Sandlotters 48-01-21 The Legend Of The Bulls Eye

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio - Episode: Sandlotters 48-01-21 The Legend Of The Bulls Eye

Release Date: February 5, 2025
Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio
Description: Reliving the Golden Age of Radio, this episode of "Harold's Old Time Radio" transports listeners back to the era before television, showcasing beloved shows and memorable personalities such as "The Shadow," "Abbott & Costello," "Amos & Andy," and "Dragnet."

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1. Sports Roundup

Timestamp: [02:20] – [04:04]

The episode kicks off with a comprehensive sports update, delivered with the vibrant energy characteristic of the Golden Age of Radio.

• Baseball Highlights:

  • Hank Greenberg's Contract: "Hank Greenberg with the Pirates... the highest paid player in National League history" ([02:20]).
  • Detroit Tigers' Roster Update: Introduction of Harold Neuhauser joining the team, with a mention of the remaining unsigned players: Paul Dizzy Trout, Bob Swift, Roy Cullen, Vine, Freddy Hutchinson, and Al Benton ([02:20]).

• Boxing News:

  • Middleweight champion Tony Zale expresses readiness to face Rocky Graziano "Anytime, anywhere" ([02:20]).

• Hockey Update:

  • Detroit Red Wings are battling against the odds to secure a playoff spot, facing the world champion Montreal Canadiens tonight ([02:20]).

• Local Sports Tributes:

  • In memoriam of Bud Shaver, former WXYZ and Detroit Times sports editor who passed away after a stroke ([02:20]).

• Golf Tournament:

  • Coverage of the International Golf Championship featuring Ben Hogan of Hershey, Pennsylvania, and Dye Reese of England ([02:20]).

• Boxing Victory:

  • George Sonny Horn's decisive win over Pete Mead in Grand Rapids, Michigan ([02:20]).

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2. High School Sports Spotlight: Tom Doran

Timestamp: [05:17] – [07:03]

Judge John D. Watts introduces the segment focusing on outstanding high school athletes, with special attention to Tom Doran of St. Catherine's High School.

• Coach's Praise:

  • "If it's reliability you want, I've got the boy," praises Coach Harry Spielman of St. Catherine's, highlighting Tom's consistent performance across multiple sports ([05:35]).

• Academic and Leadership Excellence:

  • "He's an A student, you know, and Tom is bound to be a success in whatever he attempts," emphasizes Tom's academic prowess and leadership qualities, as evidenced by his election as class president ([05:54]).

• Personal Struggles and Resilience:

  • Tom shares, "Yes, Tom's deceased father can be proud of his boy," reflecting on his commitment to supporting his family after his father's passing ([06:19]).

• Scholarship Announcement:

  • An invitation is extended to attend the Sandlotters Scholarship Dinner, where two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to Detroit's most deserving high school athletes ([06:34]).

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3. The Legend of the Bullseye: Captain Eddie Grant's Heroism

Timestamp: [07:03] – [12:25]

This captivating segment narrates the heroic tale of Captain Eddie Grant, intertwining sports legacy with wartime valor.

• Eddie Grant's Dual Legacy:

  • Tom Doran recounts Eddie Grant as "a great national hero as well as a sports idol," highlighting his prowess as a third baseman for John McGraw's team before enlisting in World War I ([07:09]).

• Transition from Athlete to Soldier:

  • "Nah, I guess I better go. It seems to me this is more important than playing baseball right now," captures Eddie's determination to serve despite the allure of the World Series ([08:01]).

• Battle of Argonne Forest:

  • Detailed account of the intense combat in the Argonne Forest where Captain Grant leads his men with unwavering courage, ultimately sacrificing his life to save his company ([09:40] – [11:47]).

• The Bullseye Incident:

  • A sniper's fatal shot precisely hits the spot Eddie circled on his map, symbolizing his strategic mind even in death: "the sniper's bullet had passed through that black circle" ([11:42]).

• Enduring Legacy:

  • The legend of the Bullseye underscores Eddie Grant's selflessness and tactical brilliance, leaving a lasting impression as "one of yesterday's greatest sportlights" ([11:47]).

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4. Judge's Corner: Mrs. Barney Dreyfus and Scholarships

Timestamp: [12:25] – [13:55]

Judge John D. Watts, accompanied by Fred Wolf, delves into the significant contributions of Mrs. Barney Dreyfus to the Pittsburgh Athletic Company and the community.

