Frank Webster

“Frank Webster has been, in some ways, a missionary.  He has lived up to all three concepts that appear on the Little League shield - courage, character and loyalty.  This is the first time I’ve had the pleasure to present this award.  Only 15 people have received this plaque in the history of Little League, so you know its importance.” - Elmer Lehotsky, Central Region Director of Little League, Inc., Williamsport (Webster Honored. (1970, November 5. Centre Daily Times, p27.)

League Honors Webster. (1964, September 17). Centre Daily Times, p19.

League Honors Webster

The Bellefonte Little League field was re-named Webster Field in honor of Frank Webster, president of the League during its 16 years of organization.

At a ceremony last night at the League's annual dinner at Bald Eagle Area High School, a large sign lettered, "Webster Field" was presented by Mrs. Donald Gardner, president of the League auxiliary.

In a short response to the honor Mr. Webster expressed appreciation for cooperation he and other officers have received through the years.

William J. Moerschbacher was toastmaster of the program which opened with the invocation by David Vogan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte.

League officials, auxiliary officers, sponsors, managers and assistant managers were introduced. Mrs. Gardner, retiring auxiliary president , was presented a gift.

The trophy for the 1964 season's championship was presented to Elmer B. Decker, sponsor of Decker Motors, the winning team. Pins were given to All-Star team members.

Boys who are 12 years old and no longer eligible to play in the league received certificates. The are:

Robert Emel, Howard Casper, Thomas Mann, Leonard El Schreffler Jr., Boyd Fisher, Dennis Ebeling, Dan Faulkner, Jeffrey Watson, Gary Maney, James Rossman, Michael Hayes, William Scheckler and Michael Fornicola.

James Taylor, Michael Kelleher, Thomas Eckenrode, Gary Kordes, Dennis Cain, Michael Miller, Thomas Hoover, Gregory Brown, Timothy Rhoads and Regan Haupt.Fred Gordon was winner of a television set awarded.

In 1964, the field used by Bellefonte Little Leaguers was named Webster Field.

Bellefonte captured the State Little League crown at Williamsport in 1958.

Webster, an employee of the West Penn Power Co. for 36 years, retired in 1963. He has two sons and three daughters.

The tourney, to be played at Beaver Field (near the football stadium on campus), will feature teams from Altoona, Clearfield, Clinton County and Centre County.

The 1966 program was dedicated to Paul Ashburn of State College. Last year’s tourney was dedicated to Clyde E. Thomas of State College.

The single elimination tournament is scheduled for Saturday July 20. The rain date is July 27.

McDonald, D. (1970, November 4). Meet ‘Mr. Little League’. Centre Daily Times, p22. 

Rambling Thru:

Meet ‘Mr. Little League’

By Doug McDonald Times Sports Editor

“Mr. Little League” of Bellefonte will be honored by his friends tonight.

“The Bellefonte Little League wouldn’t be where it is today if it weren’t for Frank Webster,” Harold (Pickle) Rossman said last night.

Rossman was the manager of the Bellefonte Little League All Star team which won the State title in Williamsport in August of 1958.

“He was a big help to me,” Rossman said.  “He’s just a real good guy for that job.  People don’t realize all the work that’s involved but he knows the business inside-out.”

Bellefonte started the Little League program in 1949.  Webster was elected president that year and he’s had the job ever since.

Webster lettered in three sports – baseball, track and baseball – at Estella High, a small school northeast of Williamsport.  At the age of 14 he caught for the town team.

In 1934 and 1935 he managed the Bellefonte Titan baseball club.

Webster, who has always been interested in helping youngsters, teamed with Dan Grove, the late Ollie Kohlbecker and Dr. William Schwartz to locate a suitable site for the Little League field, now known as Webster Field, in 1949.

The 1953 team won the district title.  So did the 1969 squad.  But the ‘58 club went all the way before losing to Darien, Conn., in the regionals at Staten Island, N.Y.

