The 1931 American Legion team was the first to represent Warren F. Hoyle Post 82 in Shelby. The team was organized and
coached by Dr. B.M. Jarrett, standing at left on top row.
By Alan Ford
The history of American Legion baseball in Shelby spans everything from the Great Depression, World War II, the Vietnam era, and on up and past the turn of a new century. Championships, big crowds and future major leaguers have made the sport a big deal in Shelby.
The program has never lost site of its heritage, however. The 1931 team in Shelby stands as the first American Legion squad to represent the town and Warren F. Hoyle Post 82. Many folks wouldn’t believe its origin if it weren’t true.
Dr. Buford Martin Jarrett was an avid sportsman at that time. To start an American Legion baseball team, he simply began asking for players in the Sunday School class he taught at First Baptist Church in Shelby to get involved. They did and became the nucleus of the team. One of those players, R.K. Wilson, in 1965 in The Star, spoke of Dr. Jarrett’s contribution.
“(He) was the whole thing,” Wilson said. “He was the athletic officer, coach, manager and furnished transportation fo for the boys. There were 10 or 12 boys on the team including the bat boy.
"Shelby was eliminated by Charlotte that first year but really started to build up a good team later. They managed to get uniform from somewhere, used old patched up (base)balls and taped bats.”
In another story from The Star, Jarrett spoke of those early years.
“We played with make-shift (base)balls that were sewn up by Perry Sellers at his shoe shop,” he said. “When one would bust a seam, we’d take it to Perry and he’d sew it up and we’d get a lot of play from it, although it was dirty, scarred and hard to hit very far.”
Dr. Jarrett’s daughter, Patricia Jarrett Phifer of Shelby, remembers baseball being a big part of her family’s life at that time, as does her sister, Mary Sue Jarrett Wall, who now lives in Florida.
“He attended every baseball game and in the 1940s, we went with them (Post 82) to the World Series,” Patricia said. “In the early 30s, he would take his car and pick them (the players) up. They’d ride on the running board.
“Dad was an active sportsman. He would get out and walk years before that became popular. He loved to breathe to the fresh air.”
Dr. Jarrett wasn’t the only one connected to the American Legion. His wife, Mary Sue Pruett Jarrett – who passed away five years ago at 97 – held national office in the American Legion’s women’s auxiliary. She served as the national president of that organization in 1973-74.
“She was very active in veteran’s causes,” Patricia said. “She was make visits to the hospital down in Salisbury.”
Contact Star Sports Editor Alan Ford at alanford@shelbystar.com.
The history of American Legion baseball in Shelby spans everything from the Great Depression, World War II, the Vietnam era, and on up and past the turn of a new century. Championships, big crowds and future major leaguers have made the sport a big deal in Shelby.
The program has never lost site of its heritage, however. The 1931 team in Shelby stands as the first American Legion squad to represent the town and Warren F. Hoyle Post 82. Many folks wouldn’t believe its origin if it weren’t true.
Dr. Buford Martin Jarrett was an avid sportsman at that time. To start an American Legion baseball team, he simply began asking for players in the Sunday School class he taught at First Baptist Church in Shelby to get involved. They did and became the nucleus of the team. One of those players, R.K. Wilson, in 1965 in The Star, spoke of Dr. Jarrett’s contribution.
“(He) was the whole thing,” Wilson said. “He was the athletic officer, coach, manager and furnished transportation fo for the boys. There were 10 or 12 boys on the team including the bat boy.
"Shelby was eliminated by Charlotte that first year but really started to build up a good team later. They managed to get uniform from somewhere, used old patched up (base)balls and taped bats.”
In another story from The Star, Jarrett spoke of those early years.
“We played with make-shift (base)balls that were sewn up by Perry Sellers at his shoe shop,” he said. “When one would bust a seam, we’d take it to Perry and he’d sew it up and we’d get a lot of play from it, although it was dirty, scarred and hard to hit very far.”
Dr. Jarrett’s daughter, Patricia Jarrett Phifer of Shelby, remembers baseball being a big part of her family’s life at that time, as does her sister, Mary Sue Jarrett Wall, who now lives in Florida.
“He attended every baseball game and in the 1940s, we went with them (Post 82) to the World Series,” Patricia said. “In the early 30s, he would take his car and pick them (the players) up. They’d ride on the running board.
“Dad was an active sportsman. He would get out and walk years before that became popular. He loved to breathe to the fresh air.”
Dr. Jarrett wasn’t the only one connected to the American Legion. His wife, Mary Sue Pruett Jarrett – who passed away five years ago at 97 – held national office in the American Legion’s women’s auxiliary. She served as the national president of that organization in 1973-74.
“She was very active in veteran’s causes,” Patricia said. “She was make visits to the hospital down in Salisbury.”
Contact Star Sports Editor Alan Ford at alanford@shelbystar.com.
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