Radio Interlude...
That was Cross Canadian Ragweed with their latest chart topper here on the Radio Ranch, KFDI Wichita, FM 101.3. I’m your ranch hand for your drive time, Hank the Mechanic, and its 4:25. Weather today, brought to you by Jabbara’s Carpet Outlet, 6505 North Broadway. Here is KSN meteorologist, Leon Smitherman.
LS: Another hot one today folks. Highs temperatures are into the mid-to-upper 90’s. But tonight, that cool front we’ve been looking for finally comes in and it’s already bringing some rain into the western portions of the KFDI listening area out around Dodge City and Larned. Tonight, we cool down. Lows in the metro area in the upper 60’s. Out west, upper 50’s up around Goodland with low 60’s at Garden City and Dodge. From your KSN weather central on KFDI, I’m Leon Smitherman.
HtM: Thanks Leon. KFDI weather, brought to you by Jabbara’s Carpet Outlet. After a break, we’re back with the latest from Jason Boland and the Stragglers as well as the newest from Garth Brooks…
CLICK!!!!
1410 AM, KGSO… Its 4:30, back to the Hot Corner with Jay Sanderson
JS: We’re back here on the Hot Corner. I’m Jay Sanderson, and we’re just 90 minutes away from Wichita Braves coverage here on 1410 KGSO and the Braves Radio Network. Mike Kennedy and Phil Stephenson will be there with all the action. Remember, tonight in Old Timer’s night down at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium with special commemorative posters celebrating 30 years since the Miracle Braves chased down the St. Louis Browns to win the Cherokee Division and clinched their first PBA championship beating the Minneapolis Millers. Much of that run can be attributed to the man joining me now. He was part of the very dangerous team of Braves from the late 70’s and early 80’s. He was part of the Southland Express, Brave’s Hall of Fame second base man, Frank White. Frank, welcome to the show.
FW: Jay, good to be here and great to be back in Wichita.
JS: You came to baseball here in Wichita through what can only be described as difficult conditions. Can you tell us about the journey that brought you here?
FW: Well Jay, like a lot of young blacks, we grew up either in the ghettos of the Confederate cities or on the “Homeland” plots we were shoveled onto. Athletics in general were one of the few escapes out of this trap. My parents, God bless them, told me as much and my father after a day in the fields or the mills would get me out and make me work on my fielding, my hitting. In violation of the laws, he and my mother taught me to read and write. Everything was in preparation to getting me across the border before I was sent for work in the factories at 15. I made it to Southern Missouri with some help from some very good church folks, like a lot of us did then.
JS: You started playing organized ball at a refugee school and then what happened?
FW: Well, I was spotted by a scout for the Monarchs who offered to sign me at a bargain basement price of $4,000. He’d seen so many players coming up from the CS that he never expected one who was literate. When I asked him to read the contract, he balked and said his handshake was as good as a contract. When I to have the pastor of the school look at it to make sure it was fair, I was told “that if I was so uppity, no wonder I ran out of the CS before they shot me down in the street.” Right there I made a promise to myself that I would never play for Kansas City in my life as a ball player, no matter how much money they threw at me.
JS: But, was it 3 weeks later, the coach from Fort Scott Community College saw you play?
FW: That’s right Jay. The coach of the Greyhounds said he had heard about me from some folks and wanted to see if I was all they said I was, meaning educated. I took the EIA’s and came away with a scholarship to play baseball. My two years there polished my game and when the Monarchs came calling after those years, I turned them down and signed with the Braves.
JS: You played second base and developed a very respectable power swing for a middle infielder. But it was your situational hitting that was showcased when your fellow Express member, Ozzie Smith showed up in ’78.
FW: Heh, heh. The Wizard of Oz. Anything hit between us was a dead ball.
JS: Add that to the bats of left fielder Joel Youngblood and first baseman Mike Hargrove, you put it all together for the first of 7 championships Wichita has brought home in the past 30 years.
FW: I was very proud Jay to be part of the first title, just as I was the last one I was a part of six years ago as 1st base coach.
JS: I know you’ve moved on to manage the team in Topeka the past three seasons, I’m very glad we were able to have you here in a night off from those responsibilities.
FW: My job with the Senators wouldn’t be possible without the great years here in Wichita.
JS: That was Frank White, Braves hall of famer, who will be there tonight for the 30 year celebration. And this is the Hot Corner here on 1410 KGSO.
