Remembering southpaw Lassie

DON CANTRELL

It has been 56 years since Newport Harbor High School won its

first-ever and only baseball championship, paced by an incredible

6-foot-4 left-handed whiz named Frank (Lassie) Hamilton.

The late Hamilton, one of the finest pitchers in Southern

California prep baseball, struck out 166 batters in 106 2/3 innings in 1948.

Ironically, Hamilton’s parents had been vacationing for years in

the harbor area, but never chose to make a Newport move until the

fall of 1947.

It was timely for the Tars since it had no pitchers like Hamilton,

although it featured a fair outfield, a sterling infield and a

catcher named Bill Weatherwax.

Hamilton, who could throw exciting curves and fastballs, was

polished before coming to Newport. He had played for Lincoln High in

Portland, Ore., and drew tremendous help from a coach in Oregon.

Weatherwax wasn’t too impressed when he was first introduced to

Hamilton as he recalled that he was remindful of a tall, lean,

bespectacled art student. Weatherwax soon changed his mind once he

was behind the plate trying to catch the new player’s fastballs.

Amusingly, Hamilton was a very talented art student whose

paintings would one day be selling for top dollar in the West,

especially at one prime gallery in Scottsdale, Ariz.

And one high note arrived when the ’48 season ended as he found

himself being offered a $50,000 bonus if he would sign up with the

New York Yankees.

His college career was more important so he declined the offer.

Unfortunately, a sad happening arose in college years when his

pitching arm was injured badly. Hence, he left the baseball scene.

Years later one teammate said he felt the pro players would be too

hard on Hamilton. Another mate tended to disagree, recalling that

Hamilton was once a member of the Army paratroppers, who had no fears

of baseball players.

Weatherwax went on to spend five years in the St. Louis Cardinals

organization in Idaho, but he also spent time with the Air Force

special services in Oklahoma and Korea. In time, he also spent many

years with the Costa Mesa fire and police departments.

The ’48 team’s heaviest hitter was Boyd Horrell, who later helped

Coach Wendell Pickens win a baseball title at Orange Coast College.

In fact, Horrell also helped Pickens construct the college’s first

baseball diamond.

Looking back once, Pickens recalled one of the great high school

games in his life that came when the ’48 Tars beat Orange, 1-0.

In that game, Pickens struck out 11 batters, allowed only three

hits and wrapped up his own game with a triple and scoring after an

error.

The ’48 Tars finished 11-1 in the Sunset League and 17-5 overall.

Newport defeated Valencia, 10-7, in the CIF opener, then lost,

5-1, to invading San Diego High at Lions Park. Hamilton only lost two

games, both to San Diego.

Mike Morrow, the San Diego coach, said Hamilton was the finest

pitcher his team faced all season.

Other ’48 Tar players made their marks in life after high school.

Second baseman Carleton Mears advanced to become a scientist for

Hughes Aircraft and spent free time flying his special glider on the

high mountain country of California.

Third baseman Bill Skies linked up with pianist Pete Henderson and

the pair toured for a long time with the famed Carpenters. Johnny

Carson, late night show host, invited the pair aboard several times

years ago.

Fred Thomas would advance to become an officer for the Orange

County Harbormaster Department and Pete Nourse would become a

successful building contractor.

Mac Henrotin would take his financial skills on to Santa Barbara

and Don Ward would link up with real estate in the harbor area.

Hamilton once told this corner he always hated the nickname

“Lassie,� and explained how it came about in high school.

A classmate named Dick Deaver once messed up in basketball with

Hamilton and he called Deaver “Lassie.� Later in the game, he said he

messed up and Deaver called him “Lassie� and it stuck.