Another World Series Guest from Austin – Ray Rosenbaum

I’ve been pushing forward on my Southern Minny related research for an eventual presentation on integration in the Southern Minny League from Ted “Double Duty” Radcliff and Lefty Gread McKinnis’ appearances for the Rochester Aces in 1948 to Art “Superman” Pennington for the Mason City Braves and Dick Newberry for the Rochester Royals in 1957 along with a hoped for appearance of Sherwood Brewer in Winona. Along the way, I sometimes get a bit distracted and clearly this time it is Ray Rosenbaum’s fault.

While running through the 1955 Southern Minny season in the Austin Daily Herald I ran into a series of articles covering the invitation and attendance of former Austin Packer Ray Rosenbaum at Game 1 of the World Series and his other potential adventures in New York City.  It turns out that after three eventful summers of baseball with Emil Scheid’s Packers, Ray was named an MVP of Army baseball in Europe.

Playing with the 39^th Regimental Falcons team in Europe in 1955, Ray posted a 7-1 record while averaging 10 strikeouts per appearance. At the dish, Ray posted a .383 average in 35 contests. I managed to obtain a photo of Ray crossing home plate following his 11^th home run of the 1955 season – a three run shot in the finale of a series between Ray’s Falcons and the VII Corps Jayhawks:

Ray “Rosey” Rosenbaum crossing home plate following a three run home run.

Ray received 56,740 votes to be named the most valuable player in a poll conducted by Stars and Stripes. His reward was the trip to New York City including Yankee Stadium alongside George Morgan, of the Bitburg Barons. An archival photo by Stars and Stripes shows the two MVP’s meeting Billy Martin before the game. https://www.stripes.com/blogs/from-the-archives/meeting-billy-martin-1955-1.485859

From their box seats above home plate, the two MVP’s watched the Yankees take Game 1 with Whitey Ford outlasting the Dodger’s Don Newcombe. Their reward also included lodging at the Waldorf-Astoria, tickets to Broadway shows, and media appearances with the likes of TV pioneer Dave Garroway.

Rosenbaum and Morgan engaged in a game of “predictions” during the game with Morgan coming out on top. Fortunately for Brooklyn, Rosenbaum’s prediction of a seven game series proved true with the Dodgers taking the series via a shutout in Game 7.

https://www.stripes.com/news/good-game-but-not-great-mvps-agree-after-opener-1.66898

Even though it was pitching and offensive prowess that propelled Ray to the MVP designation in 1955, left handed pitching was his calling card when he arrived in Austin, Minnesota ready for action in the Southern Minny on May 31, 1952. Called in to relieve Al Fleiner, Rosenbaum turned in 6 2/3 innings of serviceable relief. Most importantly, Ray issued only four walks as control had been a significant problem for the Packer moundsmen to that point. Seven games into the season, the Packers were in last place with only two wins with Ray now having one of them.

Ray’s ability to silence opposing bats helped stabilize an otherwise floundering mound staff. His efforts resulted in him being named to the 1952 Southern Minny League East All-Star Team. Rosenbaum started the last two games of the playoff series against Albert Lea losing the final game 1-0 but he gave up only four hits in the loss after no-hitting Albert Lea for six innings.

During the regular season, Ray won 8 and lost 5 in 112 2/3 innings. Only Carl DeRose had more wins on the Austin pitching staff posting 10 of his own, down substantially from Carl’s 17 wins the year prior.

Ray returned to Austin in 1953 with Austin having high expectations of him based on his prior year’s service. Ray settled in pushed his record to 5-1 by tossing a three hitter against Owatonna. His next victory came again at the expense of the Aces behind a five hitter and a ton of run support as the Packers blasted the Aces 12-2. By the end of the regular season Ray posted a 10 and 7 record while also earning some renown at the plate later in the season.

It was in the postseason, however, where Ray shown brightest. He was credited with two wins in each round of the Southern Minny League Playoffs and two wins in the state tournament as Austin claimed the AA State Championship behind an 8-1 complete game nine hitter from Rosey in the championship game.

After another season at Purdue in which Ray was named the MVP of the mound staff, expectations were high in Austin for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, Emil Scheid was looking forward to a dominating season from the left hander. Secondly, Ray was set to be married in Austin in June. Upsetting the apple cart, Ray announced early on his intentions to turn professional.

With a fiance from Austin and nuptials on the horizon, Ray elected to return to Austin and rejoin the Packers. Unfortunately any repeat of his past success was limited by arm soreness following a relief outing and a later injury to a finger on his pitching hand when hit by a pitch while attempting to bunt. With his record on the mound for the Falcons in 1955 and photo touching home plate for the 1958 State Champion Austin Packers on page 114 in Townball:  The Glory Days of Minnesota Amateur Baseball by Armand Peterson and Tom Tomashek it is obvious that he was able to make a recovery from his arm troubles in 1954.

I’ll get back to my research this weekend although it may be some time I am ready to document more of the Ray Rosenbaum story.