Wes Schulmerich
Encyclopedia
Edward Wesley Schulmerich (August 21, 1901 – June 26, 1985) was an American Major League Baseball
player from the state of Oregon
. A native of the state, he played baseball and football at what is now Oregon State University
where he participated in three sports. On the football team, he played three positions and earned the nickname of Ironhorse and all-conference honors. In baseball, he was a right-handed outfielder
and after leaving school started his professional career in the minor leagues. Schulmerich then became the first player from the school to make it to the Major Leagues, playing for three teams in the early 1930s. He is a member of the Oregon State University Sports Hall of Fame and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
.
, on August 21, 1901. He was one of seven children raised on a farm near the city by his father William and mother Annie (née Schmidt). His grandfather Conrad brought the family to the United States in 1856, a family that included politician Edward Schulmerich
, Wes’ uncle. Wes Schulmerich went to high school in Hillsboro, a city west of Portland
. After two years he dropped out of the school and worked on his father’s farm.
In 1921, he enrolled at the Columbia Prep school in Portland, the predecessor to the University of Portland
, a Catholic school. He had been recruited to play football for the school, and did, earning a scholarship to Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University
). Schulmerich had been recruited to play football at the University of Notre Dame
by Knute Rockne
, but declined. He graduated from Columbia Prep in 1923 and headed south to Corvallis and college. There he participated in three sports: football, baseball, and track.
Schulmerich earned the nickname of Ironhorse on the football field as he played fullback on offense, linebacker
on defense, and on special teams was the placekicker. As a junior and senior he earned all-conference honors for his play on the team. On the track team he ran the 100 yard dash, clocking in at 10.5 seconds. In baseball he played in the outfield and hit for a .459 average his senior year. Schulmerich graduated with a bachelors degree in business in 1927 from Oregon State.
after leaving college, but decided to play baseball instead. He began his career playing for the Clarks in the Butte Mining League in Montana
, a semi-professional league. Ralph Coleman
, the Oregon State coach got him the job, along with his second job with the Los Angeles Angels
of the Pacific Coast League
(PCL). In 1927, he hit for a .322 average with no home runs (HRs) and 14 runs batted in (RBIs) in 31 games for the team. The next season he hit .317 with 19 HRs and 96 RBIs in 192 games. For the 1929 season he played in 134 games at hit .328 with 19 HRs and 77 RBIs. Then in 1930 he hit .380, 28 HRs, and 130 RBIs in 189 games.
He was signed by the Chicago Cubs
, but before he played for the team he was traded on October 14, 1930, to the Boston Braves
along with Bill McAfee
for pitcher Bob Smith and outfielder Jimmy Welsh
. On May 1, 1931, Schulmerich made his Major League debut with the Boston Braves
. He was the first person from Oregon State University to play in the Major Leagues. In his first season he batted .309 with 2 HRs and 43 RBIs in 95 games, mainly in right field. The next season he hit .260, and in 1933 he batted .247 in 29 games before he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
. Schulmerich was traded on June 17 along with Fritz Knothe
in exchange for outfielder Hal Lee and third baseman Pinky Whitney.
Finishing the 1933 season with the Phillies, he hit .334 with 8 HRs and 59 RBIs in 97 games. Overall that year he hit .318 for fifth best in the National League
. The next year he played 15 games for the Phillies before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds
on May 16, 1934. The Phillies included outfielder Art Ruble and pitcher Ted Kleinhans in the deal to acquire fellow Oregonian Syl Johnson
(a pitcher) and outfielder Johnny Moore
. Schulmerich played 74 games for the Reds, batting .263 with 5 HRs and 19 RBIs. He played his last major league game on September 30, 1934. He never returned to the Major Leagues, and in 429 career games he hit 27 HRs, drove in 192 runs, and had a .289 batting average.
Schulmerich was sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League
where he spent one season. Schulmerich returned to the Los Angeles Angels for the 1936 season and played in 142 games, batting .301 with 14 HRs and 85 RBIs. In 1937, he was traded to the Portland Beavers
of the PCL upon his request. He played in only 19 games that year, hitting .241. Schulmerich was let go early in the season after an error cost the team a game, an error he laughed at during the play. He then signed with the Lewiston Broncos
in Idaho
of the Western International League
as a player-manager, winning the triple crown
on the field, but doing poorly as manager. After the 1937 season, the team relocated to Bellingham, Washington
, and Schulmerich became just a player. Halfway through the 1938 season he was traded to Spokane
in the same league where he also spent 45 games of the 1939 season. The rest of the season was spent playing in the Pioneer League for Twin Falls, Idaho
. The next year he retired, though he did play in several games in 1941.
during World War II
. He served from 1942 to 1945, leaving as a lieutenant commander
. Schulmerich bought property in Beaver, Oregon
, in Tillamook County
where he ran a fishing resort. He also became a big Oregon State University
fan, never missing a home football game in 62 years.
