Toth one of Fayette County’s hidden baseball treasures
Fayette County baseball history continues to reveal hidden treasures, the latest find is the late Elmer Toth from Perryopolis.
Toth was an outstanding right-handed pitcher for the Perry Township Commodores in the late 1940鈥檚. Toth helped pitch the Commodores to the Section 22 championship in 1948. Toth answered to the handle of 鈥淏lackwell鈥� during his pitching days at Perry an obvious reference to fireballer Ewell Blackwell.
On May 10, 1948, Toth tossed a no-hit, no-run game against Bentleyville. Perry won, 3-0, as Toth faced only 22 batters in the seven-inning affair. He walked one and recorded nine strikeouts. During the summer of 1948, Toth posted a record of 8-1 for the Monessen Junior American Legion baseball club.
In 1949, Toth became the center of controversy when he was signed by Boston Braves scout Jack Reider. The signing sparked a protest from Western Pennsylvania legion baseball officials.
The controversy ended after a ruling from the commissioner of baseball.
Baseball Commissioner A.B. 鈥淗appy鈥� Chandler rejected a request by Pennsylvania American Legion baseball officials to prevent major league clubs from signing pitcher Elmer Toth of the Monessen Legion team.
Walter W. Mulbry, Chandler鈥檚 secretary, said that Pennsylvania鈥檚 legion baseball is conducted under different rules than elsewhere in that each team is permitted to use two players until they are 18 years of age.
Baseball鈥檚 rule on legion players, Mulbry said, is that no player may be signed by a professional club until after he passes his 17th birthday.
Toth, a high school graduate of Perry Township, reached his 17th birthday in October. The Boston Braves showed interest in signing him to one of their farm teams.
George Bellis and J.R. Breen, Western Pennsylvania baseball officials, had asked Chandler to prevent any club from signing Toth so that he could continue with the Monessen team.
After signing with the Braves in 1949, Toth was sent to Owensboro of the Kitty League where he chalked up a mark of 12 wins and nine defeats.
The following campaign Toth hung up a record of 15 victories and eight defeats as he worked for Jackson, Mississippi, a Class B outfit.
In 1951, the 6-foot-3, 175-pound right-hander started the campaign with Atlanta in the Southern Association and climbed to Hartford in the Class A Eastern League. He had an overall record of 5-6.
During the 1952 season, Toth pitched at Class C Eau Claire in the Northern League and Milwaukee in the Class AAA American Association, He was a combined 3-5 with a 4.24 ERA.
Toth had thought he was on his way to the major leagues when he started the 1952 season with Milwaukee, but he was sent to Evansville, Indiana. He hurt his arm while throwing in relief. He pitched sidearm, which put more strain on the shoulder and he hadn鈥檛 warmed up properly. He was sent down further to Eau Claire to rehabilitate his arm.
Toth had an interesting stint at Eau Claire. He crossed paths with future Hall-of-Famer Henry Aaron.
He was a sharp hitter,鈥� Toth said in a book about Aaron鈥檚 days in Eau Claire.
After missing the 1953 season getting his arm back in shape, Toth pitched for El Dorado in the Cotton States League in 1954, and bounced back to post a record of 15-7 with a 4.15 ERA.
In 1955, Toth had his best season in the minor leagues recording a record of 21-7 with a 3.45 ERA with Texas City in the Class B Big State League.
In 1956, Toth hurled for two teams in the Big State League. He pitched for Victoria and Corpus Christi and was a combined 14-13 as he battled sore arm problems. He helped Corpus Christi to a record of 80-60 and a pennant.
Toth gave it all he had that 1956 season for manager Sibby Sisti.
鈥淚 know I鈥檓 not going any place 鈥� and I don鈥檛 care about my won and lost record 鈥� but I鈥檇 throw my arm away to win a pennant for old Sibby. He鈥檚 the best,鈥� Toth stated.
Toth came back to pitch for Corpus Christi in 1957 and went 5-10 with a 3.86 ERA. He was designated for assignment in May and his career was over at the age of 26.
In eight minor league seasons, Toth finished with a record of 86-64 and an ERA of 3.98.
I鈥檇 do it again. I liked it,鈥� Toth said. 鈥淏ut you get to be 27 or 28 and you just say, 鈥業鈥檝e got to get a job.鈥�
Toth鈥檚 stay in Corpus Christi was also important for another reason. He met his wife, Juanita Menandez Toth while he was playing baseball in Corpus Christi.
Toth lived in Perryopolis and spent 30 years working for the Wheeling-Pittsburgh steel mill in Allenport.
On Aug. 23, 2013, Toth passed away at Mount St. Macrina. He was 82 and was the last surviving member of his family. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Juanita Menandez Toth; sisters, Margaret Demko, Irene Seman, Ethel Giovannelli, Barbara Klotz; and brothers; William 鈥淏ill鈥� Toth and Andrew Toth.
George Von Benko鈥檚 鈥淢emory Lane鈥� column appears in the Monday editions of the 缅北禁地. He also hosts a sports talk show on WMBS-AM radio from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.