Norfolk Elkhorns 1923
Photo courtesy of Larry Horton |
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The 1923 season was one of great anticipation in Norfolk. They were winners in 1922 in the first half of the season and were defeated in the playoffs by Fairbury in a seven game series. The team was poised to win the 1923 championship and they almost lived up to the challenge. The league dropped the split season for 1923. Lincoln started strong and finished strong to edge out the Elkhorns for the 1923 crown.
Their home field was east of 4th street between Prospect and Elm. It featured a covered grandstand and bleachers down both lines. The grounds were also used for the annual harvest festival.
Roster: The infield for Norfolk for 1923 was very steady and solid. Each of the four main positions had someone who played in over 110 games each. They were one of the most consistent infields in the minors for 1923.
Lyle Casey held down first base for 115 games in 1923 and led the team with a .333 average. He was from Bentonville Arkansas. He split the 1922 season between Norfolk and Okmulgee and played for four years with Tulsa in the Western League.
In the dirt at second base was Eddie Trummer . He was played for 130 games at second base and averaged a meager .226. He started with Huron in the South Dakota league in 1920.
The hot corner for 1923 was handled by Tom McCafferty. He played in over 120 games and averaged .255.
Short stop was held down by Van "Rip" Atherton. He averaged .248. He played for Beatrice in 1914 and Norfolk from 1922-1924.
Catcher for 1923 was handled by Keith Clark. He was one of many ironmen for Norfolk in 1923 and played in 131 games and averaged .273. He played in the minor leagues from 1922-1937 with his last six years in the Western League. He played for Omaha in 1936.
Outfield:
Walter Rouse was a regular in the garden for 1923. He played in 123 games and averaged .261.
Another regular in the outfield for 1923 was Ed Reichle. He averaged .283 to lead the regulars for the Norfolk Elkhorns in 1923. He was a regular for Fairbury in 1922. He started in Sioux City Iowa. His first pro job was with Keokuk in the Iowa State League. He was bought by Pittsburg, but assigned to Utica in 1912. His career included stints in Wilkes Barre, Harrisburg and Hartford. In 1924 he played/managed Beatrice. From 1925-1928 he managed Burlington. In 1929 he managed Davenport in the Mississippi Valley league.
Carl Pederson played in 56 games and averaged .303. He started with Wahpeton in the Dakota League in 1921.
Bob Halloway played over 90 games in the outfield in 1923. He averaged .261.
Pitchers:
Lane was the best pitcher for Norfolk in 1923. He was 16-8 in 25 games.
Anton Federle was 11-9 in 27 appearances.
Earl Hilton was 18-15 in 37 games.
Elmer Lane was 16-8 in 25 appearances.
Knapton was 4-3.
Perl Hyland managed a 13-14 record for the Elkhorns.
Hanson was 0-5 and White was 0-1 for the year.
Willis Praull was 5-9 in 19 games.
Buck Rogers was 1-1 in 3 games.