Page 1 - The Friday Flyer ● JULY 19, 2019

CANYON LAKE’S NEWSPAPER • JULY 19, 2019

New sign debuts at Canyon Funding approved Women's 4.0 tennis
for wave attenuation team earns spot at

Lake Country Club Pg. A4 devices Pg. A5 Sectionals Pg. A18

PHOTO BY DONNA RITCHIE

Canyon Lake is home to nine former professional baseball players, Paul Pettit, Jerry Wood, Edgar Carroll,
Jim Merritt, Jerry Johnson, Rick Greene, Greg Harris, Bobby Kielty and Brett Tomko (not pictured).
Former pro baseball players

call Canyon Lake their home

BY RON MARTEL science, chess and ballet. Or as Yogi Ber- are Canyon Lake neighbors!”
COLUMNIST, THE FRIDAY FLYER ra once said, “Love is the most important But, the Pittsburgh Pirates were mostly
It is said that baseball is our national pas- thing in the world, but baseball is pretty interested in having their new superstar
time because it resonates so deeply in the good too!” play ball.
soul of the American people. Canyon Lake Paul Pettit After a few outstanding starts with
resonates deeply in the soul of so many of their minor league New Orleans Peli-
its residents, yet it is still somewhat of a Recently, the Los Angeles Times ran cans, Paul was warming up when he
surprise that The Friday Flyer discovered a story on the 70th anniversary of a high felt an unusual pain. He told his train-
at least nine former professional baseball school baseball game. Left-handed phenom er, “There’s something wrong with
players that call home to our little bit of Paul Pettit had struck out 27 batters in a my arm.” He was treated and worked
paradise. single game (12 innings). Through this and through it, but his velocity was never
As we just passed the Major League similar astounding achievements, the then the same.
All-Star break, The Friday Flyer salutes a 18-year-old became the most sought after Paul made his major league debut
few of these extraordinary athletes, their pitcher in America. as a reliever against the New York Gi-
achievements and what the game meant to Paul was courted by a Hollywood movie ants; he retired the side. He didn’t start
them. Each player distinguished himself producer for his life story and rubbed el- his first major league game until two
from his peers at an early age and repeated- bows with Bing Crosby, Jayne Mansfield years later. In that game, he went 6 1/3
ly faced numerous challenges at the highest and Lawrence Welk. innings to get the win. But, for the very
levels of athletic competition. Not to disappoint his large crowds, Paul first time in his life, Paul had been re-
The former professional baseball players threw six no-hitters and struck out 390 bat- moved in a game for a relief pitcher. Not
featured in this week’s issue are Paul Pettit, ters in 140 innings, earning him the nick- knowing at the time, but this would be
Jim Merritt, Jerry Wood, Jerry Johnson and name “The Wizard of Whiff.” Then, in his only major league victory.
Bobby Kielty. Next week, The Friday Fly- 1951, the lefty made news again. Paul Pettit Playing for the minor league Holly-
er will feature Greg Harris, Edgar Carroll, signed a contract as the very first $100,000 wood Stars, Paul was 15-8 and batted
Rick Greene and Brett Tomko. This two- “Bonus Baby” in Major League Baseball .320, so he still drew big crowds Bobby Kielty won
part series will present selected highlights history. from his hometown fans. When the World Series PHOTO BY DONNA RITCHIE
from their careers and unique perspectives Fellow Canyon Lake resident Robert convinced his arm was not go- as a member of
ing to recover, Paul moved to
on the sport. “Tink” Hultz said, “As a kid, I rode my bike the Red Sox in his
Baseball is a game, a perfect blend of art, to see Paul Pettit sign his contract. Now we uuCONTINUED PAGE A11 fi nal MLB season.