Flashback Friday: Stormy (1961)
This week's Flashback Friday goes back to the obituary of a pioneer of Appleton Professional Baseball. George Hogriever, played with the 1891 Appleton team, the first pro team in the history of the city. He would marry a local girl and make Appleton his home for the remainder of his life as he went out to play at various outposts around the country. Hogriever returned to Appleton in 1911 as player and eventually manager of the Papermakers.
He passed away - at the age of 91 - on January 26, 1961. That anniversary is 54 years ago this Monday and today seems like an appropriate day to look back at "Stormy" through his obituary in The Post-Crescent printed that evening.
Old-Time Baseball Star G. Hogriever, Dead
Long-Time Elk
George "Stormy" Hogriever, 91, member of the Appleton Elks Lodge for the last 46 years and well-known, old-time baseball player, died at 5:15am today after a three-month illness. He was born in Cincinnati March 17, 1869.
Baseball was Stormy's life before a shoulder injury forced his retirement as an active player in 1912. The All-American sport remained his abiding interest throughout his life and, as many Fox Valley resident knows, Stormy knew the names and batting averages of most of the big league players.
On the surface he was a gruff and frequently belligerent man, but his wide circle of friends and acquaintances knew that this was a façade for a warm and generous person whose ability to spin a baseball yarn was unbeatable. A testimonial dinner was held for him when he retired as Elks Club steward in 1951. He had been the club steward for 40 years. The Elks organized an 89th birthday party for him at the club to honor Stormy for holding the office longer than any Elk member in the United States. "Stormy's Room" in the Appleton lodge building was named for him.
Funeral services will be at 2pm Saturday at the Valley Funeral Home with Rev. Richard Schroeder, assistant pastor of First Methodist Church, officiating.
Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Friends may call after 3pm Friday at the funeral home where the Elks Club will conduct special services at 7pm.
Hogriever got his start as a professional ballplayer back in 1888 and 1889 when he plated at Hamilton, Ohio in the old Tri-State League. In 1890 he was with Kansas City and in 1891 with Appleton in the Wisconsin State League. It was during the latter year that he met the Appleton girl he married, Miss Wilhemina Myse.
In 1892 he joined the roster of the St. Paul team in the then Western League. After that he moved around in the Southern League and played with Sioux City, Iowa for a year.
In 1894 Stormy made the big-time, playing for Cincinnati for a season and then for Indianapolis until 1905. He was shifted to Des Moines in 1905 as a manager-player.
Along about the fifth game of the 1910 season in Appleton, Hogriever returned to the city as playing manager of the Papermakers in the old Wisconsin-Illinois league. On July 7, 1912, in a game with Oshkosh, Hogriever played his last game. He injured his shoulder during the 7-1 victory for Appleton. He relinquished his managerial post in 1913.
He is survived by a brother, William, in Cincinnati. He made his home with a brother-in-law, Frank Preuss, 2114 N. Rankin Street.
NOTE:
The image for this article is taken from this website. There is a more complete article that goes along with that image. I'll revisit that article next week.