• Mrs. Dreyfus's Leadership:

  • Following her husband's passing in 1932, Mrs. Dreyfus took over as chairman, demonstrating exemplary leadership and passion for baseball, which she regards "as the king of all sports" ([12:30]).

• Philanthropic Efforts:

  • Emphasis on the Sandlotters' scholarships funded by Mohawk Lumber and WXYZ radio station, aiming to reward Detroit's most deserving high school athletes with financial support for their education ([12:30]).

• Encouragement to Youth:

  • "Hard work on your studies may pay dividends and scholarships, so keep working," serves as an inspirational message to young listeners striving for academic and athletic excellence ([12:30]).

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Notable Quotes

• Coach Harry Spielman on Tom Doran:
  "If it's reliability you want, I've got the boy." ([05:35])

• Tom Doran on His Father's Pride:
  "Yes, Tom's deceased father can be proud of his boy." ([06:19])

• Captain Eddie Grant on Duty:
  "Nah, I guess I better go. It seems to me this is more important than playing baseball right now." ([08:01])

• Tom Doran on the Legend of the Bullseye:
  "He was always in the lead, more often exposed to fire than not." ([10:11])

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Conclusion

This episode of "Harold's Old Time Radio" masterfully blends contemporary sports reporting with heartfelt community stories and heroic historical narratives. From celebrating local high school athletes to commemorating a sportsman's ultimate sacrifice in war, the show encapsulates the spirit of camaraderie, excellence, and resilience that defined the Golden Age of Radio. Listeners are left inspired by the enduring legacies of individuals like Tom Doran and Captain Eddie Grant, underscoring the timeless values of dedication and honor.

Transcript

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[Judge John D. Watts]

The Sand Ladders Here are the sand ladders, the 744th sand ladders program dedicated to clean living, clean sport and good citizenship. In a moment, Judge John D. Watts and Fred Wolf. But first, this message from the people who make the Sandlotter scholarships possible. Whether it be one piece of lumber or a carload, you can get it at Mohawk Lumber and Supply Co. West Chicago at Hubble. Yes, because in Mohawk's five acre yards you will find 5 million square feet of lumber of every type, size and description. And incidentally folks, a huge shipment of plywood just arrived at the Mohawk lumberyard. You want to latch on to the best plywood buy, we suggest you hurry down to the Mohawk yard at West Chicago at Hubble. It's first come, first served. Delivery will be made anywhere in the metropolitan area. It's Mohawk Lumber and Supply Company West Chicago at Hubble, Detroit's most progressive lumber dealer. Sport Shorts from Coast to Coast Pittsburgh.

[Sports Announcer]

Joy reigns in Pittsburgh today with a signing of slugging Hank Greenberg with the Pirates. Greenberg put the Smoky City baseball fans at high tide when he decided to play one more season. He signed a contract with the Pirates that will make him the highest paid player in National League history and perhaps in the history of baseball. Lakeland, Florida Harold Neuhauser has joined the Detroit Tiger fold today. Lincoln Leaving only five players who have not signed their contracts. The unsigned quintet includes Paul Dizzy Trout, Bob Swift, Roy Cullen, Vine, Freddy Hutchinson and Al Benton. Hot Springs, Arkansas middleweight champion Tony Zale today expressed willingness to put on the gloves with suspended challenger Rocky Graziano Anytime, anywhere. Detroit the Detroit Red Wings believe the world is against them. The Motor City Pucksters are desperately fighting to make the National Hockey League playoffs. So tonight we they are scheduled to meet the world champion Montreal Canadiens. Detroit newspaper and radio circles today are extolling the deeds of Bud Shaver, who died last night after a short illness. The 47 year old former WXYZ and Detroit Times sports editor suffered a stroke Tuesday night and died in the Harbor Hospital at 10:35 last night. San Diego, California the two mighty mites of the Fairways phantom Ben Hogan of Hershey, Pennsylvania and Dye Reese of England will tee off today in a 36 hole match for the mythical International Golf Championship. Detroit George Sonny Horn, promising young middleweight from Long Island, New York, was savoring his revenge today for he punched out a decision victory over rugged Pete Mead, Grand Rapids, Michigan in a 10 round slug fest before over 6,000 fans at Olympia last night.

[Judge John D. Watts]

The High School Column the Metropolitan Basketball.

