Newport Harbor’s reunion not far off

The Class of 1948, which came to help Newport Harbor High capture the

only baseball championship in its history, will celebrate its 55th

reunion on the afternoon of Sept. 20 at the little park near the foot

of Balboa Pier.

Four of the ’48 players are expected to attend, including

All-Sunset League catcher Bill Weatherwax, Boyd Horrell, who was the

top hitter, and reserve pitchers Pete Nourse and Bob Nettles. Two

stars who have passed on include legendary left-handed pitcher Frank

Hamilton and outfielder Paul Robertson.

Reunion spokesman Don Dickey indicated a golf tournament will be

held the previous day, followed by a cocktail party, 4-7 p.m., by the

Dickeys. Classmates seeking more information are invited to phone

Dickey at (949) 642-6393.

The afternoon picnic will feature a BBQ briquet and chicken picnic

starting at 1 p.m. The event will be catered and a registration booth

will be set up for the beginning.

Several fun games will be set up, including a croquet challenge.

Dickey said his main message to the gang is “come early, stay

late.”

It has also been disclosed that one of the party’s featured guests

will be Don “Muk” McCallum, the ’48 student body president, who was

also a noted low hurdler on a winning track team for three years.

The Sailors outfoxed the Fullerton visitors that night by stacking

their tackles against the Indian ends. The tackles were Dave

Patterson, Dick Balch, Bob Killefer and Weatherwax.

The prized central linemen were center Nourse and guard Bill

Clark.

The ’47 Tars blanked Bonita, 20-0, whacked Downey, 28-7 and

defeated Anaheim, 38-19.

Four gloomy losses came through: Santa Ana, 32-6, Riverside, 6-0,

Orange, 13-6, and Huntington Beach, 25-6.

Weatherwax returned to baseball to start his career. He spent five

years as a catcher with the Idaho farm club for the St. Louis

Cardinals. He later joined the Costa Mesa Police Department to finish

his career.

Hamilton, the 6-foot-4 pitcher who was offered a $50,000 check if

he would sign with the New York Yankees, declined the offer so he

could advance to college.

Unfortunately, Hamilton injured his pitching arm in college and

retired from the game. He went on to establish a fine reputation as a

nationally known water colorist, mainly of the Old West. One gallery

in Phoenix took charge of his work for years.

Horrell went on to achieve high marks in both football and

baseball at Orange Coast College for two years.