Harold (Pickle) Rossman

A tip of the hat to a man who teaches youngsters in the summer, then later watches them develop their various skills at Bellefonte High, be it from the 50-yard line, behind the third base dugout, from mat-side or center court in the gym. His nickname is Pickle but Mother Hen might be more appropriate. He has looked after quite a few Little Leaguers since the early 1950s. - McDonald, D. (1967, July 31). - Rossman Guides Youngsters. Centre Daily Times, p22. 

McDonald, D. (1967, July 31). Rossman Guides Youngsters. Centre Daily Times, p22.

Rossman Guides Youngsters

No.1 Bellefonte Little League Manger:

Sportsmanship, Discipline, Among His Many Trademarks

By DOUG McDONALD, Times Sports Editor

“We didn’t have much size,” Rossman noted, “but we made up for that with spirit and hustle. the boys really wanted to play ball.”

Getting back to the 1958 season, Bellefonte launched what proved to be a rewarding elimination tournament by beating Mountain Top, 13-1. A 1-0 win over Nittany Valley followed. Then came victories over Philipsburg (7-0) and Punxsutawney (1-0). Bellefonte beat Punxsy at Clearfield for the District 10 crown, the first in Bellefonte’s history.

In the sectionals at Latrobe Bellefonte beat Huntingdon (7-1) and Brownsville (3-0).

Then it was on to Williamsport for the four-team state tournament. In the semifinals Bellefonte beat Erie Seneca, 5-2. Then came the payoff.

Prior to the title game Bellefonte never had been behind in any of its tournament games. Manager Rossman wondered what would happen if his 14 man crew ever fell behind.

Jessup, meanwhile, scored early and it looked as though one run might mean the difference between winning and losing. the 12th annual tournament.

However, in the sixth, Bellefonte scored two runs and came out on the long end of a 2-1 decision.

Next step on the tour was Staten Island, N.Y., and Eastern Regional playoffs.

Darien, Conn., ended Bellefonte’s dreams of gaining a berth in the Little League World Series at Williamsport by the beating the Centre County powerhouse, 4-3.

New Hampshire, which had bowed to Utica, N.Y., in the other semifinal game, came back to beat Bellefonte in the consolation game, 5-1. It was the end of the trail for a group of boys who later brought more baseball glory to Bellefonte.

But the team didn’t return from New York empty-handed. Rossman was just as proud afterwards when Bellefonte was awarded the Best-Behaved Team trophy at the post-tourney banquet. Darien won the regional title, but lost to Monterrey, Mex., the eventual World Series champion, in the semifinals at Williamsport.

The late Ollie Kohlbecker, Frank Webster and Dan Grove were instrumental in starting Little League in Bellefonte. Webster, in fact, has served as league president since 1949.

“In 1952, Harry Spain called and asked me if I would help him manage a team,” Rossman said. I think hitting is the hardest thing to teach a boy. That’s why I have a lot of respect for Harry Walker. He knows everything about hitting. Quite a few of the Pirates can thank him for their high averages today.”

Rossman said he has managed “about six” Bellefonte teams in all-star playoff competition.

“We’d usually win one, two or maybe three games before being eliminated,” he said. “In 1958 though, we got some breaks and the boys were determined to go all the way. Each game was a new experience.”

In comparing Little Leaguers of today with those of the past Rossman feels that today’s are more advanced in skills and technique.

“And there are so many more teams today than there once used to be,” he said. “Some boys are just out there taking up space but most of them, generally, want to learn the game. When things don’t go right for a boy we try different things, hoping to correct the problem. We spend lots of time practicing. When I can’t devote all the time that’s necessary to help the boys that’s when I’ll step down.”

Rossman said the win over Nittany Valley was one of the hardest fought games in the tournament. And the player that scared him the most that night was Nittany Valley’s Clarence (Shorty) Stoner.

Stoner, who played at the University, is now playing in the minor leagues.

“I hope he makes it in pro ball,” Rossman said.

Members of Bellefonte’s 1958 team were Denny Leathers, Ron Howard, Larry Conaway, Mike Ranio, Tom Crater, Deny Lose, Barry Burger, Rod Mitchell, John Sodergren, Sonny Fletemake, Bill Foresman, Tom Grieb, Gary Kellogg and Danny Kahle.

Leathers played several years of minor league ball with the Philadelphia organization; Crater played football and wrestled, respectively, at Lycoming College; quite a few boys are serving in the Armed Forces, and others have settled down to live in the County. Just recently Kahle was killed in an auto accident.

Several years later practically the same group of players were selected to participate in the State Babe Ruth Tournament at Hatboro. Bellefonte won the title and competed in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament in Virginia

And then in high school some of the boys helped Bellefonte to win its first Central Penn championship.

A tip of the hat to a man who teaches youngsters in the summer, then later watches them develop their various skills at Bellefonte High, be it from the 50-yard line, behind the third base dugout, from mat-side or center court in the gym. His nickname is Pickle but Mother Hen might be more appropriate. He has looked after quite a few Little Leaguers since the early 1950s.

Rossman Testimonial Dinner Scheduled for BEA Cafeteria. (1972, November 14). Centre Daily Times, p18. 

