Nebraska State League Baseball
Superior Brickmakers 1912

Twenty seven year old Dennis Bockewitz returned as manager for the 1912 season. Superior had won the 1911 championship and hopes were high for 1912. Superior started the season with a bunch of losses. They were 29-56 after 85 games and they spent the entire year in last place.

Recreating the roster for Superior in 1912 is pretty difficult. The Spalding Record I have lists players but not teams for 1912. Baseball Reference only lists Dennis Bockewitz and Wilder Gray for 1912, so I am assuming they are having the same difficulty building a roster as I am.

I am pretty sure of Bockewitz and Gray based on Baseball Reference and box scores. The others are from my looking at box scores from Fremont, Grand Island and York papers, then looking at the Spalding Record and trying to piece together a team.

Roster:

First base in 1912 was handled by Dennis Bockewitz He played in 68 games and averaged .249. He also played in 42 games for Dayton in 1912, but returned to Superior as manager in 1913.

Wilder Gray played in 34 games and averaged .353.

Caldwell played 33 games in the outfield and averaged .185.

Dorsch played 49 games at second base and averaged .260. He played for Superior in 1911 and averaged .312.

Art LIzzette was a catcher. He played in 51 games and averaged .255. He was from St. Paul Minnesota and started his career wtih Cedar Rapids in 1906.

Frank Prucha tended the garden for 85 games and averaged .272. He played for Superior in 1911 also and with Beatrice in 1914.

Meinhart played in 62 games and averaged .233

Wiegent played short stop for 62 games and averaged .188

Bert Orr played in 100 games at third base and averaged .277. He also played for Superior in 1911.

Campfield caught 99 games and averaged .221. This may be Frank Campfield who played catcher for McPherson in the Kansas League in 1910.

Early box scores showed Hodges (rf), Hutchinson (ss), Stewart (lf) and Dreis (c) but they are not listed in the Spalding Record as far as I can tell. An S. Hodges is listed with Beatrice in the MINK league in 1912. There are two Hutchinson's listed in the MINK league between 1911 and 1912 and a Hutchinson with Hastings in 1911.

 

On June 21st, Dorsh was sold to Kearney, Hodgins was traded to Beatrice in the MINK league and Superior bought Shafed and Smith to play the outfield. They also signed Frank Prucha to play catcher and a pitcher named Stevens in early June. Pitchers:


Hall of Fame

Dazzy Vance from Orient Iowa was a rookie in 1912. Baseball reference has him playing for York in 1912 and had him with an 11-14 record. They do put him with Superior in 1913. I have looked at multiple box scores in 1912 and have found at least ten where Vance is listed as the pitcher for Superior in 1912. On September 2nd Dazzy pitched the front end of a double header and won 4-1 on a five hit effort. He pitched five innings of the second game before being relieved.


1933 Goudey
Courtesy Mark Smith
Stevens was 5-16

Charles Gibson was 11-11. He was 13-9 in 1910 and 16-11 in 1911 with Superior.

Roy Irvin (or Irwin) returned for the 1912 season and managed a 12-13 record.

Smith was 1-2

Hegelson had a 304 record.

The box scores also listed Munson as a pitcher but he is not listed in the Spalding Record for that year.

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