Schulmerich served as a county commissioner in Tillamook for 11 years before moving to North Albany in 1958. He bought the Albany Golf Course that year, and sold it in 1960, using the profits to pay for retirement. In addition to OSU football games, he and his wife also attended most baseball, basketball, and track home events, as well as many road games. Schulmerich was inducted into the innagural class of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
in 1980 followed in 1991 by induction into OSU’s Sports Hall of Fame. He was diagnosed with cancer in the late 1970s and went through chemotherapy, but never regained his health. Edward Wesley Schulmerich died in Corvallis on June 26, 1985, at the age of 83 and was buried in his hometown of Hillsboro
at the Valley Memorial Mausoleum.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player from the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of the state, he played baseball and football at what is now Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
where he participated in three sports. On the football team, he played three positions and earned the nickname of Ironhorse and all-conference honors. In baseball, he was a right-handed outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and after leaving school started his professional career in the minor leagues. Schulmerich then became the first player from the school to make it to the Major Leagues, playing for three teams in the early 1930s. He is a member of the Oregon State University Sports Hall of Fame and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame honors Oregon athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to sports in Oregon. The first class was inducted in 1980, with new inductees added in the fall...
.
Early life
Edward Wesley “Wes” Schulmerich was born to German immigrants in Hillsboro, OregonHillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
, on August 21, 1901. He was one of seven children raised on a farm near the city by his father William and mother Annie (née Schmidt). His grandfather Conrad brought the family to the United States in 1856, a family that included politician Edward Schulmerich
Edward Schulmerich
Edward C. Schulmerich was a businessman and politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of California, his German family moved to Oregon when he was a boy, settling near Hillsboro. There he worked in the banking industry and other professional pursuits...
, Wes’ uncle. Wes Schulmerich went to high school in Hillsboro, a city west of Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. After two years he dropped out of the school and worked on his father’s farm.
In 1921, he enrolled at the Columbia Prep school in Portland, the predecessor to the University of Portland
University of Portland
The University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
, a Catholic school. He had been recruited to play football for the school, and did, earning a scholarship to Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
). Schulmerich had been recruited to play football at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
by Knute Rockne
Knute Rockne
Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
, but declined. He graduated from Columbia Prep in 1923 and headed south to Corvallis and college. There he participated in three sports: football, baseball, and track.
Schulmerich earned the nickname of Ironhorse on the football field as he played fullback on offense, linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
on defense, and on special teams was the placekicker. As a junior and senior he earned all-conference honors for his play on the team. On the track team he ran the 100 yard dash, clocking in at 10.5 seconds. In baseball he played in the outfield and hit for a .459 average his senior year. Schulmerich graduated with a bachelors degree in business in 1927 from Oregon State.
Professional career
Schulmerich was recruited to play in the National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
after leaving college, but decided to play baseball instead. He began his career playing for the Clarks in the Butte Mining League in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, a semi-professional league. Ralph Coleman
Ralph Coleman
Ralph O. Coleman was a college baseball coach at Oregon State University for 35 years.-Early life:Coleman was born in Canby, Oregon in 1895 and graduated from Canby High School...
, the Oregon State coach got him the job, along with his second job with the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels (PCL)
The Los Angeles Angels were a team based in Los Angeles, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1957, after which they transferred to Spokane, Washington to become the Spokane Indians. Los Angeles would later become the host city to a Major League Baseball team, the...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
(PCL). In 1927, he hit for a .322 average with no home runs (HRs) and 14 runs batted in (RBIs) in 31 games for the team. The next season he hit .317 with 19 HRs and 96 RBIs in 192 games. For the 1929 season he played in 134 games at hit .328 with 19 HRs and 77 RBIs. Then in 1930 he hit .380, 28 HRs, and 130 RBIs in 189 games.
He was signed by the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, but before he played for the team he was traded on October 14, 1930, to the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
along with Bill McAfee
Bill McAfee
William Fort McAfee was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Chicago Cubs, Boston Braves, Washington Senators, and St. Louis Browns.-External links:...
for pitcher Bob Smith and outfielder Jimmy Welsh
Jimmy Welsh
James Daniel Welsh , was a Major League Baseball player who played outfielder from -. He would play for the Boston Braves, and New York Giants.-External links:...
. On May 1, 1931, Schulmerich made his Major League debut with the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. He was the first person from Oregon State University to play in the Major Leagues. In his first season he batted .309 with 2 HRs and 43 RBIs in 95 games, mainly in right field. The next season he hit .260, and in 1933 he batted .247 in 29 games before he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. Schulmerich was traded on June 17 along with Fritz Knothe
Fritz Knothe
Wilfred Edgar Knothe is a former Major League Baseball player. He played two seasons with the Boston Braves and Philadelphia Phillies .-External links:...
in exchange for outfielder Hal Lee and third baseman Pinky Whitney.
