Smoky Joe a State Treasurewood One of Baseball's Bestsmoky Joe Former Major Leaguer a True State Treasure

Summary

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NESS CITY -- A main attraction exists at the Ness County Historical Museum for those curious enough to leave any beaten path through western Kansas.

An entire corner of the old stone building contains an exhibit of the county's most prominent historical figure, George Washington Carver. Another section details the life and times of Andrew Schoeppel, a former Kansas governor who also served four terms in the U.S. Senate.

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Extract

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Smoky Joe a State Treasurewood One of Baseball's Bestsmoky Joe Former Major Leaguer a True State Treasure

But visitors are most often drawn to baseball. More specifically, they pay homage to legendary pitcher Smoky Joe Wood.

"That's who the majority of people who come in here are interested in," acknowledged Margery Frusher, the museum's caretaker and president of the county's historical society.

Wood pitched nine seasons in the major leagues from 1908-17, mostly for the Boston Red Sox, before a dead arm forced him to end his career as an outfielder with the Cleveland Indians from 1918- 22.

As one of the phantom old-timers mentioned in "Field of Dreams,' the fabled right-hander is one of baseball's romantic figures.

Far from Hollywood, pictures of Wood, including a group shot of an old town team, are preserved in Ness City along with yellowed newspaper clippings and book excerpts. A framed portrayal of yet another former big-league pitcher with ties to the town, Elon "Chief" Hogsett, is also displayed. Wool uniforms, t...

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