Alumni baseball game makes up for lost time

By Dan Dingerson

For the Daily

Most students can remember the wild celebrations and the added national exposure that two national championships brought to Michigan last year.

Long ago, the world was not as sports-oriented as it is today, and championships were not received with the same attention and fanfare that they are now. The 1953 national champion Michigan baseball team was one team that did not have the opportunity to celebrate its championship - until now.

This weekend, the '53 national champions organized their championship celebration, 45 years after they had won the title.

ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily Michigan baseball alumni (pictured from left) Allan Levy, Dick Honig, and Don Lund, along with Len Honig (right) harken back to old times yesterday at Fisher Stadium.

There were 18 players on the championship team; two have since passed away. Out of the surviving players, 12 made it to Ann Arbor for the celebration.

The weekend began when the players were invited onto the field at the football game on Saturday. They were recognized there, which was exciting, said '53 captain Bill Mogk.

On Saturday night the players received possibly the biggest thrill of the weekend - their 1953 national championship rings. All sixteen players ordered the rings, for which the athletic department subsidized the cost.

Yesterday morning, the current baseball players, and several of the alumni, had a brunch during which the alumni spoke to the players about the importance of education, and the great tradition of Michigan baseball.

Coach Geoff Zahn emphasized how important it was to his baseball team to hear the alumni speak.

"We have a great legacy at Michigan," Zahn said, "We'd like to keep that going."

The alumni game, which was played at Fisher Stadium yesterday, was the culmination of the championship weekend. The game was roughly divided into a team of the champions and a team of other former alumni.

The '53 team took the field first and the first pitch was thrown by Dick York to Irving "Pro" Boim. The first run was fittingly scored in the bottom of the first by Mogk.

In the second, the '53 team scored two runs on three consecutive hits to surge ahead 3-1. The alumni scored three runs, however, capped by class of '97 Marlon Wright's RBI single. The game was called after that, and the score reverted back to 3-1, giving the champions the victory.

Zahn pitched for both teams, and was credited with the win - and the loss. Former star Rick Leach also pitched for the alumni.

Although the '53 champions won, the score of the game was of little consequence to the players. Everyone involved was excited just to have the chance to participate in the festivities. Mogk summed up the feelings of all of his old teammates.

"Standing on this field, we're happy," Mogk said.

09-21-98