Finishing the 1933 season with the Phillies, he hit .334 with 8 HRs and 59 RBIs in 97 games. Overall that year he hit .318 for fifth best in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. The next year he played 15 games for the Phillies before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
on May 16, 1934. The Phillies included outfielder Art Ruble and pitcher Ted Kleinhans in the deal to acquire fellow Oregonian Syl Johnson
Syl Johnson (baseball)
Sylvester W. Johnson , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher....
(a pitcher) and outfielder Johnny Moore
Johnny Moore (baseball)
John Francis Moore was an outfielder in Major League Baseball.-Sources:...
. Schulmerich played 74 games for the Reds, batting .263 with 5 HRs and 19 RBIs. He played his last major league game on September 30, 1934. He never returned to the Major Leagues, and in 429 career games he hit 27 HRs, drove in 192 runs, and had a .289 batting average.
Schulmerich was sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
where he spent one season. Schulmerich returned to the Los Angeles Angels for the 1936 season and played in 142 games, batting .301 with 14 HRs and 85 RBIs. In 1937, he was traded to the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
of the PCL upon his request. He played in only 19 games that year, hitting .241. Schulmerich was let go early in the season after an error cost the team a game, an error he laughed at during the play. He then signed with the Lewiston Broncos
Lewiston Broncos
The Lewiston Broncos were an American Single-A minor league baseball team based in Lewiston, Idaho. The parent organization was Lewiston Baseball Club, Inc. formed in 1952 by Lewiston businessmen Sam Canner Sr., Jack Lee, Billy Gray, George Thiessen and others. Gray later sold his shares to Thiessen...
in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
of the Western International League
Western International League
The Western International League was a mid- to higher-level circuit in American and Canadian minor league baseball. It operated in 1923, 1937-42, and 1946-54. In 1955, it changed its name to the Northwest League, and still operates today as a Short Season A loop under that name.The WIL consisted of...
as a player-manager, winning the triple crown
Triple crown (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a player earns the Triple Crown when he leads a league in three specific statistical categories. For batters, a player must lead the league in home runs, run batted in , and batting average; pitchers must lead the league in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average...
on the field, but doing poorly as manager. After the 1937 season, the team relocated to Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia...
, and Schulmerich became just a player. Halfway through the 1938 season he was traded to Spokane
Spokane Indians
The Spokane Indians are a minor league baseball team located in Spokane, Washington, United States. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Texas Rangers since 2003. The Indians play home games at Avista Stadium...
in the same league where he also spent 45 games of the 1939 season. The rest of the season was spent playing in the Pioneer League for Twin Falls, Idaho
Twin Falls Cowboys
The Twin Falls Cowboys were a minor league baseball team from 1939 up until 1951 in the Pioneer Baseball League. Their affiliation was with the New York Yankees. The Cowboys home stadium was in Twin Falls, ID. Statistics for the team between the 1939 and 1949 seasons are poorly kept...
. The next year he retired, though he did play in several games in 1941.
Later years and family
During his final years as a player, Schulmerich began acting as an on-field jester, a routine he continued for several years after retirement. In 1929, Schulmerich was married to Cecile Hobro, and they had two daughters, Betty and Cecile. After leaving baseball he worked for Shell Oil until joining the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He served from 1942 to 1945, leaving as a lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
. Schulmerich bought property in Beaver, Oregon
Beaver, Oregon
Beaver is an unincorporated community in Tillamook County, Oregon, United States, located on U.S. Route 101 and the Nestucca River, about 12 miles south of Tillamook. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Beaver as a census-designated place...
, in Tillamook County
Tillamook County, Oregon
Tillamook County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for the Tillamook, a Native American tribe who were living in the area in the early 19th century at the time of European American settlement. In 2010, the county's population was 25,250...
where he ran a fishing resort. He also became a big Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
fan, never missing a home football game in 62 years.
Schulmerich served as a county commissioner in Tillamook for 11 years before moving to North Albany in 1958. He bought the Albany Golf Course that year, and sold it in 1960, using the profits to pay for retirement. In addition to OSU football games, he and his wife also attended most baseball, basketball, and track home events, as well as many road games. Schulmerich was inducted into the innagural class of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame honors Oregon athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to sports in Oregon. The first class was inducted in 1980, with new inductees added in the fall...
in 1980 followed in 1991 by induction into OSU’s Sports Hall of Fame. He was diagnosed with cancer in the late 1970s and went through chemotherapy, but never regained his health. Edward Wesley Schulmerich died in Corvallis on June 26, 1985, at the age of 83 and was buried in his hometown of Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
at the Valley Memorial Mausoleum.