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Roxboro American Legion Post 138: Rock News

2004 Hotstove Announced
The 2004 Enos Slaughter Memorial Hotstove will be held on Friday January 16, 2004 at the National Guard Armory in Roxboro. Special Guest Speaker will be Major League great TOMMY JOHN. Other speakers that a scheduled are World Series MVP Bobby Richardson and Yankees special scout Clyde King.

Tickets to the event which includes a bar-b-que dinner are $35 per person. Door prizes will be presented as well as a auction of select baseball memorabilia. For ticket information please email us or call.

Dinner will start at 5:30 PM and the program is set to start at 7:00 PM


Roxboro American Legion Baseball Organizers

Courtesy Ken Martin / Courier-Times

Persons instrumental in getting the American Legion Post 138 baseball team formed in Person County gathered recently around the Lester Blackwell statue in front of the Person County Courthouse. Those pictured include, seated, left to right, Ivery Hatchett and Claudie R. Lunsford. First row, left to right, Optimist Club representatives Tommy Monk and Carl Bowes, assistant legion coach Pete Tuck, legion board member Charlie Hubbard, head legion coach Virgil Clayton, legion members Talmadge Coates, Wilbert Clayton, Earl Garrett, Valarie Moss, Arthur M. Goods and Ray Holt, legion board members Mitch Fleig, Doug Weaver, Dale Norris and Larry Ray Newton. Back row, left to right, legion members Girsey Talley, Chandler Kirk, Maynard Clayton, John Self, James L. Clayton and Kenneth Crow.

Enos & Bobby Richardson share a laugh. Courtsey Ken Martin & Courier=Times

First annual HOT STOVE a success
The first annual Roxboro Hot Stove was held Thursday, Feb. 7 at the Roxboro Country Club. The banquet featured six speakers. They were former pitcher Jim Bibby, Yankee advisor Clyde King, Reds former manager Jack McKeon, former great Tommy Byrne, Yankee World Series MVP Bobby Richardson and of course National Hall of Fame member and Roxboro's own Enos Slaughter.

Everyone in attendence had a good time. An appearance by Wool E. Bull made the night even more enjoyable. The auction featured rare collectibles.
Please check the Hot Stove Page for the latest developments and feature articles written in the Courier=Times.



PLAYBALL! Post 138 baseball team to be formed
By TIM CHANDLER
C-T Sports Editor
Youth baseball in Person County is about to get a shot in the arm.
Beginning this summer, the local chapter of the American Legion, Post 138, will field a senior baseball squad, which will compete in Area I of the Western Region against teams from Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Garner, Vance County, etc. Players from ages 14 through 18 will be eligible to tryout for the 18-player roster.
The development of an American Legion baseball team in Person County wasn’t an overnight thought. A host of man hours have been invested in the project.
A six-member board, consisting of Doug Weaver, Dale Norris, Mitch Fleig, Larry Ray Newton, Dr. Jeff Kafer and Charlie Hubbard, has been established and Person High School varsity baseball assistant coaches Virgil Clayton (manager) and Pete Tuck (assistant) have been chosen to lead the squad. Plus, the approval for the formation of the team has been granted from American Legion Post 138.
"I say, play ball," legion member Wilbert Clayton said. "To me, this is the premier thing that we do."
While plans are in the works and aid is already being gathered for the team to compete this summer, more help is needed.
"We’re calling for anyone that loves baseball to step up and take care of Person County," Weaver said. "If you’re a former veteran, join the American Legion. If you love baseball, support this."
American Legion games are played after the conclusion of the high school baseball season, giving more opportunities for talent to be spotted by collegiate and professional scouts.
"When the high school season is going on, the colleges are playing, too, and coaches just can’t come and watch games" Weaver said. "This will give our guys a chance to be watched by college coaches.
"If there’s one kid out there that can play college baseball and this helps him, then we’ve hit a home run," Weaver added. "This can’t do anything but help the baseball program in Person County. A kid that will play legion baseball is devoted. This is a commitment thing. If you have kids that want to play legion ball, you have kids that want to become better players."
The goal of establishing the local program isn’t just to attract college scouts to the area, it’s also to help build solid citizens.
"Everybody out there can’t be an all-star," Norris pointed out. "Hopefully, this will build character and turn out productive citizens. There is a code of ethics for the players and coaches to follow. Those that don’t abide by that will be sent out quick."
Thus far, the board members have attracted aid from Person High School, the Person County Parks and Recreation Department, the Roxboro Optimist Club and Coca-Cola of Roxboro.
Weekend games will be played at Rocket Park, while the Optimist Club has offered Optimist Park for games on certain week nights. Coca-Cola has donated the use of a portable concession stand to use at contests.
"We want to thank all of those people," Weaver said. "They all are behind it and want this to go forward and be a positive."
While help has already been gained, more is needed, according to Weaver.
"Right now, we’re starting with a zero budget," Weaver said. "We welcome anyone that would like to donate money or donate their services. This is a community project. We would like for everyone to get behind this.
"Person County is a giving community," Weaver added. "We need to give these kids this opportunity."
Donations for the American Legion Post 138 baseball team can be sent to, Roxboro American Legion Baseball, Inc. P.O. Box 484, Roxboro, N.C. 27573.
The goal of the board members is to be successful with the senior team this year and, possibly, field a junior team as well in the future.
"This is not a one year deal," Weaver said. "We’re hoping to be here 25 years from now. We want to get this started and pass the program on to the next generation."
Clayton and the other members of Post 138 seem to agree.
"We do a lot of things for the community," Clayton said. "We visit the nursing homes with a group that entertains and we have a jamboree each month. These things are all fine, but this is the cream on the cake.
"I don’t know why it hasn’t been done before," Clayton added. "It should have been. I don’t know why it hasn’t been initiated before. It’s a well-organized thing, with good sportsmanship. I’m honored to be asked to be a part of it."
The interest level among Person County players should definitely be there. Last year, six Person High School players traveled to South Boston, Va. and played American Legion ball in Virginia.
"That’s the majority of their team," Weaver said. "That shows you the dedication there. They would drive to South Boston and then have another hour or two to go to play their games. That’s the kind of players we’re looking for."
And, wearing the Post 138 number is something Weaver will be proud to see the team members do.
"With all that has happened in the past few weeks, it makes you appreciate what these guys (legion members) are all about," Weaver said. "None of us would be here if it wasn’t for what these people have done. We’ll proudly wear their number and this will help produce good kids that love to play baseball and want to become good citizens in the community. This is something that will make Roxboro proud."
More information on the American Legion Post 138 baseball team can be obtained at www.eteamz.com/post 138.