[Sports Announcer]

Playoff to determine a city champion which completed its first round last night, proved to be a bombshell to the favorite Southwestern. The defending city champions were beaten by Northern 39 to 36. Northern, who finished in third place in the regular season in the east side division, was not expected to give the Southwestern boys much trouble. Pershing squeezed through over Central 30 to 28. Miller topped U. Of D 35 to 32. The final game saw Denby, a Northwestern forced into overtime before Denby came through with some fine shooting and walked off the court. The winner 35 to 31 in the parochial league. Mount Carmel 67, Xavier 21. Dick Kowalski, Mount Carmel forward, scored 29 points as they held a comfortable margin throughout the entire game. Other scores St. Vincent 54, St. Bernard 43, Sacred Heart 30, St. Hedwig 21, St. Patrick 54, St. Casmere 26St. Mary of Royal Oak won their 12th straight by downing Shrine 38 to 23. St. James 39, St. Rita 17 and that's the latest from the high school column.

[Judge John D. Watts]

The Sandlotters High School Sportlight.

[Fred Wolf]

This is Judge Watts. Our high school sport light this week shines on Tom Doran of St. Catherine's High School. And here is Fred Wolf, the voice of Mohawk Lumber with Tom Story.

[Sports Announcer]

If it's reliability you want, I've got the boy. That's the way Coach Harry Spielman of St. Catharines High School sized up Tom Doran, his 6 foot 1 inch basketball center. No one could go wrong on Tom, coach Spielman continued. He's always giving his best, whether he's in a football, basketball uniform or at.

[Tom Doran]

His desk in the classroom.

[Sports Announcer]

He rates so high with the students that his senior class swept him in as president. He's an A student, you know, and Tom is bound to be a success in whatever he attempts. All the bashful Doran could muster from such a buildup was, thanks, coach, but I'm really not that good. Tom can't give all his time to athletics at the Eastside School, however, he Must help his mother support a family which was left fatherless some years ago.

[Tom Doran]

Yes, Tom's deceased father can be proud of his boy.

[Sports Announcer]

So to you, Tom Doran goes the Golden Basketball. And an invitation is in the mail for you to attend the Sandlotters Scholarship Dinner to be held later in the year when two $1,000 scholarships will be.

[Tom Doran]

Awarded to Detroit's two most deserving high school athletes.

[Judge John D. Watts]

Now it's time for the voice of Mohawk Lumber, Fred Wolf and yesterday's sports. The legend of the Bullseye.

[Sports Announcer]

It's a strange story, this tale of.

[Tom Doran]

A man who is a great national.

[Sports Announcer]

Hero as well as a sports idol.

[Tom Doran]

Eddie Grant was a big leaguer, a grand person and truly a great ball player. It was before the first war, and.

[Sports Announcer]

Much like our own Charlie Geringer, Eddie.

[Tom Doran]

Was the quiet, stage, studious type. He was a Harvard man, strictly the pipe and book type of guy.

[Sports Announcer]

But nevertheless, Eddie became one of the greatest third basemen for one of the.

[Tom Doran]

Toughest baseball men of them all, John McGraw. Even old John warmed up to this lad. For at third base, Eddie Grant was like a stone wall. With the grace and speed of a ballet dancer, Eddie stopped everything that came sizzling his way. He was about to step into the.

[Sports Announcer]

World Series of that year when.

[Tom Doran]

When he heard the call to colors in that first great war and enlisted as a private, his friends told him he was crazy to cast aside the gold and the glory of a World Series. But in his quiet deliberate way, he simply answered.

[Judge John D. Watts]

Nah, I guess I better go. It seems to me this is more important than playing baseball right now.

[Tom Doran]

And so Eddie Grant became Private Eddie Grant. And that's how the strange legend of the Bullseye began months later in France. Now the ex ball player had become a captain. He and others in his outfit had been slugging it out with the Kaiser's legions ragged dog, tired and hungry. Captain Eddie Grant wished his outfit would be relieved. But they couldn't.

[Sports Announcer]

Not now.

[Tom Doran]

The big push was on.

[Sports Announcer]

They were a part of a battle that was to make history.

[Tom Doran]

The famous battle of the Argonne Forest. The Germans were put putting up a furious deep fence. They were throwing everything they had at Captain Grant's company. But suddenly. Suddenly the nerve shattering bombardment came to a stop. A terrible silence closed in. Captain Grant, puzzled by the deathly silence.

