesota Twins at Metropolitan Stadium.

Academy Park’s Tom Tweed pitched a no-hitter in a 6-0 win over Morin Park in Park League baseball play.

Glenville defeated Kiester 5-4 in 5-Star American Legion baseball play. Glenville scored the winning run when Dave Hanson scored Larry Grinolds on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning. Glen Jensen got the win for Glenville.

Dave Wilcox was the weekly scoring champion in Pentathlon events held at Abbott Field with 410 points out of a possible 500. Kent Erlandson had a 405, Mike Callahan 390, Gary Thompson 380 and Bill Warren 370.

The foursome of Deanne Winegar, Virginia Davies, Betty Arnold and Crystal Ferley won a ladies’ team handicap golf event at the Albert Lea Country Club.

Hog Cut took both ends of a doubleheader 10-6 and 7-3 over Billing in Wilson League softball play. Dale Williamson was the winning pitcher in game one with Bill Chicos getting the win in the nightcap.

Candy Jurgenson was the winning pitcher as Morin Park defeated Hayek Park 15-8 in a girls’ softball game played at Belview Park.

I hope you have enjoyed looking back at these sports memories of 62 years ago.

Alumni update

Minnesota Gopher hockey fans will get to see Charlie Cerrato, son of 1977 Albert Lea High School graduate Vinny Cerrato, play the Gophers this winter when the Penn State Nittany Lions play at Mariucci Arena. He played this past season with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League, where he had 12 goals and 38 assists.