Webster, not a superstitious person, always stands out at any Bellefonte Little League playoff game.  He’s the guy wearing the dark blue baseball cap, the striped sport shirt and smoking a cigar.  That sport shirt is a story in itself.  We mean the one white and dark and light blue stripes.  Frank Webster Jr., son of Bellefonte’s Mr. Little League, tells how his dad wore the shirt to the first playoff game at Snow Shoe in 1958.  “He has worn it to every playoff game since,” young Frank said.  “At the end of the year he gets it dry-cleaned and puts it away until next season.”

Members of the State championship team were John Sodergren, Denny Leathers, Mike Ranio, Larry Conaway, Gary Kellogg, Tom Crater, Barry Burger, Denny Lose, Sonny Fletemake, Bill Foresman, Tom Grieb, Rod Mitchell, Ron Howard and the late Danny Kahle.

It’s possible that 10 members of Bellefonte’s first All-Star team (1949) will be present at the Bellefonte Moose Home tonight.  That list includes Billy Sharp, Bob Schreffler, Pete High, Hass McMullin, Jim Bruno, Ward Cole, Tom Shultz, Chuck Brown, Jim Coslo and Frank Jr..

The team that won the first league title – Foresman Olds – also will be represented by Don Sunday & Co.  Other teams in that first season were Decker Motors (still a member of the present eight-team league setup), Boughter’s Giants and Keckler Chevrolet.

Mrs. Norman Houser and Mrs. John Faulkner have worked hard on the Frank Webster Testimonial Banquet.  They’ve had lots of help.

Joe Bedenk, former Penn State coach and athlete, will be the guest speaker tonight.  He has worked closely with the Little League program at Williamsport during the summer months, mainly as a guest lecturer.

It should be a great night.

Mr. Little League  is a well-deserved title for the man who has dedicated 21 years of his life to providing a meaningful activity for Bellefonte area boys.

P.S. And would you believe Frank Webster is a Yankee fan?

During his 21 years as president, Frank Webster has watched over 2,000 boys, (ages nine to 12) in action.  The 1958 squad went all the way, winning the State crown at Williamsport.  Telegrams from St. Louis star Stan Musial and Gov. George Leader highlighted the congratulatory messages received by Frank.

In 1967 he was inducted into the County’s Old Timers’ Baseball Club.

Some 180 friends turned out to honor “Mr. Little League” of Bellefonte.  Webster, now in his early 70’s, has been president of the Bellefonte Little League since its inception in 1949.

“Frank Webster,” Lehotsky said, “has been in some ways, a missionary.  He has lived up to all three concepts that appear on the Little League Shield – courage, character and loyalty.  This is the first time I’ve had the pleasure to present this award.  Only 15 people have received this plaque in the history of Little League, so you know its importance.”

Lehotsky defined Little League as a “game of baseball for boys” and added that it has a meaning for youngsters and adults as well.

“The purpose behind a four-team tournament,” he continued, “is to compete against each other and exchange ideas.”  

Lehotsky also emphasized the important role Little League has played with youngsters in foreign countries, pointing out that it is a focal point for “one common interest.”

Joe Bedenk, ex-Penn State coach and athlete, was the principal speaker and pointed out that Little League is the “biggest movement of this century.”

“There are millions of youngsters playing Little League baseball throughout the world,” he said.  “There are about 6,000 games played before eight teams move into Williamsport for the World Series.

“About 85 per cent of all your professional ball players are Little League graduates.  Little Leaguers have been wearing helmets for years.  The major leagues thought the rule was crazy.  Now helmets are mandatory in the big leagues.”

Bedenk also praised the Ladies Auxiliary and the umpires who attend schools and clinics in order to make the Little League program that much more effective.

“It’s very hard for me to express my thoughts,” Webster said, “but I must say that my activity in the Little League has done so much for me.  I have received such pleasure and satisfaction from working with the boys, their managers and everyone connected with the Little League organization.

“I would like to thank the Mayor (Ellis O. Keller) for the tribute given me by his proclamation, to thank everyone for the honor given me this evening and a special thanks for all the help that I’ve received in the past 22 years.”

There were others who took time out to honor Mr. Webster.

