Baseball Hall of Fame

Even in an era when Manual High School was known for its winning baseball teams, the 1950 Manual baseball team stands out as one of the most powerful high school athletic squads in Peoria. The 1950 team won every game it played, winning the first of three state titles for Coach Eddie Stonebock.

Coming into the state tournament with a 22-0 record, the team won rather easily, defeating Bloomington, 7-4, and Elgin, 13-0. In the title game against LaGrange, Manual pitcher Bobby Schmitt tossed a brilliant game, allowing just one hit, striking out 17, and getting a 6-0 win. Schmitt was 13-0 for the season, allowing only 23 hits in 80 innings, and fanning 162 batters. Dick Diekhoff led the team in hitting at .393 and pitcher Frank Hutt was 5-0 on the mound.

Other players on the 1950 squad were Elmo Petty, Bob Peake, Jim England, Jerry Meyers, Dick Echard, Jack Cullen, Frank Walraven, Dick Fahnestock, Bud Cassens, Gene Wailer, Lou Alcaraz, Earl Higgins, Bill Ricca, Neal Cook, Jerry Burk and Jack Closen.