A Trip To Wawaka, Birthplace of Ford Frick
- Chad Gramling
- Mar 18
- 3 min read
By Chad Gramling - Originally published in the NEIBA Line Drives September 2011 Newsletter
I recently had the opportunity to go to the Syracuse Public Library to talk about our local baseball history. And, as expected, there was a lot of laughter when I mentioned how excited I was to go through Wawaka (okay, you can stop chuckling too). Sure, being excited to drive through Wawaka, Indiana is not a claim many have made, but I meant it. I truly was excited and here's why.
Years ago, there was a Wawaka resident bitten by the baseball bug early in life. It was when he was fortunate enough to sit in the dugout with the World Champion Chicago Cubs (okay, stop laughing again) in 1907 when they came through Kendallville, Indiana for an exhibition game.
The little boy grew up and followed a career path into journalism. He studied in Fort Wayne at International Business College while gaining experience as a reporter for the Journal Gazette. He took on other gigs outside of Indiana and ultimately ended up in New York. While there, he and Babe Ruth struck up a great friendship. It's said that he even acted as the Great Bambino's ghost writer a time or two!.
Professionally, his career shifted from that of a journalist to National League President at the
same time Jackie Robinson entered the Major's and later went on to become Commissioner of Major League Baseball. I'm sure that, by now, you have figured out I am talking about none other than our own Ford Frick. I've passively researched and learned about Frick over the years, but have never had the time to visit his hometown despite my living relatively close to it. And this was my chance.So here I am, casually driving along US 6 just west Of Kendallville. I'm thinking about Mr. Frick and the history of him and the Babe in Fort Wayne for an exhibition game that Ruth abruptly ended in a walk-off home run he had called to Frick's father just before stepping up to the plate. I'm also thinking about how it was a fellow Hoosier who proposed what, at the
time, had been the most famous asterisk in the world before Barry Bonds and HGH/PED hysteria entered popular culture.
Funny how much we have forgotten a man who once held the same office that former U.S. President George W. Bush is said to covet. And then to my right I see "Frick Lumber." Gotta be a connection, right? Then, a few miles further up is a little green sign that reads: "Wawaka" - I made it! And then a sign proudly recognizing Wawaka as the birthplace of Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick. Good to know that he's not as forgotten as I might have thought. Take some time if you can to visit this quiet little community of Wawaka, Indiana. And while you're at it, pick up a copy of "Games, Asterisks and People" by Mr. Frick. Rarely will you read such an insightful and entertaining time on the game.
With roots back to the 1940's, the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association (NEIBA) works to celebrate baseball in Fort Wayne. The organization hosts an annual Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet and publishes a quarterly publication, Line Drives. Learn more about the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association on their website.