Volume 9 , Issue 41

1930 - Bill Fisher - 'Chosen Champs'

The Oklahoman, dated Aug. 24, 1930, pg. 22, headlines read: Bill Fisher, 'Chosen Champs' 'Iron Man' Voted Huge Trophy For Sturdy Pitching - Schillings of Firemen, McMahon of Oklahoma Natural Give Him Closest Race; Seven Clubs Contribute to Honor Team - Official All-State Sandlot Baseball Team

W. C. "Bill" Fisher, pitching "iron man" of the champion Oklahoma Natural Gassers, was the most valuable player of the 1930 Oklahoma state sandlot baseball tournament.

Voted as such by an official committee which selected 14 other playing sensations of the tournament to assist him in whatever duties befall mythical all-state teams. Fisher will receive the 22-inch silver Oklahoma Baseball Federation trophy to have and to hold for a period of one year. His name will be engraved on the huge trophy along with that of C. E. "Chick" Locke of the St. Louis Magnolias, adjudged the outstanding man in last year's tournament.

Although chosen chiefly for his feat of pitching the Gassers to four of their six tournament triumphs and the fact that he was always ready and eager for service, fisher was an offensive threat as well. He proved a timely hitter in almost every game he pitched and was a veritable streak on the bases, boasting perhaps the fastest getaway from the plate of any of the 200-odd participants in the tournament.

Value Greatly Inspirational... a teammate, John McMahon, shortstop, and the veteran E. I. "Red" Schillings, Firemen's pitcher, ran Fisher a close race for the valuable player award, but there was no doubt in the minds of the judges as to fisher's deserving the honor. Schillings's pitching record in all but wins and losses was perhaps a trifle better than Fisher's. It was agreed, however, that the confidence of his teammates in Fisher inspired them to victories they might not have scored and made him of more value to the team.

A deserving all-star cast was chosen to support Fisher in whatever mythical games the tournament's onor team might be called upon to play. Five of the 14 other players cited were fellow Gassers, their preponderance upon the stellar team being in just proportion to the superiority of the Gassers over the field. Seven teams were represented on the first team and a total of 11 on the two squads.

Phillips Antlers' Star... The pitching staff, with fisher, Schillings and Williston Bohanan of the third-place Magnolias as the right-handers and George Phillips of Antlers as the southpaw, is as strong as any that could be recruited in a year's coming of state sandlots.

Phillips did man-sized duty in shouldering most of antler's pitching burden. Had the Mountaineers had a right-hander as dependable as the they would have finished much better than their tie for fourth.

Schillings was the stingiest of all. In 31 innings, he gave up one solitary earned run and only 19 hits. he pitched two complete shutouts and shared in another, thus figuring in every goose-egg game in the tournament. His hitting, though not as timely, was better than Fisher's. He won two games and lost two, both defeats being on errors. In one of the losses, he pitched only one inning.

Fant Outstanding Catcher... The tournament was truly Bohanan's best. he was the most dependable pitcher the Magnolias had, in spite of a sore arm that forced his removal and St. Louis's ultimate climination in the much discussed Saturday game with the Firemen.

Considered only on the playing ability and the sportsmanship they displayed during the tournament, other members of the all-star cast made their places with little or no argument.

Selden Fant, Gasser, proved himself the class of a good crop of catchers, a few of whom eliminated themselves by possessing one fairly shortcoming. Fant, Claude Durham of St. Louis and the two second team selections were considered the best from an all-around standpoint.
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