Phil Gill, president of the Nittany Valley League for about the same period of time reminisced about the 1958 playoff game between Bellefonte and State College All-Stars.  “Bellefonte had Denny Leathers,” he said, “and we had Shorty Stoner.  But the best team won.  We always met on good terms.”

Bellefonte eventually won the State title that year at Williamsport and a number of players from that team turned out to honor “their boss.”

Joe Pisoni, District 10 administrator from Brockway, also spoke briefly last night.

“For 22 years,” Pisoni said, “Frank Webster has given his all.  He’s one of the outstanding men in Little League baseball.”

He concluded by reading the Momento of Credo of Little League Volunteers and then presented an autographed baseball to Webster.

Dan Grove, who was instrumental in locating a site for the Bellefonte Little League diamond (named Webster Field in 1964) in 1949, also added a few remarks.

Charles C. Brown Jr., a member of the first Bellefonte League All-Star team, served as toastmaster.  He introduced special guests, Webster’s family, sponsors, officials and managers as well as the 1949 All-Star squad and the 1949 Bellefonte Little League championship team.

Leathers, who later played minor league ball in the Philadelphia and San Francisco organizations, introduced members of the 1958 State championship squad.  Harold (Pickel) Rossman, veteran Bellefonte Little League manager, introduced the 1969 team which won District 10 honors and later lost to Newberry in the playoffs at Howard Lamade Field in South Williamsport.

Six teams have been competing in recent years compared to four in 1949.  “But,” Brown said, “we are at the stage now where we need another field for the ‘B’ teams.”

Decker Motors has sponsored a team since the league was formed.

Mrs. John Faulkner and Mrs. Norman Houser, who were instrumental in starting the ball rolling for the Frank Webster Testimonial Banquet, presented a gift on behalf of the committee to the “gentleman who was concerned more with developing young men than he was with victories.”

Sort Of Special. (1972, March 30). Centre Daily Times, p23.

Sort of Special

Joe Pisoni, District 10 Little League commissioner from Brockway, said Webster has been an ardent Little League man for many years.

“He has been very faithful and he always gives his all,” Pisoni said.  “I know he has been one of my top helpers.  He’s ace-high as far as I’m concerned.”

Harold (Pickle) Rossman of Bellefonte managed many Bellefonte All-Star teams in the playoffs, including the 1958 which won State honors at Williamsport and competed in the Eastern Regionals at Staten Island, N.Y.

“Frank worked very hard at the job,” Rossman said.  “He’d help get the field in shape.  I know many times he took money out of his own pocket to help foot some of the bills.

“I know he was real proud the day we won the Pennsylvania championship.  He knew his baseball.  When I was a kid I used to watch him when he caught for the Bellefonte Governors.  There’s no doubt about it.  And he let the managers do the managing.  I know he was a big influence on me.”

Phil Gill, president of the Nittany Valley Little League in State College for many years, said he always had a good relationship with webster.

“We always had a good-natured feud between the two leagues,” Gill recalled.  “We never sat down during a game.  We were always pacing up and down.  We tried to pattern our policies the same way.”

Bellefonte beat Nittany Valley, 1-0, that year and then downed Punxsutawney, 1-0, to win the District 10 title.

“Shorty Stoner just missed a home run for us against Bellefonte,” Gill said.  “It just curved around the foul pole.”

The winner in State College that day was Denny Leathers, who later spent a number of years playing minor league ball.  Stoner later played for Penn State and spent a short time in the minor leagues.  

Frank Webster Jr. played on Bellefonte’s first All-Star team and so did Charlie Brown.  Frank Jr. also has a son who has two years of Little League eligibility remaining.

“I can remember a big wheel from Little League Headquarters in Williamsport coming to the house and helping Dad get things started in Bellefonte.  Dan Grove, Dr. William Schwartz and the late Ollie Kohlbecker helped to get the field (now called Webster Field).”

A familiar sight at any Bellefonte Little League playoff game is Mr. Webster wearing that very famous blue and white shirt with black stripes, the blue baseball cap and smoking a cigar.

“Dad wore that shirt to our first playoff game in Snow Shoe,” Frank Jr. recalls, “and he has worn it to every tournament game since.  After the season he gets it dry cleaned and puts it away until the next year.”

