Les Mann's 1935 Tour Japan team

[earlywynnfan]

I recently picked up a baseball signed by Les Mann's All Americans from 1935. This team did a 20-game tour of Japan that season. It had 20-year old Jeff Heath, and Max Carey as a coach. The rest of the team seems to have been sandlot guys or players who didn't get far in the minors.

Does anyone have any more info about this team or this tour? I'd love to see if anyone else has anything from them.

Ken

[slidekellyslide]

Les Mann is from my hometown Lincoln, Nebraska...I believe that the players on this team were not sandlot players but collegians. Also this is most likely the same team Mann assembled for the 1936 Olympics...I see Les McNeece's name on the ball. He hit a game winning home run in front of the largest crowd to ever witness a baseball game at the Berlin Olympics.

Is Paul Amen's name on there?

edited to add: Just found some very interesting information for you. This team that toured Japan was sponsored by Wheaties, they held tryouts in Chicago for players from all around the United States...you can read more at this link:

https://books.google.com/books?id=g7Ubhouh6g8C&pg=PA12&lpg=PA12&dq=Les+McNeece&source=bl&ots=EE7QMqPmEj&sig=uo1hhdp-WquTydT1_TROKB0CPaE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=57EgVePbBIGWsAWru4HADg&ved=0CDwQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Les%20McNeece&f=false

[earlywynnfan]

Thanks! That's some interesting background. No Amen, though; who's he?

[slidekellyslide]

Thanks! That's some interesting background. No Amen, though; who's he?

Paul Amen played Football and basketball for the University of Nebraska. He was a member of the US Olympic baseball team in 1936. He went on to coach baseball for Army and football for Wake Forest. A legendary athlete in Nebraska.

[pariah1107]

Found this lineup in the Salt Lake Tribune, October 18, 1935:

As mentioned Max Carey, and Les Mann;
Tyrus Wagner, catcher, Duke University
Dick Offeringa, catcher, Newark, New Jersey
George Simons, pitcher, University of Pennsylvania
Lou Briganti, pitcher, New York City
Hays Pierce, pitcher, Vanderbilt
Fred Herringer, pitcher, Stanford
George Adams, pitcher, Colorado State
Bob Chlado, first base, Illinois Wesleyan
Les McNeese, second base, Fort Lauderdale High School
Al Metti, shortstop, Cleveland
Frank Scalzi, shortstop, University of Alabama
Ted Wicklund, third base, Warrensburg College
Ralph Goldsmith, third base, Illinois Wesleyan
Jeff Heath, left field, Seattle
Ron Hibbard, center field, Western Michigan Teachers College
Emmet Fore, right field, Texas University

Players to depart October 18 aboard the Taiyo Maru, to return December 3, to play the "Big Six" of the Tokyo University League, may visit the Philippines. If you'd like more info there are four-five more articles I can send the PDF copies to you, just send me a PM with your email. Hope this helps. Ty

[earlywynnfan]

Excellent, thanks!!!!!!! So Skeeter Scalzi also played on this team and made the majors. Looks like I have every player on the team here.

As many have stated, the knowledge - or ability to track down the knowledge - of this forum is incredible.

Ken

[kkan]

Hello,
I have come upon a plethora of photos and signed baseballs and other goodies from the family of Les McNeece chronicling the 1935 baseball trip to Japan. I was wondering if you still have access to the articles you mentioned that IO might like to read regarding this trip and these items. Thanks so much....Ken