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    December 31, 2015

    FOUR AUTOGRAPHED BASEBALLS from Little League games, played in the early 1960s, have come home. Rev. George McCune, a volunteer umpire for the league, saved the mementoes. His sons, Larry and Jim, recently brought the baseballs back to Marlinton. S. Stewart photo
    FOUR AUTOGRAPHED BASEBALLS from Little League games, played in the early 1960s, have come home. Rev. George McCune, a volunteer umpire for the league, saved the mementoes. His sons, Larry and Jim, recently brought the baseballs back to Marlinton. S. Stewart photo

    Former residents Larry McCune and Jim McCune visited The Pocahontas Times office a few weeks ago to “bring home” some memorabilia from the days of their childhood spent in Marlinton.
    The name, McCune, will bring back memories in itself for a lot of people, as their father, Rev. George McCune, served as minister at Marlinton United Methodist Church for several years.
    In addition to his pastoral duties, Rev. McCune volunteered as umpire for the Little League baseball teams – mementoes of which he literally carried with him for the rest of his life.
    Rev. McCune is now deceased, and his sons recently came across four, signed baseballs which their dad had kept, and indeed, the family had kept for more than 50 years.
    The game balls are not signed by professional players, but the signatures will hold special meaning to the Marlinton Little League players as well as their families.
     One game ball is simply marked “Beckley. 7-26-62. 13 – 6.”
     The second is marked “1962 Marlinton All Stars. Beat Ronceverte and Rainelle. Lost to Beckley.” It is signed by G. W. McCune, Thomas Lane, Delmas Barb, John Hayslett, Robert Hilleary, Richard Wright, John Kenney, Teddy Dunbrack, Paul Broce, Tom Clutter and Donnie Skaggs.
     The third is marked “1963 Marlinton All Stars. G. W. McCune, Eugene Underwood. Lose. Quinwood. 11-9.” It is signed by Delmas Barb, Billy Maddy, Herby McClure, Robert Hilleary, Michael Anderson, Donnie Skaggs, Doug Morrison, Ronnie Wynn and Wayne Hall.
     The fourth ball is from the 1964 game vs Ronceverte, score: 3 – 4. It is signed by Doug Morrison, Walter Weiford, Billy Maddy, Mike Cain, John Long, Ronnie Evans, Johnnie Cain, Mike Broce, Willie Sparks, James Baxter, Eddie Carr, Mike Anderson, Wade Sharp, Bubby Barb, Tommy Workman, and two names that are not clearly identifiable.
     Jim and Larry told about the day that Marlinton Methodist Church was to host a District Meeting. Someone was sent to the Little League field to fetch the pastor. The boys recall that their father said, “We are in extra innings. The meeting will have to go on without me.”
    Players and families are welcome to stop by The Pocahontas Times office to see these bits of sports history.
    The autographed game balls will go to the Pocahontas County Historical Society Museum in the spring.

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