In 1970, Webster was honored for 22 years of service.  Elmer Lehotsky, central region director of Little League, Inc., Williamsport, presented a distinguished service award to Webster at the Bellefonte Moose Home.

“Frank Webster,” said Lehotsky that night, “has been, in some ways, a missionary.  He has lived up to all three concepts that appear on the Little League shield – courage, character and loyalty.  This is the first time I’ve had the pleasure to present this award.  Only 15 people have received this plaque in the history of Little League, so you know its importance.”

Brown, now an attorney, said he never realized the amount of work “Mr. Little League of Bellefonte” put in.

“He did a lot of work and there was no pay for it,” Brown says.  “What impressed me the most was the fact that here’s a guy who played and managed and now he’s taking the time to help young boys learn the game.”

3-Foot Trophy Honors Little League Founder. (1978, September 30). Centre Daily Times, p8.

3-Foot Trophy Honors Little League Founder

A three-foot tall championship trophy that honors the founder of the Bellefonte Little League was unveiled Thursday night and presented to this years league titlists, Mid-State Bank.

The trophy, named in honor of Frank Webster, who started Little League in Bellefonte in 1949, was presented at the league's annual banquet at the Undine Fire Company. Nearly 300 players, parents, coaches and league officials were in attendance.

Incoming league president Don Smith said a committee headed by Andy Thal decided to honor Mr. Webster, who died in 1976, by retiring the league's two traveling plaques and replacing them wit the huge championship trophy, which will also be displayed by the league's annual champs.

Mr. Smith presented the trophy to Mr. Webster's son, Frank Jr., who in turn presented it to Mid-State coaches Alan Thal and Ed Adams and Paul Badger, representing the bank.

Bellefonte's Little League field, on Fifth Ave., was named after Mr. Webster in 1964. His son was a member of the league's first all-star team in 1949.

In 1958, Bellefonte's Little League all-star team captured the state championship. Seven years later Mr. Webster was elected president emeritus of the Bellefonte Little League.

Also receiving awards last night were the 1978 Bellefonte all-stars: Tom Alterio, Kevin Bathgate, Bill Davis, Scott Hollobaugh, Scott Irwin, Pat Kucas, Ed McGovern, toby Caparelle, Roger McClure, Ken Ramos, Eric Shay, Todd Smith, Todd Taylor, Jerry Thompson, Tim Watson, Mike Wert, Lee McDonnell and Robert Wagner.

Outgoing league president Ronald Clevenstine presented awards to the six team sponsors headed by the Bellefonte Lions Club with 24 years of sponsorship. Other sponsors, and the number of years each, were: Mid-State Bank, 20; Krout Pontiac, 18; Plumbs Drugs, 18; Knights of Columbus, 8; and Undines, 7.

Nancy Donnelly, president of the league's auxiliary, presented awards of the league's 1978 officers, including president Clevenstine, vice president Smith, player agent Ralph Gray, field manager Jack Bernhard, secretary Dean Ishler Jr., treasurer and publicist Janet Ishler and safety officer Larry Quary.

Mrs. Donnelly also gave awards to auxiliary officers Renee Brown, vice president; Janet Ishler, secretary-treasurer; and Lorraine Haldeman purchasing agent. For her services, Mrs. Donnelly was presented a gift by Mrs. Brown.

Team Managers, assistant managers and team mothers were also honored. They are: Bellefonte Lions, Bucky Quici, Fred McGovern and Linda Hosterman: Knights of Columbus, Swank Smith, Doug Davis and Toni McMullin; Krout Pontiac, Ralph McMurtrie, Bob Miller and Mary Alice Hockenberry; Mid-State Bank, Alan Thal, Ed Adams and Betty McDonnell; Plumb's Drugs, Andrew Thal III, Gary Rockey and Doris Capparelle; and Undines, Denny Baldwin, Jim Baldwin and Liz Eisenhower.

A special award was presented to Dave Bernhard for field maintenance and other services to the league.

Charles C. Brown Jr., a Bellefonte Little League all-star in 1949, served as master of ceremonies.