Veteran Little League Coach to step Down:

Rossman Testimonial Dinner Scheduled for BEA Cafeteria

Rossman received a number of telegrams and letters in 1958 after Bellefonte won the title. Gov. George Leader and Stan Musial were among the well-wishers along with Mayor George Boughter and Joe Pisoni, District 10 Little League director.

Here’s the letter from Gov. Leader:

“Dear Mr. Rossman:

“The Bellefonte Little League ball players did very well. Personally, I believe that a trophy for sportsmanship is as important and even more important than a trophy for the highest score in a tournament. “I am proud of our Little League and I certainly hope that the opportunity presents itself to see the trophy sometime in the future.”

“Please relay my congratulations to your young athletes.”

Rossman also received a letter from one of his players who is now a student at Bellefonte High.

“Thanks a lot for everything,” the letter reads. “You taught me how to catch and hit 100 per cent better. You also taught me good teamwork. You’re the best manager who ever lived.

“Now I’m going to Teener League and I want you to know how much I enjoyed being on your team for four years. I’m glad there are people like you that are willing to spend so much time helping kids like me learn to play ball. Thanks again.”

Members of the 1958 team were John Sodergren, Denny Leathers, Mike Ranio, Larry Conaway, the late Danny Kahle, Gary Kellogg, Tom Crater, Barry Burger, Denny Lose, Charles Fletemake, Bill Foresman, Tom Grieb, Rod Mitchell and Ron Howard.

Deadline for puchasing tickets ($2.50 each) is Thursday. They are on sale at Purnell’s News Stand in Bellefonte. You can also call Mrs. Joann Lambert (355-3007), Frank Webster (355-9219) or Mrs. Lois Mann (355-5057) and buy tickets.

Chuck Brown will be the main speaker and Gerald Mann will serve as toastmaster. Rev. Ferdinand Derk will give the invocation.

McDonald, D. (1991, July 31). Rossman remembered for quiet excellence. Centre Daily Times, p32.

Rossman remembered for quiet excellence

By DOUG McDONALD Times Senior Sports Writer

Harrold E. (Pickkle) Rossman coached Bellefonte Little League baseball for 22 years.

What wasn’t mentioned in his obituary last week was the fact that he was the manager of the Bellefonte All-Star team in 1958, the year it won the state title at Williamsport.

And that’s the way Pickle would have wanted it. Rossman died last Tuesday at his Bellefonte home at the age of 74. He wasn’t one to toot his own horn. He preferred to stay in the background.

“I know he got me interested in baseball along with a lot of other guys,” said Dan Leitzell of State College, who grew up in Bellefonte and later played at St. Leo (Fla.) College.

Denny Leathers of Bellefonte, one of 14 players on that ’58 squad which defeated Erie Seneca and Jessup in the state tourney, played for Rossman on the Keckler Chevrolet team from 1955-58.

Leathers, Bellefonte High’s head coach and a former minor league player, said Rossman had a positive influence on a number of youngsters over the years.

“He was big on fundamentals,” Leathers recalled. “He paid details to the little things, which meant the difference in lots of games. He was a good teacher, he was well-respected and he was a disciplinarian in his own way. He always stressed the team concept. The policy of the newspaper (Centre Daily Times) at the time was similar to Pickle’s.

“You listened to what he said. There was no horseplay. Even the parents agreed with what he had to say.”

Leathers said Monday that Rossman had a first baseman’s mitt that he gave him one year in the league.

“The next year,” Leathers said, “he took it back when he saw that I wasn’t a first baseman. Some 20 years later, he still had that glove. He was using it to pith batting practice.”

Leather’s said Rossman was a great strategist and a great psychologist.

“He never let us get too high when we won,” Leathers said, “or never too low when we lost. he always wanted us to be on an even keel.”

As far as strategy, one of Pickle’s favorite plays followed a walk with a runner on third.

“The guy who drew the walk never stopped running when he reached the bag,” Leather’s explained. “He just kept running, and if the catcher threw to second, the runner on third headed for home.

“But he was just a tremendous person. He never coached high school baseball but he was the person by which everyone measured success. He touched so many lives”.

Dick Barlett of Bellefonte coached the Decker Motors team in ’58, one of the four teams in the league.

“I started in ’57,” Barlett said Tuesday, “and Pickle was already coaching. But he was a good coach. He had the respect of the kids and they liked him. So did the other managers and coaches. He had a lot of tricks up his sleeve.

Frank Webster was president of the Bellefonte Little League for many years when Rossman was associated with the league.

Jake Salsgiver of State College umpired a number of Little League games in which Bellefonte, Rossman and coach Bud Haupt were involved.

“He knew his baseball,” Salsgiver said Tuesday. “He was a good coach. Those kids respected him, too. They never raised a voice.

“His teams hustled and they knew the fundamentals. I remember when he got out of coaching. He said it was time to step down because he couldn’t defend himself from some of the balls the youngsters were hitting in batting practice.”

Gary Kellogg, who could throw a nasty curve in ’58, remembers his uncle very well.

“If you got out of line, he would sit you down on the bench,” Kellogg said Tuesday. “And it didn’t matter if you were the best player or not. And he did it quietly. There was no screaming. He was a quiet man. He took no glory. He was one of the best coaches to come out of Bellefonte.

“A lot of guys who went into coaching adopted his philosophy. Little League ball around here was very competitive back then.”