[Sports Announcer]

Call the command post for information.

[Judge John D. Watts]

Cp. CP Calling command post. Cp. Answer please. Command post. No answer. Well men, it. It looks as if this is it. We're cut off. That's why the Jerry stopped firing.

[Tom Doran]

Yes, they were cut off. The Entire company was cut off from the rest of our forces.

[Sports Announcer]

Now it was just a matter of.

[Tom Doran]

Being slaughtered by the enemy. The ball player captain pulled a map out of his pocket and with a dark pencil circled a spot in the forest carefully.

[Judge John D. Watts]

Our only chance is to fall back to this spot where there are two companies. We can join them and be safe. But it means walking through two miles of the forest. And as you all know, that forest is full of snipers. But it's our only chance. Let's go.

[Tom Doran]

With his 200 men and the map in his pocket, Captain Eddie Grant stepped.

[Sports Announcer]

Into the lead and started for the run.

[Tom Doran]

Death lurked behind every tree. The tired hungry men kept up their courage only because Eddie Grant set them a magnificent example. He was always in the lead, more often exposed to fire than not. It got so every few minutes, fingers of slashing snipers lead reached out to bring death to the men following Eddie. The snipers made the walk a nightmare. But Captain Grant kept pushing for that spot he had circled on the map. The ex ballplayer remembered that the time to keep pushing hardest is when you're in a pinch. This meant life or death to his men and he was going to get them through. Horrible silence was shattered regularly with a scream of sniper's bullets. The mistake of early dawn made the forest a ghostly place. As the ragged group approached the safety point.

[Sports Announcer]

Now they could see our forces.

[Tom Doran]

It was just a matter of yards now. But sitting high on a tree branch, a sniper took careful aim and fired. For the sniper it was a bullseye. The bullet ripped into the chest of the man leading the group. Yes, Captain Eddie Grant.

[Sports Announcer]

Of course.

[Tom Doran]

Eddie's men cut the sniper down with a hundred shots. But there was the brave captain dead in the mud of the Argonne Forest. Most of his men were saved, but he was dead. And as the legend goes, someone removed that map from Eddie's pocket.

[Sports Announcer]

And strangely it was discovered that the sniper's bullet had passed through that black circle.

[Tom Doran]

And Eddie had drawn around the safety spot the exact spot where the lost company was saved. The exact spot where Captain Eddie Grant was killed. Fantastic. Yes, but true. Truly one of yesterday's greatest sportlights. The legend of the bullsey.

[Judge John D. Watts]

And now the Judge's corner. Here is Judge John D. Watts.

[Fred Wolf]

Upon the death of her husband, Mrs. Barney Dreyfus was elected to the chairmanship the board of directors of the Pittsburgh Athletic Company. Barney Dreyfus passed on in 1932 after a lingering illness. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Florence Wolf, the youngest of 13 children, was educated in that city and married Dreyfus, then the proprietor of the Louisville Colonels. Mrs. Dreyfus has always been intensely interested in the affairs of the Pirates and to this day ardently follows their fortunes. Mrs. Dreyfus stands out prominently in baseball, the king of all sports. Because she loves the game and because to her it's the finest of all sports, she has been a credit to the game. Again, we remind the sample ladders of Detroit of the two $1,000 Mohawk Lumber and Supply Company and radio station WXYZ scholarships which will be awarded to Detroit's most deserving high school athletes. Hard work on your studies may pay dividends and scholarships, so keep working.

[Judge John D. Watts]

Just as soon as taxes and baseball will be here, lumber prices will go up in the spring. And that's why Mohawk Lumber and Supply Company, West Chicago at Hubble advises that you buy your lumber now, whether it be for repairing or building your home, garage or a snug chicken coop. Your every lumber need can be supplied at Mohawk Lumber. Now here again is an illustration of a typical Mohawk lumber bargain. They have 400,000 board feet of spruce boards selling at $85 per thousand board feet. That's exactly $15, a thousand below market price. Is it any wonder that people are headed for the Mohawk Lumber and Supply Company, West Chicago at Hubble to get better lumber, better prices and quicker delivery? Listening again next Saturday at this same time for Judge John D. Watts, Fred Wolf and the sand lottery. Larry McCann speaking. This is the Michigan Radio Network.

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