50 years ago, Hutton Pharmacy's Softball team went to the Nationals in New York

50 years ago this month, the Blackwell community defied the odds and raised $2,500 (roughly $16,000 by today’s standards) to send the Hutton Pharmacy men’s softball team to the 1974 American Softball Association Men’s Slowpitch Nationals at Jones Beach in Long Island, New York.

Now, Dan Hutton, who was the team’s Coach, looks back fondly on that memory speaking from experience and from archives of the Journal-Tribune gathered with the help of the Blackwell Public Library’s microfiche records. 

The Hutton Pharmacy team earned their spot in the 1974 ASA Nationals by dominating the Winfield State Hospital in the 1974 Oklahoma-Kansas Regional Class A Softball Tournament at Morgan Field with a 33-21 victory, earning both teams spot in the Nationals. 

“I still remember that,” said Hutton, a twinkle in his eyes, “a big, powerful, home run soaring across the Fairgrounds’ barns. It was amazing.” 

The exhilaration of winning that tournament and placing in the nationals was cut short quickly when Hutton and his team realized they had to raise a staggering $2,500 for expenses to attend the Long Island-set nationals. 

“We were all local boys with a great team,” said Hutton, “but we were all adults, you know? We had families. How were we going to raise that kind of money in just under a week?” 

The Blackwell community showed them exactly how that money would be raised. 

According to the Blackwell Journal-Tribune, the drive towards the financial goal was started by generous donations from First National Bank, Hutton Pharmacy Pharmacy, Security Bank, Shepherd Oil, and Max Rogers. 

“We were doing everything we could,” said Hutton, “we held raffles, drawings sold gift certificates, we even stood on the streets with our hats out.” 

One fundraising opportunity Hutton remembers well was an exhibition game against the Blackwell Elks Lodge 16-and-older girls softball team at Morgan Field. 

As the deadline neared, the Journal-Tribune reported that more and more organizations, businesses, and individuals stepped forward including Pam Hardware, Glen Craft, Roy Holder, Weigle’s Agency, Leroy Hadley, Rafferty’s, Don Loftis Insurance, J.B. Bickford, Max Fry, the Blackwell Veterans of Foreign Wars VFW, the Blackwell American Legion, Davis Paint, Paul Jensen, Ellis Hoover, The Penny Bar, Dottie Mae’s Beauty Shop, Joe Morton, and Fey’s IGA. 

The $2,500 goal was met the Saturday it was due…with just 26 dollars over the goal line.

According to the Journal, he goal was met with the last-minute help of Harvy Paige, Fred Wolz, West-Dyers, Bill Hahn, Glenn Woodburn, Bob Hunt’s Men’s Wear, Mitchell Fence Company, Fred Locke, Marland Hardware, Dr. L. M. Sandy, Dr. Don Becker, Frank and Joy Dyer, and the Menzer Insurance Agency.

“We couldn’t believe it,” said Hutton. “It was so incredible to see all these businesses and individuals coming together to support us in such a short amount of time.” 

“We drove all night, cross-country, to make it to that game,” Hutton continued, “we had a great time. It was such a fun trip.” 

It was Hutton along with John White, Barry Woltz, Virgil Ackerson, Mark Leen, Keith Raper, John Campbell, Bob Frankenfield, Doyce Boesch, Bill Ward, David Reser, Mike Shepherd, and Craig Paige. 

“We were all guys just playing for fun, you know? It was about being there for each other. It was about giving your all, making your hometown proud, and having a good time doing it,” Hutton smiled. 

Hutton recalled the time fondly, and his bright smile only wavered slightly, staring at the black and white photo of him and his team at Morgan Field, saying: “Many of them aren’t around anymore.” 

He recited the men that were gone, now, looking into the smiling faces of himself and the others preserved under a laminated Journal-Tribune news clipping. 

“I really would like to recognize three teammates, the best double play combination that year,” Hutton said, “Mike Shepard at first base Johnny White at second base and Mark Leen at shortstop.” 

“It’s the 50th anniversary, and these guys- all of them were just awesome, they were the best. We represented Blackwell at a national level, and we got there by the grace of our community,” said Hutton. 

When the Hutton Pharmacy team arrived in Long Island, Hutton said it was a David and Goliath matchup that they never had a chance of winning. 

“These were people that were getting paid to play,” he said, “these guys did this for life. We were just a group of friends that did it in our spare time.” 

Out of the 49 teams, Blackwell placed 25th (1-2) according to the resource website Softball History USA. 

But it wasn’t about the placement. It wasn’t about the victory. 

“It was about getting there, being there. It was about Blackwell and how this community can come together in ways both big and small,” Hutton said.