The St. Johns Independents
by Barry Bauer
The St. Johns Independent ball team was rated as one of the best in their class in the state of Michigan. In 1937 they finished the year with a 13-3 record. That may have been helped by the fact that they played all but two of their games at the St. Johns City Park, their home field.
Standing from left to right: L. G. Myers, catcher; Oscar Stockwell, utility outfielder; George Myers, left field; Gordon Drew, right field; B. Newton and F. Sohn, pitchers; Elbert Wright, third base; Bob Hankey, first base; Paul Martis, second base and pitcher; and Ed Rademacher, utility outfielder.
Kneeling left to right: Kenneth Stockwell, utility outfielder; U. Rininger, third base coach; M. Fillmore, team coach; “Sonny” Estes, bat boy; James Bray, manager; Gordon Waggoner, shortstop; and Kenneth Williams, center field. Missing is Howard Waggoner, second base.