1954 held at Bonneycastle Field and Brown & Williamson Field in Louisville, Kentucky on September 4-6.
Champion – Waldeck’s Tavern, Cincinnati, Ohio
Runner Up – National Fruit Merchants, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Waldeck’s Tavern won 6 straight games to capture the title, outscoring their opponents 82-36 along the way. They defeated Peerless Woolens of Georgia 32-7 in the winners bracket final behind the hitting of Jerry Huber, Fred Heimkreiter and John Drees, all of which had five hits. Drees getting a couple homers.
Waldeck’s collected 38 hits in the contest. Waldeck’s then sat back and waited as last year’s runner-up, Pittsburgh National Fruit eliminated defending champs, Shields Contractors 5-4 and then disposed of Peerless Woolens 15-11 in the losers bracket final to get back to the finals.
Waldeck’s Tavern proved to be too strong as it won final 13-7 hitting 8 HR, John Drees went 4 for 4 and hit 4 straight homers while Frank Hiemkrieter, Jim Trainor, Bob Trainor, and Frank Kramer each had 1 to back the pitching of Malio Valvano (Valvano surrendered only 31 runs in 6 games for Waldeck). Drees ended the tournament getting 9 straight hits, including 6 HR.
Pittsburgh pitcher Tony Bova had 2 home runs in a losing cause for the National Fruit Merchants. Mike Sabbio and Bruce Gilbert also hit HR for Pittsburgh. James Caldwell of Shields went 13-18 to lead the tournament in hitting.
Ralph Bo Stuntebeck, delayed due to work commitments, only played the last two games for Shields, yet still made the all-tournament team as he went 6-9 with 3 HR and 2 doubles.
Donnie Key of the Louisville Stars started the tournament with 8 straight hits, before going 2-4 with 2 HR in the third game.
Some sources say the MVP would have been Waldeck’s pitcher, Malio Valvano, pitching Waldeck’s to the title.
- MVP – N/A
- HR Leader – John Drees, Waldeck’s Tavern
- Batting Leader – James Caldwell, Shields – .722
- Outstanding Pitcher Award – Malio Valvano, Waldeck’s Tavern
FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
P – Malio Valvano, Waldeck’s Tavern (6-1)
P – Tony Bova, National Fruit Merchants (6-2)
C – Fred Heimkreiter, Waldeck’s Tavern
1B – Don Heilman, Shield’s Realty
2B – Ralph Bo Stuntebeck, Shield’s Realty (6-9, .667, 3 HR)
3B – Charles Geyer, Peerless Woolens
SS – Bob Trainor, Waldeck’s Tavern
OF – Myron Reinhardt, Shield’s Realty
OF – John Drees, Waldeck’s Tavern (9-9 with 6 HR in last 2 games)
OF – Walt Wherry, Keeneland Bar
OF – Donnie Key, Oertels Stars Brewers (10-15, .667, 2 HR)
MGR – Mike Waldeck, Waldeck’s Tavern
OTHERS
- James Caldwell, Shield’s Realty (13-18, .722)
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Waldeck’s Tavern, Cincinnati, OH (6-0)
2. National Fruit Merchants, Pittsburgh, PA (6-2)
3. Peerless Woolens, Rossville, GA (3-2)
4. Shield’s Realty, Newport, KY (4-2)
5t. Keeneland Bar, Covington, KY (2-2)
5t. Fire Fighters, Cincinnati, OH (2-2)
7t. Oertels Stars Brewers, Louisville, KY (3-2)
7t. Delco, Dayton, OH (2-2)
9t. Klug Trucking, Hamilton, OH (2-2)
9t. Sterling Sters, Louisville, KY (2-2)
9t. Early Times Distillers, Louisville, KY (1-2)
9t. Continental Can, Pittsburgh, PA (1-2)
13t. Boisel Tire, Springfield, OH (0-2)
13t. Forks of Elkhorn, Frankfort, KY (0-2)
13t. RBM, Knoxville, TN (0-2)
13t. Engineers, Chattanooga, TN (0-2)
17t. Twin City Automatics, Minneapolis, MN (0-2)
17t. Schwedes/Charley Geigers, Lakewood, OH (0-2)
